, 1861-08-22
paY-dream of the Times.

Day-dream OF the Times.
II was very cold and dark for the month Of
May, and the day was so dreary It seemed as II
the great city had been deserted and left to silent
solitude. The cruel north wind howled through
narrow alleys and whistled between the cracks
in poverty's door mournful requiem over de-
parted sunny days, while the sleet and snow and
rain attacked the miserableiew who were obliged
to wander about the streets, as i lighting for the
very life Of the unfortunate outcasts. 1t was q
day when the rich wrapped themselves more
closely in their costly furs, and shuddered when
fresh blast ratified the window easements, as Il
they mistrusted the power Of their solid walls
and bright fires to drive away the cold. II was
day when the forsaken and the outcast huddled
together in their moist damp cellars, and leaned
over feebly- y-fiickering Goals with their chins
clenched in their thin, scrawny fingers, thinking
perhaps, Of those better days in "auld lang
syne," which heaven kindly leaves in the mem.
ory Of every fallen ore; or, perhaps, cursing
man for his "inhumanty to man" cursing thenl-
selves for selfdsstruction, cursing the world rs
whtened sepulchre, and cursing God for giving
them life.
In dingy Wall street office sat young man
alone, with his eyes fixed upon the DID, fashioned
fireplace, rs Il reading pleasant story In The
merry coal blaze that wrapped the bars Of the
X
ney as IL to spite the tempest in the open street.
Long, long sat that man by his lonely Rreside,
will no one to interrupt bis reverie, and no one
to watch his thoughtful face, save, perhaps, the
wandering ghost Of some departed lawyer, who,
In the flesh, had wrought so much evil that even
Pluto declined the pleasure Of his society, send.
ing him back to the scenes Of his earthly deeds.
Hour after hour marched along the faded and
scaly dial Of the old Dutch clock IN the corner,
and the mans thoughts went out into the world
and read the tragedy now filing every heart
with sorrow. 800 f8 .F.9e a6 i- 4Ea
He saw the mighty marts Of trade 60 down in
ieebleness to the dust from which they sprung.
He saw the sail, once wet in the spray Of the
northern seas and dried in the fever Of the Gulf
Stream, Tapping like useless rag In the rotten
dock, not valuable enough to pay for pulling 1t
down. lie saw valleys once musical with the
hum Of thousand spindles, and the rattle Of a
million wheels, and smiling with that healthy
glow which the angel Of Industry ever giSeS,
still and silent as 1 country chuTchyard. The
factory was slowly crumbling a,sy with It's cob
webbed machinery, and the engias throbbed no
more with the bubbling life Of old, A hush, as
IL Of death, hung over the valley, and living crea
lures had left the spot, as II Il were to be
Stunned. He saw the fabrics Of Gar distant isles
heaped up on neglected streets, piled, like mon
uments, over disastrous extravaganza. He lis
tened for the quick, short breath Of the iron
horse, but il came not, for the faithful old SER
want Of inland trade had long been abandoned
for want Of use. He saw the gappt form Of
Poverty stealing into homes once supposed sa-
cred from It's attacks, while the skinny finger Of
Ruin pointed to still higher victims He saw
feeble infancy rocking itself into the, sleep Of
death, with its vain struggles, unmatched and
uncarcd for, like poisonous weed. Blooming
maidenhood went about with the tattered rem
nanis Of faded garments tfumpeting to the
winds its tale Of sorrow. Strong manhood gro
yelled in the ruins Of his most brilliant achieve
menls, while the memory Of other days pierced
him like q tWo-edged sword. Helpless age with
sunken eye and toothless gum, mumbled an un-
meaning curse as the light Of life Hickefed dimly
In It's socket, with sickening snuiiy smell, such
as swells up from a badly trimmed lamp
The winds hOwled more iiercoly, and the win
dows ratified loudly with the pelting storm, and
the Young man looked above, and, rs clear as
Belshazzar saw the handwriting upon his ban
quet wall, 80 this young man read IN the dark
eued sky, traced in words or lightning glare.
"Behnld the triumphs of Secession Suffer the
fend Of Disunion to live and you have read your
country's fate !"
The man shuddered in his Office chair, and well
he might overs picture likethe one he had seen.
Still more angrily buFst.the May storm, until the
man iaked the fire and gave It more coal. The
winds roarel, hksiimpatient demons, through
narrow halls, and twisted unfortunate signs from
their dusty boards, but the blaze Of the oce fire
went high up the chimney, until i giowed like 4
furnace heated seven times, and filed the room
with happyWarmth, and againthe young man
liz saw the bones Of friends bleaching 10 a land
Of sun and flowers Mighty cities were draped
in mourning for absent citizens, never 70 return,
and sorr0wing families sent up . continued wall
over the sleeping dead. Blood dFinped from the
now pedceluI hilton, and stained the rivers bO-
som. Desolation walked through the land, and
his path W long and wide; but the skeleton Of
want and the dust Of ident s. had len the market
place and the workshop. The echo Of the steam
whistle rang out clear upon the moFnlng air, and
the din Of jarring wheels hushed tired humanity
to slumbers Trade again held high festival in
costly halls, and huge ships went down into the
great deem, loaded with millions Of merchandise.
Old men andgnaidens. young men and matrons,
and youth, in lile's green spring, went out from
happy homes with smiling faces and glad hearts,
and thanked God for lis goodness.
The wind died away. The sleety rain iell no
more for q warm sun was shining clear IN
cloudless sky, and through the open window
came song, as son and clear as Il sung by an
angel choir, N.' '-a'..''.f 81
5,aoh. N. stanspsps,ed Banner voiEvm vHl wave
Der The home q The free and the land 0f The brave
The Young man turned to his fire, but Il had
gone out, and over il hung . naked sword, with
this inscription: ..u E.g,rv
The Republics last trialP'
The following advertisement in the CRiro Ca
setis we pabish from = sympathy with the ad- |
yertiser: LOIsTl A small slurt ptirp about
the size Of young dOFg, Of black and tan com
A.. "a rsst - Yen-livtfiaa Hal An Il