The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-04-13
for TIE Yonle GJitfle,
/" Who sitteth in Judgment :

Three picayuoes and dime-enough for
rope, and enough for a dose of the never
wake-again Ha, ha, ha Let me think,
lei me think !
The room was a wretched one; the furni.
ture none save broken table, broken chair,
and miserable pallet, without covering of
any kind. Nhich lay hudded in the darkest
corner. The cold wind of late December
day swept unbarred through the broken
panes, while an occasional fake of snow Aoat.
ed in end fell upon the rodgh, uncovered
floor. t57 .5''' ei2 ssf7
1 Near the window, on the broken chair. lean
ing her wasted arms upon the table. with her
wan cheek pressed hard ag ,iast her tight.
clasped hands, and few small coin lying be.
fore her, sat woman upon whose face and
life of Eve andtwenty winters had stamped
the lines and cares of forty miserable years
Three picayunes and dime,' she said
enough far a rope and enough for a dose of
the .never-wake-again. Let me think, let
me think and the poor Magdalen sat. while
the day grew DINNER and the snow fell faster,
drifting ofiener into the window, and thus
solioqnized upon her wreiched fate:
Three picayunes and dime He little
knew, perhaps, when he threw the paltry pit
. tance to the miserable beggar who crossed
his path, that he had put the dagger in his
victims hands to finish the tragedy which he
began. - !. .ssys-
This is Christmas Eve Only eight years
tonight since was girl OF many hopes, and
: proud, oh how proud that he called ne fair,
EOely. eight years. tonight. sat at a different
! hoard from this. Let me sdri f.om
this vile bottle which has SO often drown
ed my misery perhaps it may bring back
! something of the joy which then was mine.
4 ~ remember it we'll He came with my
brother Dick; he sat near me at the board.
and I-wel. well. Ill not think of tt at; 'twere
!, better not. or may forget what this night OF
> all twere better remembered. Ah, Jenny
, Irwin, you have never thought before!
will the world believe tomorrow, when
the tale is told, that this is she-tbe outcast,
! in rags. biutslizsd, debased, miserable p
Would it be believed that men ever called me
beautiful 7 would it be thought hat was
once the beloved of a mother. the i.lol of a
fathers heart All me | grow sick to
!, = think at all. Here another drink
= the night is growing very dark--a merry
!, !. Christmas. forsoothl Where shall l go9
:. And yet, when ! think, for very shame I
would not be found looking thus by him. 1t
y matters not now what becomes of this bauble.
~ have kept it for many years as something to
bind me to the past have nothing more to
: do with that now-nothing with the past
y nothing more 7
y se The woman drew a rich diamond cross from
her bosom, fastened by piece of common
tsine around her neck. which flashed from the
ravs of street lamp through the window in
{ strange contrast to the misery of all around.
IN The night had now set in, and the room
would have been qnite dark but for the ligh
ss, of the lamps in the street. The snow wal
falling steadily. drifting into the room throngl
i,s the window and down the broken and unused
chimney.
$. its. Yes, yes, the woman went on, holding tn
cross in her hand, and looking at it throngl
streaming tears. 81 have been starving, sicb
ne homeless, dying for bread, or something T.
.. quench my thirst, and yeti have never parte
Z with this How many times the temptatio
we has come to me, and how many times have
re said to myself, .My mothers blessing ssha
never leave me. for she gave it with this Gro
.Lel N 4. Il ,,ouar laft mo hi uhn oan tall