Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-11-28
LUCIUs sTREET.1

1--WE shall be on hand for the fun by
eleven o'clock. The boys'll meet at Sparks
saloon, and after we've had a small treat
there, we shall start out, Capital bonfire
that old barn'll poke.. ! tell you, it'll be
sport to hear The old rafters crackle, and
see the flames shoot up. "You'll be one
of the fellows, Luce?"
Eyes; l believe In take my share in
the fun. too. There won't be any risk, I
spose?'
20, no, just frolic to stir ones blood
up. You needn't be afraid of getting
your neck into any scrape. I'll ,ns,re it,
and the boys have taken fancy to you"
"l'll be with EN- on time"
And so, having ccomplished his object,
the first speaker hurried out Of the small
restaurant behind whose red curtains this
conversation had transpired. The frs,
speaker had face which the more it was
penetrated the less it would have pleased
-adark coarse face, with comely features,
but with quick, covert leer in the eyes,
and a mouth at once loose ard resolu,c
in short, an evil face, though still young
one, and from which, had its owner rested
under any suspicion, shrewd observer
would have predicted the worst.
The face Of the other speaker was
younger, not yet out of its teens alto.
gether different face. No evil passions
hac written themselves Ell those smooth
lineaments; it was boys face still.
comely, intelligent, honest. ga.
Honest, and yet had you caught its ex.
preston at the close Of this conversation,
1t would not have satisfied you. Some
anger, or desperation, Or wrong, or all of
these together, had suddenly Ieaped ou,
of the soul, and held temporary dominion
over the face
The history Of Lucius Street vas simply
snat or rnvusa"us or young men III our
large cities. He had left bis home in the
country q year before, and entered large
+ warehouse, ~where he WAS one of the IN.
nor clerks. He was good hearted, So
cial, impressible youth. with no knowledge
of the evil in the world and Of couse
there WAS great danger for him in the new
life and new associations amid which he
was thrown.
His mother was dead no letters full of
tender solcituae and loving cousel came
with their soft still vcire, to wander up
and down the hidden cham, ers of his
thoughts, to settle like white doses of
peace upon bs soul, amid these strange,
exciting scenes, and surrounded by care
less, weak or wicked companions.
The quiet country life Of Lucius Street,
had not prepared, and seasoned, and
strengthened him fur this sudden trausi.
tion. 1t was the old sad story. His com
panions wanted to show him something
Of the world and in their estimation it
was vastly more disgraceful to be called
green, than to be called dishonest. $685.
So Lacius began to smoke and to swear
and to 60 to the theater, and occasionally
to drink; and at las. he fell .-.,e
1t was after an oyster and cham paisn
supper that had been gotten up, and he
needed ten dollars in order to pay bis
share Of the expenses. Excited by wine,
he purloined ten dollars from the money
81
drawer. The theft was discovered within
twenty four hours afterwards; and Lucius
was expelled from the ware house in
disgrace.
Nor the next week he was unsuccessful.
in obtaining a new clerksb,r, and idleness
only served to bring him among lower
associates. Among them was one who
gained great ascendancy over him He
had bold. 'dasbing, reckless way, was
fascinating taIker, aud had the art of put
ing things Sc tia, al evil deed lost half
It's hediousness, and attracted and allured
the weak and inexperienced, He took
pains TO poison the youths whole moral
nature, with his specious words, his bold,
dashing, staggering ways, and his fashion,
Of calling acts tha, would have sent him
to Jail or state prison, "spice Of fun,'
"joIly lark" or = smart dash.' ''
And so Lucius Street WAS persuaded
into joining n COMPANY Of young men into
joining company Of young meo to whom
his companion had introduced him, aud
who that night had cosenanted I'll set ere
to An old barn, just for tho fun they
ssi!. Nothing would be destroyed that
would be worth enough to pay for the
frolic"
+ But a. Locus Street went out Of the
restaurant that morning, his face was pale
and troubled. and he sighed heavily to
himself. Al, II there had been some
good angel q. that monen. walking by to