The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1869-12-10

. HAA0OWs ObAAAOAul0
real diamonds, very rare, relics of dis
Isppoiuted minstrels, banjos, guns, sug
gestive of sporting Englishmen hard VI
silver teapots, now black and uncheer
full, limiting at terrible domestic distress,
es in some poor fellows home, and max
ing you see the thin wife stealing out
at night to raise money on the family
valuables to feed the children.
/ The interior Of the shop is devoted to
dry goods. TIE details, however, can
be but dimly made out owing to the
Extremely dubious light that pervadss
the store. Even in broad daylight a
ljudicious twilight exists in Mr.. Lewis
What the French call demJour, il
much affected by lovers and gentlemen
lwho spout their watches. Through
this mysterious atmosphere one can
feebly distinguish rows Of shelves pack
ed tightly with dark bundles of wear
ling apparel, and Biddy's gown and
Patrick's Sunday coat lie there together
until next months wages come to aepar-
ate them.
Mr.. Levi is my friend. have occa-
sionally mercantile transactions with
him for I am literary man, and it
sometimes happens that / find myself
the slave of a sudden necessity for five
dollars. On those occasions I travel a.
round my room, as Mr.. Xavier de Mais-
tire may be supposed to have done, in
search of some appropriate token of es-
TEEN, which may convey to Mr.. Levi,
in order to induce him to advance the
required sum. In this choice it is nece-
ssary, to exercise discrimination. For
instance, l know that it will never do
to present my stamped velvet waistcoat
three times running. And that if l
were to take my little French clock to
Mr.. Levi too frequently the article would
pail upon him, and my credit be i'm
paired. Variety is necessary to persons
of Mr.. Lewis position. Continual pat
ridge destroys the appetite. They
are epicures, and must be led with
novelties.
Accordingly one day, having need of
the traditional FIVE dollars to meet the
expenses ola forthcoming literary soiree
at my rooms, after some deliberation
determined to present my Indian chess
board to Mr.. Levi, as token of my af-
fection, and work upon his feelings so
far as to induce him to present me with
the longed for V. The chess. board was
ivory inlaid. The men we're delightful
Oriental, being carved all over, even to
the tips Of their noses, and altogether
had great faith in the article, as it had
never before been under Mr.. Lewis
charge.
waited until evening. 1t was a
lovely evening for pawning. A thick
fog, damp and threatening rain, hung
over the streets, so that there were but
few passengers abroad. Chicory street
was almost deserted.
rang at Mr.. Lewis private door.
1t was a privilege l had earned, both
by the constancy of my friendship, and
the usually valuable nature of my pres
ents. A delightful Hebrew serving
girl, with a nose massive as Egyptian
architecture, opened the door, and
admitted me to Mr.. Lewis privtae parlor,
In a few moments that estimable gentle
man entered.
'Ahl Mister Pspillotte , he said hold
ing out his hand, how do you dot
Come again, ehl Well, what is it this
EVENING"
"A little matter / want you to arrange
for me, l replied, unrolling my silk
handkerchief from the chess-board. Il
want five dollars on this for few days.
'HumI On my word, Mr. Papillote,
I'm sorry to see a gentleman like you
coming here so often. It's really too
bad ?
Levi, as l said before, took an interest
in me, and sometimes talked to me like
a father.
"My good Levi 1 answered, laugh
ingly, "don't take any serious trouble
on my account. Pm all right. You
know the best of US will get into diff
culties occasionally. Blythe way, would
you like to go to the opera tomorrow
nightP
The Jews eyes glistened. They love
music those Jews.
Have you got ticketsP
Here are two. Can you let me have
the money!
well, really, Mister Pspillotte, chess
is not valuable property just at present.
1t comes hard on the intellect, SIR
But that is an Indian chess-board.
1t belonged to the Rajah of Gundarcool,
aud was taken from The royal table by
an uncle of mine 10 the Albicore fen
cibles who was at the siege of GundarOol
It is historical chess-board, Mr.. Levi.
Do you play chessP
Not exactly, sir. But / came very
near learning it once
you know that the pawn is insepsrably
connected with The game, l suppose
1 have heard something of the kind,
SIR
Completely in your line of business,
you see
Mr.. Levi stared. The joke was COM
pletely lost upon him. 1t was a very
mild joke, certainly; but then, could
better have been expected from man
who was begging for five dollarsl
-I'm sorry you don't play l fastened
to continue, covering my jocular failure
with some other remark. 4 should like
to have game with you. That chess
board, l assure you, is worth thirty
dollars, if it is worth a penny. Think
of the associations
Heaven forgive me, but the Rajah
was a creation of the moment. l had
been made present of the chess-board
by sailor who had voysged to Calcntta;
but one must be little deceitful now
and then in this wicked world.
well, I'll let you have the money"
said Mr.. Levi, Thought we're rather
short to-day. A great deal of business
doing just now. Mr.. Papillote;' and,
laying the Rajsh's property on the table,
he disappeared into the Office to make
out the duplicate.
"A great deal of business doingp
That meant, when translated, a great
deal of misery wandering about the
streets; great many homes gloomy
for want of petty sums of money: q
great many mechanics without Sunday
clothes; a great many poor students