The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-13


ing each chance met friend merry Christ mas
eve; The. mellow laughter of the home-return-
ing apprentice boys, stopping TO exchange an
occasional snow bali, and the jolly chorus of
some German youths who sang the Christ
mas songs of faiherland, alone broke the still
ness of the night; but they. woke no happy re
Isponses within the heart Of Jenny Irwin. Her
mind was busy with darker thoughts, and rome
of the genial iIHences of the sweetest night of
all the year would ever bring back TO her the
JOYOUS emotions which fl.ed her soul " hen life
with her was bright and pure. she was thought
the fairest girl of all who graced the merry
board Of Christmas eve. ~
Ii must be so,' she said at length. rising
with difficulty from the chair. and putting on
her tattered shawl and faded bonnet; it must
be SO My last game may as weil ne played
now have nothing more to win, nothing to
Loser
Ont into the desolate night she goes, shiv-
ering and staggering with cold, and misery,
and pain. Forth into the street; a moment
she pauses in irresolution at the Threshold;
a moment she shripks from the bitter Storm
and then with compressed lips and shawl
drawn tightly about her, she hurries on The
passers-by turn aside and give her he path,
way. as. with head bent down, she makes her
way through the snow. Some turn aside to
look at her, and sigh To think of her misery;
some greet her with ribald jests and coarse
salutaiions; but nothing Of sympathy or kind
ness. or jibes, or any words for evil or for
good. can ever mske her pause or turn from
the errapd on which she is bound 4f
Tn narrow and dirty street where the few
lamps buru dimly. and the faithful guardians
of the night but seldom venture. where crime
and misery have their constant abode, and he
air reeks ever with the unwholesome vapors
of all the concomiants of wretchedness, there
stands high and gloomy house, whose barred
and bolted windows are seldom opened to the
| light Of day, and whose Threshold is never
crossed, save by the poor applicant who seeks
BY the barter of some needed hifie 10 keep the
wolf a little longer from the door The three
tgiIt balls which hang above the door tel.
100, TO him who may pause 10 think, volumes
ot misery which pray, reader. you nor may
never know.
Before this door the poor, halffrozen out
east stands; it was no unaccustomed place to
her; it had swallowed up little BY little all her
sore, and year after year the wages of her mis-
cry had been pnt in irredeemable pawn. tillif
might almost he said the vonth, and health,
and bean,y of Jenny Irwin were Wondering
among the gandy trinkets and faded 6nery
which Fl lied this house unto its very roof The
door partly opens TO her summons, aud afie
a cuiek scrutiny the chain is withdrawn, anu
she enters.
An aged Israelite stands behind the high
counter, and waits for her application, watch.
| ing The while with something Of pity in his
look, but mere OF craft and distrust. *
What viii you give me on this p she says,
taking the cross from her bosom. rs
The willy Hebrew reached his bony hand
across the counter, and taking the jewel, exam.
ined it with great care, the POOR woman
meanwhile standing and watching his face with
la strange look of anxiety and i'll suppressed
emotion. 10
sWhat will give you for this q he returned
sharply. If gave you what you deserve it
would be a lodging in the Tombs. We do
not receive stolen goods
Liar, liar 7 shouted the woman, springipg
forward to clutch the jewel; 'you know be,rer;
ron know full well. whatever else she may he
Jenny Irwin is not thief! Here. give back
the cross give it to me back you must no,
Itrihe with me now 7 and springing npon The
counter, she was ahont to snatch her treasure
from the old mans hand, when the door of &
back room opened, and large. powerful wo
man of sixty years dashed upon the scene. and
:. ifIing her up like child, placed her agair
npon the floor. saa
What means this ? she said; then seeing
the cross in the old mans hand. she seemed
to understand the whole Where did 20,
get it, child?' she asked. Here. sit dow1
aud tell me all about it ? and she reached i
chair.
3
both hands npon her heart, went on with pant
voice, and said:
Il did not steal the cross; it was the las
gift of my mother, ] have never parted viii
it; tonight am to see friend. an old, dea
lfrind; | bave not seen him for long time;
wished to appear somewhat as used to;
wished some clothes jnst for tonight. and
,honght-l thought i wonid come to yon. an
land get some IF my things and a little, MT
ney. only for to night. or few days; and The
; T, perhaps could pay it all back. and-and 20
would never lose; am not thief
She paused and looked up with an O.
preston of painful anxiety, into the woman
face. 3.53t IL
If ] give you clothes and money! hefo
morning you will get on one of your spree
and he carried drunk to the station again., tt
woman replied. oa9a
Il shall never be carried drunk to the static
again-never was the response, with nut
of sadpess in the tone. i g
The woman looked at her. and shook h
held in silence; she saw an expression the
which she had never seen before. AT leng
phe got mp, and going behind the count,
talked long and earnestly III whispers with /
lold man. After while she returned a
seating herself beside her visitor, said:-
Now, Jenny Irwin. ! want you to tell I
! the truth: do you really wish this money
) 1.-The nurpose you state 2 Yon wnnld NJ