The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1861-01-09

: : Il vas Born amid s.orm--ls. il perish in
n,"s' mel -s0lI
% . THE IRON VA UsLT..
4 STORY OF A SAN FIR ANCIsCo LocKsMIFH.
am q locksmith by trade Nj call
ing is ., range one, aad possesses a GER
tain sort of fascination. rendering it QUE
of the most agreeable of pursuits Many
who follow it see nothing ia it but labor;
think Of nothing but its returns in gold
6 and silver. To me it has other, charms
-stha1othe money it produces am called
= pou. almost daily. to ouen doors and
pea. into neglected apartments; TO spring
the stubborn locks of safes. aud 81 oat MP
l0d the treasure piled Within : to- qiiietly
alsatss he apartments Of ladies with more
beauty than discretion, and pick the locks
Of drawers containing peace destroying
uissives, that the dangerous evidences Of
= wandering Affection may not reach ,ht
eye. of : husband. or father. in possession
% the missing key; to force sthe faSehr-
-ings Of cash boxes aud repositories of
records, telling. Of men made suddenly
rich, OF corporations plundered. of or
phans robbed of hopes crushed. of fami-
lies ruined Is there no charm in all this?
emo food for speculstion? no scope for shr
range Of pleasant fame Then who wouid
moi be locksmith, though his face is be-
fierined with the SCOT OF the forge, and his
- hands are stained with russf zs9a ~ isAesa
But Ihave story TO tell-not exactly
story, ei eisher-for story implies the
compilation ss well as the beginning of y
70 parratiye---aad niue iescarcely more than
atAe -insroduction to one. Let him who
: deals In things Of fancy, write the rest.
: In the spring of 1861 think it wasin
~ April--I opened little shopsop Kearaey
street. and soon worked myself into q
fair business. Late one evening. lady,
closely yelled. entered my shop, and pull
ing from beneath cloak small jepAnned
box. rsqacsted mo TO open il The lock
wss curiously constracted. aud | was aii
io Of anshoar in fitting IL with . keydIa The
lady eemed nervous ut The delay, and 81
length requested me to close the door. j
.swss littie surprised at the suggestion,
spsbat Of course complied Shutting the
copr, and returning to my work. the lady
.dsxiihdrev ber veil. disclos,ng as sweet d
nj esee - can well be Imagined There was
.xsal estlsssness ia The eye and "a pailoss il
the chee <, however. which plainly told o
!, heart HAT ease. and In moment every
g esnots on for her had given place to that 9
:zls q Perhaps you are not well, madam, ant
ssssAs night siris too chiiiyi's said |, rsthe
'sHinquisitively. iA9 S. . s,tP
II felt . rebnke in her reply: I'm re
10 qussting you to close the door. ] had NJ
a other object than to escape the oosersa
ton Of ysssers."
1 did not reply, but thoughffuiiy con
tinued my work. She resumed: :. Tina
little box contains valuable papers -pri
vste papers-and | have lost The key. o
ithas been stolen. / should not wish t
!, have you remember that 1 ever came herr
.,,oa such an errand," she continued, will
81 some Hesitation, and giving me ., lool
which il Was no difficult matter to under
stand. 80 s,s $ - 4 z = -, s2' So - +,
- Certainly. madam. IL you desire Is. !
III eanpot forget your face. 4 will At leas
nfattsmpts 10 lose the rec llection of ese
seeing il here. !" .tt4 . ~ age5 hsaR3
ssas The lady bowed rather coldiy at wha
/ considered a fac compliment. and ]
sopnoeeedrd with my work. satisfied that ,
1essdisn discovered paftiaiity for me shat
81 othios . a., "A with ,fs visit HAVING srit.