The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1859-04-06
From The Great Republic MO'lthly, Jor March
The Dreadful Night /!
OR sd YsEjtk
THE FROZEN CORPSE
Ten Degrees Below Zero In the nj g.
reHE - frOpOlis. ~ar-s tsef a, n

4 . w nat norIlDie nlgnL reHafkeu one
gentleman to another, as they stood, shiver-
| ing with cold, on the corner of Broadway
and Houston street, on the evening of jan
uary 10th, 1859. tv 81 a8f.i4-
Dreadful" replied the other, through his
chattering teeth; Course that driver; why
don't he whip up his yorses when he sees US
standing here. By heavens, if had my
way, Id hang the whole blessed tribe of
them, without benefit "--=s... ss.y 81
"Ho, driyerl hold up, hold upl shouted
the two together, as they sprang forward
toward the passing stage. But the driver
appeared not to heed them, for the omnibus
kept steadily on its way, leaving the disap-
pointed men standing in the middle of the
street, swearing, andcursing all stage drivers
in general, and this one in particular ~.
Never mind l have the rascars num-
Der, and shall teach him lesson to-mor-
row. Illshow him whether he can pass a
gentleman in this way with impunity. Come
along, Fred; there's saloon open, and Wen
just take 3 nip" to keep us warm. i hope
that rascal will freeze tonight; 'twould
serve him just right and so the twopass-
ed into the saloon, glad to seek shelter from
the biting cold of the night air. Y i7a -
Still the stage kept ON its way, nor did the
driver heed the occasional signals to STOP
lady, the only passenger, pulled the strap,
but as the stage did not pause, visions of
cases OF abduction rose in her mind, and
she shrleked murder at the top of her
voice. As well might she have thought to
arouse the long slumbering dead, as to ex-i
pect assistance on such night. Every one,
policeman and all, were either in bed or
hnddled round some warm stove or blazing
fire. Finding her shrieks of no avail, the
woman tugged frantically at the strap,
which, giving way, enabled her to spring
from the stage to the icy pavement. Her
foot slipped and she fell heavily to the
ground, stunned. r.ef s55.s ss,iers
The driver did not stop to assist her, but
sat, imraovable and cold, on his lofty box
Although he held the reins firmly in his
hands, it was evident that the horses guided
their own steps, and kept on the beaten
track of their line gradually nearing the
stables--their destination. Their pace slack
ened to walk, and thus slowly they drag
ged the heavy omnibus, the wheels Of which
creaked and rang again on the crispy snow
As the stage passed through one of the
fashionable streets, the creaking of the
wheels attracted the attention of a wealthy
merchant, as he sat with his family around
warm, comfortable fire. Going to the
window, he Scraped away tho frnst from the
pane so that he could see out into the dark
street.
Poor fellow, | pity him, said the rich
man, addressing his wife and children, who
now gathered around the window to peep
through and satisfy their curiosity. "Poor
fellow, how cold he must feel Really, it is
enough to melt one to tears, when we think
how the poor must suffer, these cold days
and nights"
In the midst of this humeae remark, the
front door bell rang, and IA beggar, closely
muffied in a ragged shawl, asked, " in the
name Of God,' for a few cents to buy food
and fuel with.
''Tell her." said the merchant, addressing
the servant, "that we don't give to beggars
our contributions are made to that noble il
stitution, The we'll paid Guardians Socit-
ty, for the Relief OF the Poor and Hungry
And tell her, James, that if she files an affi-
davit, tonight, of her perfect respectAbility,
and godly adherence of all spirituous liq-
uors she will bear an equal chance with
others, to be taken in, and clothed, and
fed
James did as he was ordered, and the
beggar left the door hungry and cold. She
| likewise was it again closed, and the door
of the rich man was closed TO keep out that
cold which chilled her to the bone. As she
descended the steps the servant 5 heart was
touched, for he heard SODA sob which
seemed wrung from the gloomest depths of
a broken heart. Flinging open the door, he
sprang after her, and slipped into her hand
| her cold, benumbed hand--a two shilling
| nia hod for
barely supported himself and an aged parent.
| He gave his mite, and, like the poor widow,
will surely receive his reward. 1t is true
that he knew by the woman's breath that
| she lacked that "godly adherence spoken
of by his rich master, but he also knew that
| the pangs of hunger desolate 6ome, and
heartless world, were soonest forgotten in
the wine cup. Had he been a scholar, he
W ould have found philosophy lurking be-
meath the altars of Bacchus; but he was
neither learned nor a philosopher; and,
! therefore, only answered the dictates of a
warm and kindly heart when be gave to the
poor and suffering beggar. The servant
| gave in secret his master, before all men.
| One gave his money to the needy; the other
to the {" Well-paid Guardians, etc. Both
will have their reward, but zoe Judge not.
When the servant had left the parlor, to
| give his masters answer to the beggar the
merchant prince turned complacently to-
ward his admiring wife, and held forth as
| follows:
" How thankful we should be, my dear,
that an All-wise Providence has given US
bountifully of the good things of this world,
to the end that we give to the poor. And
| how oery thankful should the said poor he
that We out of the kindness of our hearts,
have established SO excellent an institution
as the Well-paid Guardians Society, for
the Relief of the Poor and Hungry
James, as he passed through the parlor,
uncharitable and ignorant fellow, remem-
bered, and repeated between his teeth, that
text, so unsavory to princes, which says
something about camels, needles eyes, rich
men, and heaven.
"What did you say, James?" asked
the mereh mt, who overheard the word
heaven.
Nothing, please your honor, sir; only
II was trying to make ont something of the
meaning OF what that beggar said when she
| left"
What did she say, James p f'1
"Sir2"
" hat remarked she "