Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1864-02-15
Misttlanp.
Life's Vicissitudes.

standing in Cologne, which showed to
the street a frontage of five small win
dows! 1t was the house in which the
first painter of the Flemish school, the
smmortal Rubens, was born, A. D.
a575. Sixty years later than this
'date,the ground-foer was occupied by
two old people, shoemaker and his
wife. The upper story, which was
usually let to dodgers, was empty at
the time we write of. Two, however,
occupied the gsrret. The evening was
cold and wet, and the shoemaker and
his wife were sitting together ia the
room below.
'Yeu had better 60 up stairs again.
said the man to his wife, 8 and see how
the poor lady is. The old gentleuaun
went out early, and has not been in
since. Has she not taken anything?
1T is only half an hour since ! was
up stairs, and he had not come in. l
took her some broth up at noon, but
she hardly touched it, and | was up
again st three; she was asleep then;
and ct five che said she should not
want anything more
Poor lady, This time of year,and
neither fire nor warm clothes, and NOT
even a decent bed to lie IN and yet
i am sure she is somebody or other
Have you noticed the respect with
which the old gentleman treats her!
If she wants for anything, 1T is her
own fault. That ring she wears on her
finger would get-heEthe best of,eVery-
thing
Then, came a knock at the door,
and the admitted the old man
they had just spoken Of, whose grlz-
zled beasd fell down upon his tarnish-
cd velvet coat. The hostess sadly
wanted to have a little gossip with
him but he passed BY, and, bidding
them a short good night CROPPED
his way up the steep and crooked stair
case. On entering the chamber above,
a feeble voice inquired the cause of his
Hong absence.
Il could not help it; he said i
pad Dee" copying HnanSscript and as
y was on rny way here, a servant me,
horoscope of two ladies who were pass
ing through; they were ladies whom
] have known before. I thought
could get a little money to pay 70
some samples, which will be of servic
to YOU
Il am cold.'
1T is fever cold. i will make 20,
something, which yon must take di
~rectlv.'
The fame Of a small tin lamp sufic
ed to heat some water, and the patien
having taken what the old man ha,
provided, was diligently covered up b,
him with all the clothes and article
of dress he'could find. He stood b
her motionless, Till lie perceived tina
abe was fast asleep, and, indeed, lon,
after; he then retired into a smal
closet, and sought repose on the har,
floor.
The next morning the lady was 8.
much better that her attendant bro
posed she should endeavor to ieav
the house for a moment or two, AMI
q he succeeded IN getting her forth a
far as the Place St. Cecilia. It wa
seldom that she left the house; 70,
Notwithstanding the meanness Of be
dress, there was that about her car
'riage.which rendered it difficult t
avoid unpleasant observation,
DO you see that person yonder !
she said, suddenly. IF I am nc
much mistaken, it is certainly til
Duke of Guise.'
The strangers attention had ais
been attracted, and he 0 approache
them.
:PGr6leu ? said he ! why, that
Mascali. What! are you married
He does not know me- sighed IL
lady. Il must indeed be altered
'Msscali had, however, whispered
single word in the dukes ear, and b
started as if struck by a ~thunderbol,
but, instantly recovering himself, b
hastily uncovered, aud bowed nearl
to the ground. -
i beg your pardos,' he said 'br
INV ouas ara t,rnwn co uooE ool