Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-10
MISC Ell L A N Y =.
How Nellie Lee was Pawned.

MIS- ELL A N Y.
How Nellie Lee was Pawned.
Have you ever pawned watch2 Don't start,
reader. l know you are highly respectable, that
YOU have house in Gramercy Park, and bal
ance of several thousands at the Merchants
Bank, nevertheless you may have been placed in
circumstances which rendered it necessary for
you to pawn your watch. have known men
as rich and eminent as you, sneak into temple
of barter where three golden balls shone conspic
uous. and, under the name of John Jones, depos-
ite certain articles Of jewelry Jas security for
certain trifling sums of money.
| have known clergyman pawn diamoLd
breast-pn on rainy day, in order to raise e.
nough of money to pay his cab fare. | have
known lot of literary Bohemans, in London
and Paris, sup off an evening coat, or Spanish
mantle. | once pawned two Dresden china
shepherdesses, and vase of the same material,
that ornamented my mantle-piece, in order to
raise the money 10 buy the paper on which
wrote an article for Blackwood's Magazine that
brought me in fifty pounds i! have been ac'
quainted with the descendants OF the Medici in
London, Paris, Vienna, and now | am going to
tell you the results OF my acquaintance with
them in New York.
There is q certain side street running across
Broadway which will, with your permission,
call Chicory street Chicory street is not its
name, but as am about to relate some private
matters in connection with it, it would not be
either delicate or ,iudicious if were to be geo.
graphically correct
In Chicory street resides a gentleman named
Lazarus Levi, Esq, whose spacious old-fashion-
ed house is the repository of various articles Of
property belonging to numberless enlightened
but distressed citizens OF the United States. The
lower story of Mr. Lewis dwellings is fitted up
with glass front, very dingy and dusty, so that
the several articles exposed to view in the win
dow are bat dimly seen. There are flutes, with
tarnished keys, that have lain silent for years.
The dust lies thick on the embOuchure of each
for the lips that blew there the graduated air
have shrunk into mere skin long ago, and the
agile fingers that ran over the holes are now
loose bones, that lie here and there, never tc
hang together on earth again.
You can see all sorts OF things in Mr.. Lewis
window. California diamonds; real diamonds
very rare; banjos, relics of disappointed min.
streS; guns, suggestive of sporting Englishmer
hard up; silver tea pots, now black and uncheer-
ful, limiting at terrible domestic distreSses in
some poor fellows home, and making you see
the thin wife stealing out at night TO raise money
ON the family valuables to teed the children.
The interior of the shop is devoted to dry
goods The details, however, eau be but dimly
made out, owing to the extremely dubious light
that pervades the store. Even in the broad
daylight .ndicous twilight exists in Mr.. Lewis
What the French call demIiour, is much affect
ed by lovers and gentlemen who spout theil
watches. Through this mysterious atmosphere
one can feebly distinguish rows of shelves pack
ed tightly with dark bundles of wearing apparel
and Biddy's gown and Patrick's Sunday coat lie
there together until next months wages come t(
separate them.
Mr.. Levi is my friend. have occasionally
mercantile transactions with him; for am lite
rary man, aud it sometimes happens that neet
five dollars On those occasions | travel rounC
INV room, as NJ Xavier de Maistre may be sup
posed to have done, in search of some appropri
ate token of esteem, to convey to Mr.. Levi, l;
order to induce him to advance the required
sum. In this choice it is necessary to exercise
discrimination. For instance, | know that i
will never do TO present my stamped velve
waistcoat three times running. And that if
were to take my little French clock to Mr.. Lev
too frequently, the article would pull upon him
and my credit be impaired Variety is necessa
ry to persons of Mr.. Lewis position. Continue
partridge destroys their appetite. They are cpl
cures and must be fed with novelties.
Accordingly one day, having need of the ira
ditonal FIVE dollars to meet the expenses of {
forthcoming literary soiree at my room, after
some delberation, determined to present my In
dian chess-board to Mr. Levi, as token OF my
affection, and work upon his feelings so far as t.
induce him 10 present ME with the longed-for V
The chess board was ivory nlaid. The mel
were delightfully."- Oriental, being carved all over
even to the tips Of their noses; and altogether
had great faith in the article, as it had never be
fore been under Mr.. Lewis charge.
waited until evening. 1t was lovely even
ing for pawning. A thick fog; damp and threat
ening rain, hung over the streets, so that there
were but few passengers abroad. Chicory stree
was almost deserted.
| rang at Mr.. Lewis private door. 1t was {
privilege had earned, both by the constancy o
my friendship, and the usually valuable nature
of my presents. A delightful Hebrew serving
girl, with nose massive as Egyptian architec
ture, opened the door, and admitted me to Mr.
Lewis private parlor. In few moments tha
estimable gentleman entered.
"Ah! Mister Papillote," he said, holding ou
his hand. show do you doI Come again, ell
Well, what is it this evening"
"A little matter | want you to arrange fol
Inc" replied, unrolling my silk handkerchie
from the chess board. u want five dollars OF
this for few days"
Hum On my word Mr. Papillote, I'n sor
ry to see gentleman like you coming here Sc
often. It's really too bad"
Levi, as said before, took an interest in me
and sometimes talked to me like father
'My good Levi" l answered, laughingly
don't take any serious trouble on my account
I'm ali right. You know the best OF US will gel
into difficulties occasionally. BY the way
would you like to go to the opera tomorrow
night2"
The Jews eyes glistened, They love music
those Jews.
"Heve you got tickets9"
"Here are two. Can you let me have the
money!"
"Well, really, Mr.. Papllote, chess is not 9
valuable property just at present. 1t comes hard
80, ba inrullaot ~