Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-07-30
From Chambers Journal.
THE PATR0NESS.

THE PATR0NESS.
On one OF those densely foggy evenings SO
we'll known to the inhabitants of our great
parlors or drawing rooms will shut out the
unpleasant scene the windows present by
closely drawing the curtains, and ringing for
candles earlier than the wanted hour-when
the link-doys tender the welcome auxiliary of
| light to the foot-passenger who can afford a
trifing recompense, and none will venture out
of doors who have not some very pressing
Gallon such an evening in the winter of 1885,
a young and delicate pedestrian might have
been seen threading the maze formed by the
narrow streets of Whitechapel, without COM
panion or protector, and almost sinking un-
der the weight Of cumbersome parcel, which
bore the appearance OF needlework, from one
of the warehouses with which that neighbor-
hood abounds. Her hurried and terrified
manner attracted no attention, each individual
being intent upon reaching his own fre-side;
and the edarkness was so intense, that it shield
ed her from the observation of the rude passer-
| by, who otherwise would have frequently
stared beneath her coarse straw-honnet to gaze
upon face Of uncommon beauty. She stopp-
ed ever anon to relieve herself for few mo-
ments from her heavy burden, by resting it
on doorstep and paused at every turn,
passing her ungloved hand over her fair brow,
as if recalling to remembrance the spot on
which she stood. Her apprehensions lest she
had mistaken her way, redoubled when she
found herself in a place of which sho had no
recollection and in q state Of great excite
ment and alarm she now ventured to enter a
chandler's shop, that she might make inquir-
les. for the street in which her home was situ-
ated. Such question from one on whom
poverty has set its unmistakable SEAL is not
always answered with civility, especially when
it calls the shopkeeper, on cold evening,
from the snug parlor and blazing fire. Ruth
| Annesley, however, met with courteous re-
ply from the kind hearted widow to whom her
agitated appeal was addressed. She cheer
fully set about minute and somewhat lengthy
explanation but to the terrified and almost
bewildered girlthe hefrequentrepetition Of ''third
turning to the right, second to the left" &C.,
was like the jaryon of an unknown tongue.
| You are a stranger in Londonf" the widow
observed, looking compassionately upon her.
Ruth replied in the Affirmative adding that
she lived with an aged relative, who was anx-
ously awaiting her return.
"well, don't be frightened, my poor girl, +"
she kindly rejoined; "I'll promise you that
you shall be at your own door in less than a
quarter of an hour, II you don't mind trust
ing yourself to the care of my son. He is as
steady and as good lad as ever mother was
blessed with, she pursued, perceiving that
her auditor started a little at the proposition !;
$50 you need not be bit afraid to put your
self under his protection and he knows the
way so we'll, that he could so blindfold hav-
ing trodden it every day, Sundays excepted,
for the last seven years. Then he will carry
your load for you, for you seem well-nigh
tired, "she feelingly added, and she lifted a
stool from the other side Of the counter as
she spoke.
You are very good, ma'am, - was all Ruth
could reply, as she sunk exhausted into the
offered seat. The benevolent widow now hur.
ricl into her little parlor, in which the young
man alluded to was sitting, too much absorb
ed by the persual of book to hear what had
been passing between his parent and her fair
companion. But no sooner was the communi-
cation made, than he started upon his feet,
Ii. Va
hastened to perform the part Of knight-er-
rant to the distressed maiden. His precipi-
tanee was, however, checked by his good
mother, who suggested that OH such damp
evening, greateoat was necessary, tenderly
adding, that as he had suffered seyerly from
a cold last winter, it would be well for him to
wear her woollen shawl for cravat. Andrew
Crawford submitted to these precautions with
something like impatience, but actually blush
ed for his appearance on beholding the slight.
ly-clad figure of the frail, delicate girl whom
he was about to escort, and without uttering
a word, he tore the shawl from his throat and
wrapped it around her shoulders. Struck by
this unlooked-for kindness, as well as by his
frank and open countensnce, Ruth now un.
hesitatingly yielded her burden and herself to
his protection and guidance. During the
period occupied by the walk, the youth drew
from his gentle companion an artless recital
of the events of her brief life. She. and a
twin-brother, since dead, had, she said, been
left orphans in infancy. Her fathers relations
were persons Of property, but as they had re-
fused orender them any pecuniary assistance,
they must have been brought up in work
house, had not her mothers only surviving
kinsman--her grsnd-aunt-taken the charge
upon herself. This dear relative" she add
ed, "worked for US when we were unable to
work for ourselves, impaired to US all the
knowledge she possessed and was to us in
every respect like fond mother.n She then
proceeded to state that fresh misfortunes had
since assailed them that her brothers. long
illness had reduced them to a sad condition of
poverty and that her kind friend, now very
aged and in6rm, had lately been bereft of
sight. This circumstance had induced them
to come from Sheffield to London, with the
hope that the best medical aid, there afforded
gratuitously, would effect cure but this
hope had not been realised. She had, she
further said, whilst residing in the country,
gained some knowledge of tho art Of Dress
making, but had not been able to turn II to
=. n 49, .-.1- 4. Al.