The New Orleans crescent., 1869-03-27

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Among my acqusintsnces is . young prscticing
doctor Of this city, and with him 1 frequently
make the round Of his patents. Last summer.
during the recess, he stopped for me one after
noon, and We drove over toward "the inland, |" the
nat svsmpy, unsocial part Of town.
II have . bad case" he said, down here In
Murder Bay (Murder Bay'is the gulfy street Of the
streetwslkers) and / must stop minute on the
way there at tbs - department.
At the - department the doctor sent his
name mp for 0 certain clerk. The clerk came
down. shabby siciy being tscs with imp Walk
"How's Elzaw said the doctor.
"No better.r
did you buy the medicines according to my
prescriptionN
"wby not, told you they were Of vital Inn
porssnce. The girl win die ~
The sickly clerk threw up his bead as II 1t panied
him to carry the disiresses In It,. $500
my God ~ he said. al can DO no more. Ny
salary 10 anticipated for eight months. paid sixty
dellaIs for o hundred the last time. have ex.
hsusted the last friend and paw,ed my last and
comb and brush l pledged last week for twenty
FIVE cents. The girl will die any way. So will IL
Doctor. my God what can dor' -.
The doctor drove away to drug store and paid
privilege OF . physician 70 Then we drove TO
Murder Bay aud the doctor said to me:
Come up here. Everybody knows the doctor's
RG ana Will lake you Icf pnyblcfhn.''
We passed into house OF lost women. It was
bright day. A few negligent. half dressed fe-
males were lounging In the parlors with "lover"
or two, the privileged pensioners Of the day.
The mistress OF the place. cod.fsced % hsh,
showed us up into dismantled room, where on
bed, unmade apparently for weeks, 10 the odors Of
liquor, smoke and dyspeptic exhalations. young
giil lay with the mania pot1.
The doctor threw up the sash and let in the sky
and the wind. The girl turned over and said.
through her baked lips:
"Have you seen JimT .,l-
aye be has sent these medicines"
"Where did he get money! He has pswned his
cemb and brush, and my wedding ring, that was
70 have been, went before them, kept TO the last
by . crazy spperstition. II he sent this medicine
he stole the money. heard him threaten to
body steals in the government"
" Jim didn't steal anything" said the doctor.
"a bought the medicines" -l
81 won't take them" said the girl. They
| viii make me well. shall get drunk again and
come back on you for more medicines. A little
| of this money would get me dose that would
| cure me for good. Oh I! doctor.n cried the girl,
+" do buy me usat medicine. have prayed with
black woman all my hair. every lock OF it, to get
Her voice softened and became indistinct.
| know that the word WAS" poison"
The doctor and the girl demonstrated with each
other in suppressed tones. could see the plead
ing, imploripg eyes OF the girl her hand upon the
| DOCTORS coat wrestling with him for the gift Of
| death. Mournful death How holy 1t would make
| this shamble The girl was OF q good, round,
buxom figure, country like In accent and express
| sion, very young, not above sixteen. she after
wards said. Her hair long. and combed from time
to time with her fingers, was OF golden fax color.
The sin of despair and not the sin Of folly was ex-
pressed in her eyes. Her oaths were crude and
| awkward, as II just learned. IL was deep degra-
| daton all taken st plunge. The doctor after Q
while turned to me and said In his professional
r.-sI- A--t~ 4t~ ssU. k.1
sometimes seen him mix honey and aIoes. pill
| making: 3 atrHl Fs.l.l s.sI lrhl
Gath, this Is . hard case. never had but
| one other like it. This girl was engaged TO be
| married to the young fellow we saw at the -
| department. He was too poor to be married. but
he sent her money TO come and visit him. In o
freak she came on; both OF them got out OF funds
here. She overstayed the period Of her Wait; be-
came the subject OF scandal at home, In Ohio, re-
ceived the denunciation OF her parents, and her
lover seduced her finally, under promise Of mar
| risge when be got little ahead. have ne doubt
be intended TO marry her. but then he never got
ahead, rather retrograded, got behind more and
more. had his salary bypothecated. and fell In
debt SO deep that be couldn't feel bottom. They
we're turned out Of their boarding house, noun-
dered sbouta while, and became so poor. they
could not move.n Quarrels ensued and hot
words. Eliza here pitched into Jim for betraying
| her. He accused her Of running him In debt and
being the a1thor of his misery. She fell upon the
town. He raved, but help himself Rum
came in as q natural colleague. And this Is one
picture Of " Life In the Departments" The next
will be :. Jim in jail or hanging himself."ss
"Nor" said the girl. "there'll be another pic
ture before that. OIL can't good soul In pity
give me q bottle of laudanum. pm Of use TO no
body. l sm misery to myself. Anybody viii
give me. liquor. Nobody will give me what
! wsnt-to die this night" tre
Blaspbemy came in to curse despair. The deli
rum followed. went away with the sounds OF
curslng and love making In my ear, the gig still
standing at the door. fsfr.
When saw the doctor again. after some time I:
for had quilted the city during the hot months |
asked him the fate Of the girl.
| Died drinking rum"
|. Where's her man ~
"Turned out of the department. Lettering
along tbs sunny side Of the avenue. wretch, q
relic J"