Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-02-10

GundarcOOl. 1t Is q historical nesS-ooaru, Mr.
Levi Do you play chesss"
Not exactly. sir. But came very near
learning it once"
'You know that the pawn is sinseparably con-
nected with the game, supposeF
81 have heard something of the kind, sir"
/ "Completely in your line of business, you see.
Mr. Levi stared. My joke was completely
lost upon him. 1t was very mild juke, GER
tainly; but then, could better have been ex
pected from man who was begging for five
dollars.
"rm sorry you don't play, fastened to con-
tinue, covering my jocular failure with some
other remark. II should like to have game
with you. That chess-board, | assure you, is
worth thirty dollars, if it is worth a penny
Think of the association"
Heaven forgive me but the Rajah was crea-
ton of the moment. had been made present
of the chess-board by sailor who'had voyaged
to Calcutta; but one must be little deceitful
now and then in this wicked world.
"Well, I'll let you have the money" said Mr..
Lew, ''though we're rather short to-day. A
great deal OF business doing jnst now, Mr.. Pap
illote;" and, laying the Rajah's property on the
table, he disappeared into the office to make out
the duplicate.
"a great deal of business doing!" That
meant, when translated, great deal OF misery
wandering about the streets; great many
homes gloomy for want of petty sums OF money;
great many mechanics without Sunday clothes !;
great many poor students moaning over their
valuable books, sacrificed to keeping life enough
in them to read those that were left; a great
many drunkards, craving for their accustomed
poison, and getting it at the cost OF necessarles
great many mothers shivering in blanketless
beds that the little one might not starve. This
was the terrible kind of business that was doing.
was rejecting on all this when heard the
parlor door open and light step fell softly on
the carpet Thinking it was Levi returning with
the money, did not raise my head. Presently
voice-ah, how unlike Lewis brttery jewish
accents startled Inc from my reverie.
81 can play at chess" it said, very softly.
looked up, suddenly. Alitte fairy creature,
about sixteen years old, with long, fair hair, and
large, beautiful blue eyes, stood just within the
door staring at me, like some tinid bird at him
who wanders in lonely woods, half fearing to
approach, yet longing to come nearer
'And who on earth are you3" asked, abrupt
ly; and as | spoke l saw at a glance that the
blood of the children OF Israel did not run in her
clear, blue veins.
''rm Nellie Lee, sir" replied the apparition,
"and Pm in pawn
IN whats Z" / exclaimed, under the impression
that must have been deceived in the absurd
statement had just heard
SIN pawn, sir" she repeated, as simply as if
she was saying that she was in bed.
'And who put you into pawn, in the name OF
all the Medici may ask 2" Is aid, scarcely able
10 keep my countenance. =.
Father pawned me for money to buy paints,
answered this extraordinary deposit, land I'm
SO lonesome-oh! you can't think"
'What is your respectable parent, may In
quire3"
"He is an artist, sir, and he has just got an or
DER sir, and he wanted money for the canvas
and the paints to finish the picture. lie paints
beautiful pictures; indeed he does"
She seemed so very anxious about my not
doubling her fathers ability that smiled sort
of assent, as if were perfectly convinced of his
rare talents, and was intimately acquainted with
the merit of every one of his productions.
"Where do they keep you?" asked, half jest
incly, for the whole affair seemed so like a vau-
deyilie, that | expected ever msanent to hear
some unseen audience applauding the perform
ance. 'sDo they put you in the safe with the
iewelry, or lay you in on the shelves with the
gowns and coats"
mo, SIT, live up stairs with Mr.. Levi. Fa-
ther will come, though, in few days, with the
money and redeem me-"
All this az seriously as if it was the common
est thing in the world for distressed fathers to
pawn their children, and keep the duplicates in
their waistcoat pockets"
Have you ever been in pawn before, Miss
Nellie iee9"
"Oh, yes, sir. Father painted the Seven
Sleepers OF Ephesus' with what he got on me,
last fall"
This was really more than I could stand.
Law back on the old hair .bottomed sofa and roar
I'd with laughter. The deposit stood before me
with grave and patient demeanor, neither sur
prised at my merriment nor apparently think
ing that there was anything at all singular II
her position"
"Yuu say that you play chess" seid, at last
checking my merriment by great effort, out o
respect for the fair face and beautiful eyes that
saw before me. Would you like to play q
game2"
"Oh, yes" answered the deposit, ~ should
like it very much. You can't think"
We sat down to play chess. do not know
how long we were at it; but this know, thai
if the entrance of Mr.. Levi had not disturbed us
it would have continued probably to the pres
ent day. There was first move. Then lone
conversation, during which the blue eyes seem
ed to be intently studying the blue eyes. Ther
another move. Then more conversation, unit
at last the rival forces on the Rajah's ivory bat
tle.tield got into such a state of confusion that
believe Herr Harwitz would have become lu
natic at the first glance he cast upon them.
AS for me, thought of nothing but the sim
pie, beautiful young creature who sat opposite
- y;ei Of oh r
being moving about my lonely chambers, max
ing the gloom gay, aud causing the bachelor
barren life to bloom like the dry rod of the higl
priest.
In the midst of all this in came Mr.. Levi witt
my five dollars and the duplicate for the chess
board. He seemed rather astonished at the qui
ct intimacy which had been so suddenly estab
lished between myself and his deposit.
"Mr Levi" said l to him, 81 had no idea thai
YOU lent money on this species of personal secu
rritv. have a rich old uncle, who won't die
and leave me my share of bis property, that
would be very glad to raise something ON. How
much will YOU give me on himl He's in an ex
celent state of preservation, and has served il
the last war;"
"Oh" he replied laughing, without paying
any attention to my proposed avuncuar ex
change, "Nellie Lee is capital girl, and it:
sometimes as well that she should be away from
her father. He" aud here he made an ex
pressive pantomime suggestive of rum. looked
at Nellie. Her large eyes were filling with tears
"Don't be angry with me, Nellie" continued
the pawnbroker, kindly. "You know that he
has very bad habits or you would not be here
NV wife is very fond OF Mr.. Papllote and fol
that matter her father adores her, and as he
never will finish any of his pictures without the
spur of some terrible necessity, we contrive tc
get him to put Nellie in what he calls pawn, anC
then he is sure to work to get the money TO re-
deem her. Nellie, child, don't dry"