Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-07-15
From the New York Mercury.
Light and Sha de.
The theatre is overl

| Crowuing, costing, ana pushing, the
audience slowly gained the street
Amidst the yelling and screeching of
haekmen and stage drivers, they spread
thenselves-fan-lik -like-over the pave
ment. Bright eyes, smiling lips, and
gay laughter, on all sides.
Gradually, these disappeared; the
glaring lights were turned off, and the
brightness gave place to the dull, gray
mist of that winters night.
Had all gone? No! Crouched on
the sted, down which, but few mo-
ments before, fair women with rustling
garments had passed. man, with his
face hidden in his breast, was still left.
a rude official, with no light touch
on this poor wretch's shoulder, wakes
him into life.
Sinking, half-fearful, half-uncon-
scious, he passes from the spot, though
not unmarked. An active step is be-
hind him, and before he has gone ma
ny PAGES, he is again accosted With
a cynical smile, which might either ex-
press curiosity or vexation, the beggar
stops.
"What do YOU want? / ask no
charity of you"
Il know it," said the young man,
in q soft tone. "but your silence has
moved me more than words. / have
watched you for some time"
Watched me? God help me !!
many have done that: it is no novelty
to be watched"
Not with an idle curiosity, believe
me. Ihave lived long enough to know
that neither words nor questions assist
the poor You are poor?"
Eyes; poor enough!"
"Well, well, do not do me the in
Justice to think speak to you for an
idle purpose. / was prompted to ad-
dress you from thought that yon had
not long been in this condition"
"No, not long; but long enough."
There was a pause, which was as
awkward for the one as for the other
to break. The young man, however,
did so by gently leading the object of
his solicitude aside from the scattered
crowds of the night population which
nuttered past them.
| While we leave them standing there,
with your permission, gentle reader,
we will travel back few short months
in our history, and place you in an
other scene.
Here there is no misery, no wretch
edness. Your foot trcads on luxury;
you are surrounded by it. Warm
draperies, bright lights, books, flowers,
music, and all that can make life en-
viable and smooth. No jarring dis
cords; all consonant and all refined.
Reclining on couch, her hand hold
ing book, which she does not read
is beautiful girl. She is Of soft,
gentle style Of beauty, whose very
bloom seems fragile, whose gentle eyes,
curtaincd by their lids, seem seeking
within herself the solution of some
pleasing problem. At little distance
from her is another, but a different
beauty. Seated at piano, whose
keys she strikes with quick and al
most fierce precision, is the very ideal
of 'Juno'-fre and animation spark
ling in her every movement. Her
head, beautifully set upon a pair OF
lovely shoulders, turns with sharp,
decided movement, and discovers a
face, perfect in it's form and magic in
its expression.
There is third person in the room
"a gentleman--a courtly, stately man
full Of years and dignity. He is watch
ing both these lovely girls with a
strange, ford look, in which there is
an under look Of pain.
"My dear children" he says, at last
passing between them, Il am sorry
that | should mar your happiness il
any way. but must speak to you, and
on painful subject"
She at the piano rises quickly, cross
cs to him, and forcing him gently to 9
chair, stands beside him, while the
fair girl comes from the sofa. and take,
low seat, and nestles herself close tc
him.
"What has troubled you, fathcr?'
ask they, almost in the same breath.
And he tells them. The old tale o
reverses in business, of misplaced con
fidenccs, of broken trusts by agents, 0
false credits. false honors, and ruin.
How do they bear it,
As true women should. and in spir
g it, Rising up they turn and look upol
the luxury around them-no longe
theirs-with wistful glance, checke'
by another full of love for their father
Fl The old finale to the old talel
A fall from affluence TO the closes
penury; another from that to poverty