The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1860-03-17
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From the Knickcrhncker for February. i
MY FIRST NIGHT In LONDON,

iiohh Avn" L VI lOoh VIC cttNCll
o'clock train for London, and arrived at
Eastern Square station about seven in
the evening. Having obtained cab, |
drove to Morley's Hotel, at Charins
Cross, house then, as now, very gene
rally patronizod by Americans.
| had risen early, and had travelled
nearly the whole day; l felt therefore
somewhat fatigucd, and by the time l had
dined, the evening also being pretty we'll
advanced, resolved to spend the rcmain-
der of it at home. Having changed my
boots for a pair of slippers, seated my
self in large easy-chair with the inton-
1ion of reading an hour or two, and then
going to bed. In pursuance Of this res
olution, l retired about ten o'clock to
my room. | then found myself, however,
by no means as sleepy as | had anticipa-
ted | should be by that time, and knew
too we'll how useless, under such circum-
stances, it would be to seek my couch
Immediately: for if once you begin to
debate the question with yourself as to
whether you be sleepy or not, the doubt
alone suffices to keep you awake at least
an additional hour. | therefore, notwith-
standing my previous determination of
passing the evening at home, resolved to
60 out for short time.
strollcd into the Strand, and had
walked about quarter Of mile toward
Temple Bar, when a curious piece of
clock-worsa in a jewellers window attrac-
ted my attention, and l stopped to look
ut it for few moments. While thus
occupied; child, miserably clad, APP
preached ne aud solicited aims. took
out Of my pocket handful of gold aud
silver, and selecting a small piece of the
latter, gave it to her. Having done this,
] was about to resume my position at the
window; wEeu woman dressed in black,
who stood near, aud who had hitherto
appeared to be engaged in contemplating
the same object which had interested me,
suddenly turned round and addressed
me: If'' she said, "yon are disposed
to relieve the necessities of the unfortu-
nate, l know case which should appeal
to your sympathies even more powerfully
than the ono you have just ministcred
to-"
While she was speaking l looked at
her attentively, and perceived before me
young woman apparently about two or
three aud twenty years Of age, whose
face might have been considered beaut-
full had it not been for Its extreme pal
lor. She was clothed, as l have said
before, in black, and her dress; though
I,x no rich in rin1
was not exactly what could be termed
shabby. Indeed her whole appearance
was that of 4 person very much above the
condition of mendicant. Her language,
too, struck me at once as being that OF
IN educated woman. Yet | could not
look upon what she had said in any other
light than as direct appeal to my purse
in her own behalf Still, as it was just
possible that l might be mistaken, | re-
piled by asking her for whose distress she
sought relief.
"My mother's," she said simply, but
with pathos of tone which at once excl
ted my sympathy, "sbe now lies on the
sick-bed, from which she may never rise;
and | am without the means of minister
ing to her comforts, or even to her neccs-
sites: This day found us almost with
out bread; l waited until nightfall, and
then came forth into the streets with the
purpose of soliciting charity. made
one or .wo Intellectual attempts to sneak
to some Of the passers-by, but my cour-
age failed me, and was about to return
home as penniless as left it, when Sec
ing you bestow charity upon child, a
sudden impulse prompted me to address
you. elf" she continued, "you fear to
be the dupe Of an imposter, you have but
to accompany me short distance to be
yourself the witness of the truth of my
statement"
had intended when she first spoke, to
give her few skilFngs, but as we pro-
eeeded, l perceived very clearly that
hers was case in which assistance, to be
effectual, must very much exceeded in
amount the sum l had proposed Offering
her, and l was not unwilling to verify
the truth of her story before slgnifed,
therefore; my readiness to accompany her
US she had suggested.
Without another word she at once
turned down narrow street which led
towards the Thames, and l followed her.
AS we walked along / noticed large
building which appeared to be some pub
llc edifce,' and inquired of my conduct
ress the name of it, She informed me-.
and added:
You are moi, Epresume, familiar with
this part Of the city,"
"No," I replied, "neither with this
nor amy other part, for I but landed at
Liverpool this morning, and this evening
set foot in London for the first time"
"But you have, doubtless, friends
here by whom your arrival is anticipa-
ted :" she said, in tone which manifest
cd degree of interest IN the matter
which struck ME, even at the time, as
being somewhat singular. However, |
answered that no one, so far as knew,
expected me-.
" Indeed" was her only observation,
and we again walked on in silence. We
turned first up one street and then down
another SO rapidly, that l became bewil-
dered and completely lost my way. We
found ourselves, finally, in a cul-de-sac
or blind alley, species of street, which
though rare with us, is frequently met
with IN London aud other European, cities.