Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-01-15
I AM HUNGRY.


bitterly cold. Every breath Of tue north
wester was Ike a knife, and it had sharp. 2
swift way Of cutting ones breath olf. as the {
blade reached down into the luugs, and Z
you felt it Poking about in the cells Of !
that delicate arrangement. TWAS about
ten o'clock. Broadway was deserted, aEd
Union Place Was as still as a country
graveyard, There was no sign OF life
in motion, as We came around the corner +,
of Eleventh Street, and saw Grace
Church standing like specter in the
starlight, and as We turned the corner q
gust Of wind inserted itself under our
cloak and brought Us up with vengeance.
Ittook some seconds TO adjust matters,
and by the time this was completed, there
was another character in motion, on the
pavement.
/ 1t was a man. That is 10 say, it was
what had once been man, but n close .
/ inspection of that face lett it doubtful 4
whether there was in reality any human .
ity lett in him. Ii was pale, thin couu-
tenance, that would have been fendi>h .
in its expression OF pain, but for the re-
lief Of an eye that had about it not lit /
tie of womanly softness and beauty
The man was perhaps forty years OF age
had once been tall, but was now bent
with some load, one might not guess what,
and the lines Of his features were not
harsh nor ungraceful. 1t was, in fact, one
of those faces that IS susceptible Of ex-
pressing the deepest, or the brightest
feelings ON which shadow and sunshine
fits alternately. II was long since sun
shine had been on il, that was plain
The lines Of grief were visible now.
He had been standing near the wall Of
a house, perhaps in doorway, where
+ he was invisible, bug advanced now, and
as the cloak was adjusted, he laid his thin
bony fingers on the breast Of it, as if he
would bar further progress, and in hus-
Ky voice demanded;
May ! speak to you :
D Human nature couldn't refuse to say,
speak on He spoke these words:
/ am hungry
There was not much in that. 1t was
: not an unusual incident, but there was
= something strange, startling, in meeting
a man with such a face and such eyes.
under a gashght in New York, and at
that time Of night, aud to hear him say i
am hungry
q Where is your homer 2 Home !?
g Il was the answer-full and complete
. That word of words, had no meaning 10
him. except in despairing memory.
There was cellar not far distant,
d where d beef-steak and a loaf Of bread
applied the immediate wants of the poor
/ fellow, and while he ate we talked with
him. and when he had finished, we part
= ed with him al he bar, he to wander on
in the cold night, and we to fulfil the eve
{ uing's engagements in brilliant assem-
+ bly, where music and dancing made the
. night fly swiftly and joyfully.
The mans story was simple. truthful
= and the story OF many men in this great
/ city, every one Of those cold winter lights.
At 1t was briefly thus:
% lie was from the country, where in
early life he had been well to do in the
world, and had a pleasant home. lie
could, if he would, but alas for him, il
le was agony when he did, remember the
ar golden fruit in the orchard, 10 the autumn,
the bright, flashing, sparkling, leaping
! hearth-fire in the winter nights, the coy
y corner. and the best beloved OF al faces
L the face Of h's mother, long since gone
DR. TO God. And there were other memories
that be barely limited at, bur did not tell
us Of. He shuddered as if with cold
when he spoke Of them. and changed lh,
a. subject But what country boy could
r grow 10 manhood with lut them.
lie remembered the glorious evening
!, at the huskings and the apple parings
e and Ike assemblies Of the young; lie re-
l. membered the corner behind the hall
to door, where the coats hung, under whicl
n. he caught the face of-who was Size tha
~ he kissed 50 gaily and that waited iher'
~ so willingly for the touch Of his lips Of
her red cheek ?:
She was very young, very gentle, yer.
TO fair; a country maiden without though
~ Of sorrow. without deceit or guile. An,
in the SIS if short years OF boyhood ans
!. Of youth, be loved her with surpassiu.
= love. Aud then she lay on bis brea.
awhile, his loving and beloved wife, au.
then-here is just all we know about H..
rk aAre you married = " I have been.
Have you children 2 No"
l. it not terrible to think Of il, tha
IA the thing can be verify true, that there
.eI wandering all night long. 10 the cold au
lonesome streets Of this great city, a ma
x. in whose memory still Remains the pi,
ture Of home and young wife, ges
lie and lovely woman, who lies now
the churchyard up country, while b
-p- goes wretchedly up aud down the worl'
lle starving aud dying IL must seem as
a. she could Dot sleep calmly ia ber gray,
she whose delicate hugers have - otle
been on bis forehead aud III biz dark hai
he now that those tangled masses hang 0r'
ak bis haggard c0uutenanee. and those tea
pies arc thin aud sunken from starvation
Hos can she rest Aben the body that siI
was accustomed 70 clasp ia brr shit
ere arms. lies on the pavement ~ Che y ini'
- night, and the lips that once pressed he
soit cheek with kisses, quiyer with eold
Il matters nothing 20 oar puFp9ae ho
the change came. il may have been B