The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-04-30

IL h"'Fow anu uirty street, where tht
few lamps burn dimly, and the faithful
guardians of the night but seldom venture
where crime and misery have their constan
abode, and the air reeks ever with the un
wholesome vapors of all the concomitant.
Of wretchedness, there stands high anC
gloomy house whose barred and bolted win.
dows are seldom opened to the light of day
and whose threshold is never crossed saw
by the poor applicant who seeks BY the bar.
ter of some needed trife to keep the vol
but little longer from the door, Th.
'three gilt balls which hang above the doc,
tell plainly enough the calling of its occu.
pants, and they toll, too, to him who ma,
pause to think, volumes of misery which
pray, reader, you nor | may never know.
Before this door, the half-frozen out.
cast stands; it was no unaccustomed place
to her, it had swallowed up little by little al
her store, and year after year the wages OF
her misery had been put in irredeemablt
pawn, till it might almost be said the youth
and health, and beauty of Jenny Irwin were
mouldering among the gaudy trinkcts and
faded fnery which filled this house unto it,
very roof. The door partly opens to he,
summons, and after a quick scrutiny the
An aged lsraelIte stands behind the hief
counter, and waits for her application
watching the while with something of pity
in his look, but more of craft and distrust
'What will you give me on this p she
says, taking the cross from her bosom.
The willy Hebrew reached forth his bony
hand across the counter, and taking the
examined it with great care, the poor wo.
man meanwhile standing and watching his
face with strange look of anxiety and i'll
suppressed emotion.
'What will | give you on this?' he return.
ed sharply. 'lf give you what you deserve
it would be a lodging in the Tombs. We dc
not receive stolen goods.
'Liar, liar' shouted the woman, springing
forward to clutch the jewel; 'you know
better; you know full we'll, whatever else
she may be, Jenny Irwin is not n thief!
Here give me back the cross give it to me
back you must not trihe with me now =
and springing upon the counter, she was
about to snatch her treasure from the old
mans hand, when the door Of back room
opened, and large powerful woman of GO
years dashed upon the scene, and lifting her
up like child, placed her again upon the
floor.
'What means this p she said: then seeing
the cross the old mans hand. she seemed
to understand the whole. 'Where did YOU
get it, chlld?' she asked. 'Iore sit down and
tell me all about it? and she reached her Il
chair.
Jenny took the pro ffered seat, and pressing
both hands upon her heart, went on with
painting voice and said:
4, 4 4 IL, - Al l. =
gift Of my mother; have never parted with
it; tonight am to see q friend, an old
dear friend; have not seen him for a long
time; | wished to appear somewhat rs |
used to; | wished some clothes lust for to-
night, and | thought thought | would
come to you, aEd-and get some of my
things, and a little money, only for to night,
or few days. and then | perhaps, could
pay it all back, and-and you would never
lose: AIN not u thief
She paused and looked up with an ex-
preston of painful anxiety in the woman's
face.
'lf give you clothes aud money, before
morning you will get on one of your sprees,
and be carried drunk to the station again
the woman replied.
81 shall never be carried drunk to the
station again-nevern was the response,
with much of sadness in the tone.
The woman looked at her. and shook her
head in silence; she saw an expression there
which she had never seen before. At length
she got up, and going behind the counter.
talked long and earnestly in whispers with
the Old man. After while she returned,
and seating herself beside her visitor, said :
Now, Jenny Irwin. want you tell me
the truth: do you really wish this money
be such fool would you, as to 90 cutting
that sort would you?'
meet an old friend; l would appear to him
tonight; | expect to be better off after see
him: this is Gods truth =
very well, say no more, child; you shall
have your clothes and some money. How
much do You want.
'''ivc me my black dress. my velvet hat.
one of those new pair of boots, my black
mantii!a, some under clothes, pair of my
best silk hose, couple of handkerchiefs. II
PAIR of gloves and twenty dollars-this is al
| ask; and here You may keep all these rs
additional security and she drew large
package of pawn tickets from her pocket,
and placed them in the woman's hand.
'And there is one more favor | would ask
Mrs. Levi, if you would be so kind have
given you great deal of money the last five
years-would you give me the use of room
to dress? have no where to go.'
There was something so different in the
words and manne Of Jenny Irwin from
what they had lately been that the good
Mrs. Lewis heart was touched, and she gave
her all she asked.
The articles were soon selected. and lead
ing her visitor to q room, Mrs. Levi assisted
her in many little Offices in kinder manner
than she had ever done before. As she af
terward said, sit seemed as though she was
made to do it-she couldn't tell how
After brief space of timethe back room
were heard ordering the shop boy to go for
a carriage
The City Hall clock had struck ten; old
St. PauPs had taken up the strain, and
Trinity was just joining in, as carriage
rolled noiselessly over the snow up to the
Of Solomon Levi. A moment after,
the door opened, and lady dressed in black,
with her veil drawn, emerged from the d lrk
hall and entered the vehicle.
'Where, madam = said the driver.
'Taylor's!'
Slam went the door, and up the dark
street the carriage made its way as noiseless
ly as it came.
Arriving in front of Taylor's the carriage
drew up, and bidding the driver wait, she
entered the rich saloon, and taking seat in
one of the unoccuped alcoves gave her Or
ders to the waiter.
Coffee or tea madam he asked as he was
about to depart.
Neither responded Jenny; bring me
brandy p - "..
As soon as her supper made up of viands
such as had long been stranger to her lips,
was placed before her, she moist ned her
lips with brandy, and proceeded to partake
and, although faint with long fasting, by an
almost superhuman effort she mastered the
cravings Of hunger, and ate slowly and neg
ligently, as though such fare was an every
day matter with her. Finishing her supper
and draining the last drop in the goblet, she
paid her reckoning at the counter, and bow
ing with slight, negligent grace e-with the
same air that once marked her training as n
thanked the servant who ushered