New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-28
TWO UNFORTUNATES.
From the German. ]


this unreasonable time. A young man wa'
coming hurriedly from the city, while iron
the opposite side an old man was stealing
slowly along. They had net yet met, wher
the latter turned, and, walking to the para
pet of the bridge, made unmistakable pre-
parations to precipitate himself into the
Thames. The young man who had followed
him drew him back
II think, sir, you wish to drown your
self"
"You think right, sir; but what business
is that of yours p
''None in the least, sir; but l only wished
to ask of you the favor to postpone your
purpose a few moments, and allow me to
Join you. Let us embrace each ether closely,
and make the airy leap together. The idea
of undertaking this expedition in the COM
pany of perfect stranger, who has come
here with the same purpose as myself, ap-
peared so piQuant to me that could not
help asking you to allow me to join you.
Really, sir, nothing has seemed so delight
full to me for long time; and l should
never have believed that anything so agree
able could have happened to me in my dy
ing hour. Do accept, sir. l have not asked
a favor for years from anybody. So please
do not refuse my last and only request L
also do not recollect of ever having made
such long speech as this one."
With these words he offered his hand to
lle uldu, WEO ulu not HESITATE 10 clasp
it, and the young man continued with en-
thusiasm !" Let us clasp each other closely,
arm-in-arm, and then forward 1t does me
good to rest few moments on the bosom of
human being-l do not ask whether you
are villain or not. Gomez"
The other, who had been at first in such
haste to make the acquaintance of the cold
water of the Thames, hesitated now, and
restrained the impetuoslty OF his young
companion by holding his hand and draw
ing him back.
Hold, sir, said he, while he tried to dis
tinguish the features of the young man Op-
posite him by the dim, midnight light. ''You
are still very young, and already wish to
renounce life l am afraid you are too rash.
For man of your age life must still have
joys and pleasures"
''Nothing but deceit and fasehood, selfish
ness and conceit, vice and crime. Come,
let us end this"
young as you are, you seem to have al
ready had sad experiences, and appear to
regard all creatures bearing the form of
man as vipers"
"Vipers are noble beings compared with
men, for they only follow their natural in
stincts; they are no hypOcrites, with virtue
on their tongues and vice in their hearts,"
II pity you, for, believe me, there are
many honorable exceptions to the rule
which you have established"
''Ha! ha! Exceptions" laughed the young
man, sneeringly and bitterly; Il have found
none"
"Then | can give you at least the poor
consolation that in this solemn hour you
have found one. Much as men are given to
lying there are very few who will do so in
their dying hour, when they are about to
enter the mysterious eternity. have never
lied during my life, and would, under no
circumstances, enter the valley of death
with a lie upon my lips. You will believe
me, then, when | tell you that | am no vii
lain, as you appear TO think, but good and
honest man."
Really! That is interesting. l must
have, therefore, met the only honest man
whom l have ever seen, just in time to bid,
IN his company, 'rale' to the world"
Let me go alone, and you remain. There
exist many more just as good and honest
men, who can beautify your life. If you
will only seek, you are bound to find them"
"Well, at any rate | have found one.
But if life presents itself to you in such
paradise-like view, why do you wish to
leave it like me p
Because / am poor and old, and at the
same time sick and feeble man who can
not earn anything, and who can not bear
any longer to see his only child, an angel in
a daughter, toll almost to death day and
night to support miserable and useless
"
pleasures No, sir, / would be brute, a
barbarian, were | to exact it any longer"
"What, SIR cried the other as if fright
ened, you nave daughter who sacrifices
herself for you!"
"Oh with what patience and gentleness,
with what perseverance and love does she
do it. see her fade away under her work
and deprivation, and yet no complaint ever
escapes her lips. She works and starves,
and has always loving word, cheering
smile for me-
"And you want to drown yourself. Are
you mad ~
"Can 1 allow that angel to kill herself by
degrees That is what lacerates my heart" |
wept and sobbed the old man.
"Sir, you must drink bottle of wine |
with me at the restaurant there, and relate |
to me your story. If you like, | will return |
the compliment, and tell you mine. Before |
hand, however | will say that you need not |
Jump down. there, for | am rich, a very
rich man and if your story proves true,
what you have confded to me, there will be |
no need of your daughter working any
more, nor will either of you have to suffer
hunger"
The weeping old man allowed himself to
be led away. They entered the barroom. |
Soon they were sitting comfortably at a !
table over bottle of wine, and regarded |
each other curiously by the aid Of the bright |
light.
MY story is soon told" commenced the |
elder of the two in firm tone II am a |
merchant, but fortune has not smiled upon
me- had no money of my own. and had |
married Door but lovely girl For these
reasons never was able to establish nv
self OH my own footing, but was obliged to
serve in other mercantile houses as clerk or
bookkeeper till they could not make any
further use of me, or rather would not do
so, and preferred the services of younger
men to mine. But if my means were lin
tied the happiness of home was not. My
wife was an angel of goodness, love and
gentleness, piOus and true, industrious and
intelligent, and she has educated her daugh-
ter to be like her. But sickness and age
have reduced me to abject poverty, and my
conscience will not permit that that best of
children shall continue to sacrifice herself
for me. 1t Is not possible that my life
would have lasted much longer, and God
will surely pardon me when deprive my
self OF few dozen days or weeks of it to
save thereby the health and life of my
Lena"
:"Old man, you are happy being" cried
the younger one. Il have never met
happier one. What you call misfortune is
nothing but a mere bagatelle. That is now
and forever done away with. l will make
nv will tomorrow, in which | shall consti-
tute you my heir, and will postpone for
day my leap into the Thames But first |
wish to make the acquaintance OF your
Lena, that l may behold a person before
my death who really deserves to be called
o human being"
"But, sir, you are still SO young and yet