, 1864-12-09
Romance.

oBlsck your boots, sir?" A sweet and clear
voice thus attracted my ear, as idled up Broad
way, on the day preceding Christmas, chatting
with my other self. With all New Workers.
acquired or native stOlidity and indifference to
appeals thus provocative Of sympathy and aid,
had no sooner caught the melancholy sweetness
of the cry, than | turned my eye upon the little
implorer and resolved upon having his black +"
in the only wish to learn something of his un-
fortunate history. He was of delicate frame, Of
stature tall for one so young Of mild blue eyes,
most interesting features, and with an address
which tactly betrayed respectable birth and ex-
allied feelings
tMy little fellow" said I, ''you look sickly
and ill-ftted for 50 bootless work. What's
your name, and where-do you live ?"
"My name, sir is Rupert Linsay, and live at
No 33 - street." was the simple reply; and
it was spoken with sweetness rarely becoming
the sex. l questioned him also about his pa
rentage and circumstances, when noticed that
tears in copiOus measure, were falling from his
large and beautiful eyes.
'Well, Rupert" l said, in a light and careless
tone, 'ths is certainly new way you have Of
mostening blacking-with your tears. What's
the matter, boy ~ But instead Of an answer,
the tears flowed faster and thicker, until they
SCARED and spotted the polish he had worked so
Justify to apply At length he stopped and,
looking up into my face said;
~ wish, sir, you could find time to visit my
mother tomorrow, in the morning. She is very
sick, sir; please come" And then he strove
away at his task, but excessive weeping pre-
vented its accomplishment to his satisfaction
when I spoke.
THAT will do. Rupert Those -blemishes
make my old boots shine all the brighter to me-"
And away hastened, for-for-well no matter
One cannot help but exclaiming, with the
Persians, when they proclaimed the epitome of
universal history They were born they
were wretched, and they died " Besides, what
is earth but grim and dusty workshop, and
he only the wisest, best, and noblest who sweats
the most and strives the longest. And what is
heaven but transition from vague guesses and
blind strugglings with wearied and adverse
fate, to the fulness of all nefable glories; and
that spirit most uncumbered with sorrow, sick
ness, and want will the earlier and more fully
partake of those comforts and rest there afford
ed Says the honored Goethe, 1.-THE greatest
consolation with which man of any warmth
and benevolence of heart can be possessed is
the persuasion that he has conspired, by just
means in his power, to give his species full yir-
tue and generalized happiness"
The next morning found me threading my way
through a section Of the city long known for it's
unthrift and sQualor. After some difficulty,
discovered the street and number to which had
been directed by the newly-made acquaintance.
Ascending a noisesome st9ir-case, which, from
its age and dilapidatiOn, seemed to calculate a
half suppressed 80, dear ~ because of the bur
then of my weight, passed through filthy
hall, tenanted by cats, dogs, and children, until
l came to door designated as the quarters Of
Mrs. Linsay. Upon knocking, ] was ushercd
into the presence of an elderly lady, with high
cap and kerchief, and spectacles that could con-
ceal the gentle expression of her eyes-eyes
above which the brow had not frequently
frowned Her face, though wan and worn, re-
Al.
courteous and attentive ease Of department too
fully betokened high birth and respected pres
tige Like the old black-horse sofa on which
she was half reclining, her earthly day and glo-
ry had departed.
The comparative cleanliness and arrangement
Of the scanty furniture in the room gave evil |
dence of an orderly and refined taste, which l
wondered that so infrm old lady could dis
play when, by Jove excuse the NEUROLOGICAL |
epithet-a young lady of no common clay, or
porcelain as Jeremy Taylor would have it, |
stood before me, offering to relieve me of my
hat and umbrella. The most striking resem- !
blance to the little boot-black Of the day before
Immediately convinced me that she was his sis
ter. But how strong a semblance
EnSra nous, she was surprisingly beautiful |
eyes soft, dreamy, SpirjtUeile; motions light, |
airy, and graceful; figure perfect, hands dainty |
and fingers taperng. Ali Pasha would have
loved to kiss them0 and yet eyer the delicate !
and transparent paeness of her cheek, hung the |
wanness, but also the eloquence of thought,
which told me that nineteen summers had |
taught that artless heart sterner tale than
gladness. She might not have been pronounced |
fair and lovely, reader in your discriminating |
eyes; but of all the pieces of flesh it had been |
my excellent fortune to meet, her formosa facies
was infinitely more innocent and enrapturng |
than the very visions of the Carian Her name
Ethel By the way, do you remember the \
Specification Of that Saxon word 1t is the syn |
onym of all that is 'noble;" and most appro-
priately was given to this pure-hearted maiden, |
for whom I had, to speak the truth, most in
defnable alteration.
inquired after the lad who had directed me
thither, and in whom l had spontaneously en-
trusted so much regard. The answer was
evasive. After chatting about sundry
things, the good old lady favored me with a sort |
of catograph of her past life She had been early |
a ,customed to polished society; had been dis
carded and dsowned by arrogating father
and incensed friends, on account of an impolitic
alliance.
The object of her idolatrous love and sacrifice
had been removed from her earthly sight, soon
after marriage, by reason of excessive literary
labor and disappointment, leaving two children,
since which time mainly dependent on her for
penury,' she added, until am able to do so no
longer, for"-and here the stricken one bent
her head and wept bitterly
"Have no fears or concern about the welfare
of your children" I subjoined, apprehending
the rest of the observation "While I live I
will assume the guardianship Of Rupert, and ~
hesitated, and would have Included Ethel
within the same responsibility, but dared not