Smyrna times., 1869-06-02
MISceIIU ~ e o IL s.
The Changes of Fortune.

1t was on a cold, cheerless day in February
that, ordering my carriage, left my comf0rta
BILE rooms to find store in which | could pur-
chase a suitable present for my boy, whose
birthday occurred on the morrow. | entered
large and we'll known establishment on Broad
way, and was busily engaged in examining the
wares laid out for my inspection when a female |
voice, at once so low so soft, and so ladylike, |
broke in upon my attention, that involuntarily |
looked up from my occupation to learn from |
whom came the voice that said so plaintively : |
DO you give out work here p
"We do MOTTO strangers" was the rude |
response.
| The woman turned and walked away
| This scarf is very cheap, ma am" spoke
the polite (?) salesman, calling my attention to
/ the scarf was about purchasing
Il do not wish it, now" | replied, as l left
the store, and hurried after the woman who
had gone before me. Entering another store
fear she met the same rude repulse, for
watched her leave the place, brushing, as she
passed out, the garments of entering and de-
parting customers, the value Of which, even the
twentieth part would have made her more than
happy for it would have saved lfe-a life so
dear and so precious to her, who, half clad and
starved herself was wandering the streets on
this cold, bitter day. endeavOring, in vain, to
to find the means by which bread enough could
be earned to furnish subsistence to one, who,
prO>trated by sickness, was unaware, even in
his delirium, of the exertons of this poor crea-
ture to obtain him food This | afterwards
learned but | will follow, with the reader the
path l followed when l learned that in this
this city of spendor and magnifcence there
really could exist such misery and want as | am
telling.
Passing from out another store, with a weari-
ed, tired expression, she glanced first one way
and another, with look which told plainly Of
her utter despair. She started and hurried on,
passing me closely | do not know why did
{ not speak to her then-whyI did not stop her
and relieve her every want; but she passed on.
She was evidently suffering much. l was har-
e py-blessed with wealth, and oh, how blessed
in husband, children, friends would follow
p her, | would find her in her abode of misery
and want. The hand of Providence was here
# surely, that l might give from my wealth
sustenance to at least one poor creature. Yes,
g | would follow her, and save myself the torture
OF a remembrance that had left her to suffer-
n | gave my coachman orders to return without
n me, and quickly followed the retreating figure.
She passed up the street to Grand, thence across
l. to one of the numerous by-ways which lead
from Grand street, and which are peopled by
our most degraded and miserable classes. She
turned and entered miserable looking dwell
II ling, and was lost to my sight. | waited a Sec
ond, and then knocked at the door.
. . Is there person here who does plain sew
!. ing?"
5 guess not" she replied, in surly voice.
"There s a woman up stairs, who used to work,
but she can't get no more to do, and shall
I turn her out to morrow"
'Let me go up," | spoke, as with shudder
| passed the woman and assembled the stairs.
= You can keep on to the garret, she
7 screamed after me. And so | did, and there
saw sight which |, the child of afluence, had
never dreamed of. The lady had thrown of
her poor wOrsted hood, and was kneeling by
the side of miserable bed, spread on the floor
Her hair had fallen over her shoulders; she sob
bed not, breathed not, but seemed mOtionless
her face buried in the covering Of the WI letch
ed miserable bed whereOn lay her husband. H.
er was sleeping. | looked upon his high, pale for
head, around which clung masses of damp
brown hair. 1t was knit, and the pale hant
clenched the bed clothes; words broke from hi
!" ne lips $ | cannot pay you now! L hear
=. him say. Poor fellow even in his dreams hi
ID poverty haunted him l could bear it no lon
III GER and knocked gentle at the door, The lad
cd raised her head, threw back her long blac
- hair, and gazed wildly upon me. 1t was NJ
ok time for ceremony sickness, sorrow, want, yes
starvation, were before me-
II came to look for person to do plai
. work" was all could say.
"Oh, give it to me she sobbed. For tw
davs we have not tasted food-and to-moi
row Sic RdspCu, anu OIlCu W nuisl LtO SCI
z tence but could not. She knew that to-morro
they would be both homeless and starving.
: "Be comfOrted, you shall want no more.
I kept my word. That night had them r.
moved to my house so as to be nearer my reacl
and surrounded them with everything necess
nv to their comfort But it was too late; II
comfort came to late. She had told me all
I of days of happiness in the sunny south, h,
childhood's home, of the deaths OF her faith
ply and mother, of the breaking out of the rebC
- lion, of the loss of friends, home, everything
of her meeting with George. He, too, ge
tleman and a scholar, had been thrown up,
the world. Sympathy deepened into Low
Alone in the crowd, all the world to each othe
they married. He procured employment in
school, she plain needlework. Too close atte