The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-16
fFor the Noapareil.j
A DREAM OF LIFE.
by LUX NATURE.

with rotten wood-piles, and 1t IS seldom
trsverssd by other feet than those Of the
Poor! Here, We turn this corner. Now
down this allsy-what dismal lane-hark
oh, 'tis only noise issuing from yon-
what shall call it He'll upo" earth
Yes it seems appropriate to term it such
But listen? Do you hear that coarse burst
of laughter accompanied by loud curses and
blasphemipg7 Let US hurry away from this
rumhole Of misery-there, breathe freer
now! But one block farther. Do you see
that low row of smut colored hutsp All 10
dark; No, there is faint light at the win
dow Of the underground apartment of this
one here are the steps, and with your per-
mission we will descend and enter that room.
Carefully, give me your hand, there! How
slippery they are! Don't brush against the
sides, for they are lined with dust and cob
webs. The door! there it is push back
that old rusty bolt, now pull-harder-is
has been long since the old door was open
ed last. Don't mind the screaking, step in.
What do you see? All, rats; hear them
scamper of-Ugh how dismal, how damp,
how cold. Does any one live here? All,
an old woman; yes, see now! Sick is she?
Perhaps dead, she does not notice our ap-
proach. Dead! no she breaths. Thank God
forthat! We may yet render some assistance
before it is too late. But is she alone ?
Does no one visit her That grease cup
and rag that serves for a lamp, sitting on that
rickity old stand at the head Of the bed, is
the only indication that would lead you to
believe so, and even that might have been
placed there days ago, by herself, before she
became too weak to rise from her bed. No
chairs, only three or four blocks used in
stead-Yes, here is a chair, an old fashioned
rocking chair, that probably belonged to her
parents, but that and the old stand are the
only pieces Of furniture in the room, for
her bed is on the floor. A straw tick and
some ragged quilts, with one coverlid, that
though faded and dusty, looks as if it had
belonged to the possessor Of wealth. No
table, no pantry, no stove little corner
fireplace, but no indications Of fire having
been kindled for weeks.
But she moves ! listen, she speaks Let
Us 20 .nearer-for her voice sounds as hol-
low as if it already came from the tomb.
She wanders, and her dreams are Of the
past. Hear!
"Thank you, daughter, for those flowers,
how sweet they are, where did you find them.
Here is white rose-my favorite flower.
It is not single one from that bangle in
the summer house? No, that's right, must
leave that untouched till your Pa returns.
1t is the bush he replanted there the morn
ing he went away-A pleasant surprise to
lind when he comes that it has bore him q
rose-a white one too, he said it would not
bloom SO soon, but it has. There, that will
do dear-what nice clean pillows. Yes, my
head feels better now was sick? didn't
know it! we'll yes, feel well now. Tell
Polly to cook some nice mince pies for din
ner-shc will find barrel of green apples
behind the cellar door. Tell her to hurry,
for we dine at two you know-exactly at
two, remember! lie will be back at half
past one, but he can eat piece and wait till
.two-yes tco, they will all be here by talo :;
yes, that window, draw the curtain aside,
there, love to breathe the fresh air-how
close it is, throw open the shutters darling
wider. Listen, has the clock struck two.
There is a glass Of water on the mantle, is
there not, yes just ono sup-Two! yes at
two they'll come, exactly at - quick
how confined, how sultry-Two! does it
strike? wider, air-water, quick-They
come? They m E"
Poor women she has gone died, but not
in the pleasant cottage her fevered mind had
fancied. No! twas only a last aesting re-,
membrancs Of the pasta fauciful framed
dream--a Dream Of life!
HOW He HIT HIM.
A famous New Haven lawyer named Chap
man, once got handsomey come up with by
a female witness. 4 man had been knocked
down by his neighbor. The witness had
seen the blow given, and was doing her best
to describe the scene. But Chapman, who
was for the defendant, was not easily salts
fed.
"How did he strike him, my good wo-
man, ho,r? ?"
Why, yer see. sir, he stood
g But hov did he hit him? want to
know Just how.'
"Pm tryin' to tell yer! You see Ike
was q stannin'-"
al can't stop to hear all that again
want to know how he hit him. You can't tell
q straight story can you?"
The woman hesitated, and seemed trying
TO consider what to answer; when he bel
lowed forth, as if the whole fate Of the uni
verse depended on the testimony:
off YOU have come here to testify in this
case, would you have the goodness to tel
me how the blow was struck ?"
The witness looked at him with blazing
eyes, and shaking her clenched fist, an.
swered:
"IfI had brooms;ck, and was nca,
enough, I'd show you how
CT 4 Yankee recently stepped into ar
academy up town, and informed the princi
pal that he had dropped in to learn frencs
and navigation that afternoon, as he was 60
ing to sail, as mate of vessel, for thu
port Of Marseil!es, in the morning.
CO The Elder kean, having quarrellet
with, the manager of Drury Lane becam
anxious to effect a reconciliation. II
wrste to him in short but expressive term
- am at Bdth.-kEAN.' The answe
was equally laconic Stay there.-RlcH.
DOGMATCAL.
A Cincinnati paper tells this of Dutc
Dog. which, Of course, knows how to read
"Two families reside in the same dwel
ling on Front street, near the mill. One O
them, Christie Doyle, occupies the first foo
and takes the Enquirer. The other Ger
man. lives up stairs, and is subscriber t
the Folks Freund. Both papers are throw
into the same hall every morning by tn
carriers. The German has dog, a specie
Of setter,' that is known throughout tn
neighborhood for his sagacIty. When hi
master rises in the morning, the dog march
Is down to the hall for tho paper, and in
r,tn-,s with III, t,armap snant