Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-26
wardrobe to meet her demands, and was told to
lind some othar lodv dvipos

wardrobe to meet her demands, and was told to
lind some other lodgings
lie now took little attic, and made frequent
VISITS 10 the &c., DC office, inquiring regularly
IL there were any vacancies, and meeting as
often with cold repulses. On one of his visits,
ne accidentally came in contact with Hon.
hlchiileu Gass: poverty wonderfully changes
a man. Nebat, a month before would have
Indignantly spurned the thought of applying to
one who had so bitterly deceived him, but his
pride was now humbled-he advanced up to the
NJ. c., and, with a faltering voice. inquired
whether he remembered Israel Nebat %
Richilieu Class graciously grasped the poor Office
seekers hand My dear Mr.. Nebat, remem-
Der You very well. Arc you in good health, sir!''
my health is better than my''-began Nebat.
g am rejoiced to hear it. interrupted the
member, pleasantly; good morning sir
Time passed Congress adjourned, the
members returned to their homes and the
summer winds softly stirred the foliage in the
Capitol grounds; there might be seen half the
day, the dispirited and discOnsolate Nebat no
longer red'cheeked and neatly appareled, but
wan and hOllOw-St ed, slotehly and threadbare.
Reckless with despair ne fell to drinking and
locking himself up in his attic, remaii.c5 whole
days in a state of beastly intoxication He
would then spur up and try to obtain some en-
plOyment, and in a little while relapse into his
former incorporate habits.
At last, by continually haunting the &C., &c #,
Offices, he wore them out, and they gave him a
little temporary copying. Just enough to exc
out life with; just enough to revive that intense
burning fever of hope, which only an Office
seeker knows; just enough to make one feel
what poor, miserable dependence are govern
mental favors
One morning, while nodding over the news
papers at Browns" his favorite lounging
place, Nebat's eye unconsciously rested on the
following interesting paragraph in a leading
political journal
- THE Hon. RICHILIEU GASS-Our friends
will perceive, by referring to our telegraphic
columns, that this distinguished and truly es-
timable gentleman has been reelected to Con
gress by over 5000 majority His numerous
admirers here will rejoice at the result, as af-
fOrding signal proof of his popularity. No
man in Congress ever worked harder for his
constituency than Col. Gass did last winter,
and in thus returning him as their representa-
tive, they indicate their thorough appreciation
Of his splendid parliamentary abilities
Four years have flown by. 1t is Christmas
eve; lights are cleaning here and there from
the festive halls of the great and rich. Hearts
are huttering with joy, and merrie circles are
gathering around the family hearth to welcome
in the new Christmas. 1t is a cold, bitter cold,
rainy night, and he who stands shiyering at
yon corner, weakly attempting to draw around
him his tattered garments knows best how
cold il is- He had been dreaming, perhaps
that his landlord had thrust him from the
wretched little room, where, for the last three
years he habited; and that he had cursed him
for his hard hearted cruelty. He must have
been dreaming, surely, that he had wandered
around all day long, stalking stealthily into
hotels to warm himself, till ordered out, and
gazing hungrily in the windows Of restaurants
that. towards evening, he had made bold to
stop gentleman on the Avenue and supplicate
for few pennies, and that the gentleman had
shrank from him as he would from infection.
Was it really so, that he had tottered up the
steps of a lofty mansion, the residence of a SEN
ator named Gass," and begged for a morsel
of food, and been driven away by the insOlent
menial? ? 1t could not be; and yet the wind
blew fercely in his face. lie staggered on,
where, he knew not whittier. lie had heard
the merrie bursts of laughter, and had paused
and listened, a. though it were a very strange
sound, when his own heart was so dark and
lonesome. He thought he caught the strains
of music too, and wondered why the stars
changed to angel faces and looked smilingly
upon him. Now it seemed no longer cold lie
was tired and weary, and so he thought he
would lay down and take a little rest. Up rose
the noon in all her serene and silyery majesty.
and gszed pityingly on the rigid features of the
dead. Loud laughed the gay devOtees of plea
sure; healths were drank, and Members flirted
with vOluptuous danes. The song and the
dance went on; but there was one poor heart
that had felt and SOrrOwed without one sympa-
thising tear, that had now stopped aching for
ever.