Litchfield enquirer., 1872-06-13

DelAnCy SeuG me very SWeetly WOfded invitation to visit her for month, said ! she was having charming time, and wanted me to share it. Robbie Schwarz and If ever l came to New York, she begged I would spend few days with her. I decided to go to Rebbie's first, for ] week, and then to CIara's. It was long journey and quite dark | when l reached the city; but I took l carriage to Rebbie's address.
 '1s this the place?" asked the driver, as, after awhile, he stopped his horses l and came to the carriage door We were i'll front of a lighted shop, and great many people were coming and going There were three great golden balls over the door, and a sign, Joseph Schwarz.' 1 '.That is No. 12," said the driver; ''here l IS No. IA at the side door. It's up stairs, 1 miss"
 l Rather bewildered, toiled up the long, marrow stairway, and was met at the top by Robbie herself, radiant with welcome. She drew me into the parlor, called her mother, rang for some supper, and asked thousand questions as she helped me of with hat and cloak. What beauty with glowing cheeks and luminous, faith omless eyes. Then her mother came in, stout lady very Jewish looking, not so handsome as Robbie, but gorgeous ill ruby -colored velvet; and warmly cordial. A young Jew boy brought in tray of refreshments, and filled slender glass with some wine. I felt as if I were in Jerusalem or Damascus.
 Robbie was evidently a petted .daugh- ter. Her room, where we slept together was furnished with the utmost luxury and smiled at the familiar sight of an open jewel-box, and trinkets scattered all over the dressing-table. We talked half the night, and among other things, I asked her about the three golden balls
 ''Why, fatheris a pawnbroker, she said, innocently. Didn't ever tell you?"
 Now l had the vaguest possible ideas about pawnbrokers, but they were not agreeable ones,- and for an instant was a little taken aback. But there was dear Rebbie's warm, loving hand in mine, and there was the beautiful room and the comfort and the welcome. I suddenly made up my mind that pawnbrokers life must be full of interest and romance, and so slept with perfect resignation mi der the eider-down coverlet
 Joseph Schwarz was an old man with Il bent figure and sharp black eyes, but he had kind word for his daughters guest. and took fancy at once to his odd for eign. ways. He was German Jew, and had been pawnbroker in his own coun- try before coming here. I asked him if he did not get interested i'll his customers sometimes
 "Vell, it ish very sad sight sometimes, he said, thoughtfully '"rhe sick and the hungry comes to mine door, and [ helps them all little
 Dear me! pawnbroker's shop all at once became exalted to a benevolent in stitution in my mind, and the next even ing l begged Robbie to visitit She took me to small 'back-room, from which we could peep into the shop. But | did not want to stay long, for, of all the wretched sights l ever saw, this is the most pitfJll. Such haggard and desperate men! such pale, wan wOmeni such old, sharp chil- dren! each bringing some little property to get money on. And am bound to say that good Joseph Schwarz, with all his benevolence, ground them all down to the smallest possible amount
 ''They are not all like these,' said Reb- bic. ''Sometimes fine ladies come in their carriages, and bring their jewels to pledge, and sometimes they never redeem them. Then, after a while, father gives them to me. That IS how always have so many to wear"
 really felt as if I had left my own country and gone into some foreign land while staid with Robbie, for all their callers were Jews and Jewesses; even the little children and babies were dark. and had acquiline noses and keen eyes. On Saturday we went to the synagogue, and Robbie and I sat up ill the gallery, while the men worshiped below.
 It was soon time for me to go to Clara Delancy's, and Robbie and l were talking 1t over. Robbie declared that did not dress enough for Clara gay society. and, as of old, offered to lend me any thing she had. But I refused
 Though 1t Is rather peculiar, l said, laughing, "that I never wear ear rings. and have not ring to my ten fingers, and no pin but this old pearl one with fathers and mothers hair in it.
 That evening Mr. Schwarz brought into the parlor an old ebony box that he had been promising to, show me, and unlocked it. It contained q great many valuable jewels and ornaments, which had been pawned to him years ago in Germany and never redeemed. Some he had had for forty years. I looked at them with in- terest. In what romantic histories, per chance, they had played part. There was diamond cross, a string of gold beads, carbuncle heart, an old, old watch set in the side of mimci castle of gold, with curiously carved turrets and parapets. There was a great lustrous pink opal. 'It brings bad luck" said MT. Schwarz, shaking his head Then there were plenty of charms, pencil cases, seal rings and pretty trinkets. As turned them over with my hand suddenly came upon this locket. It. took my fancy at once; could not bear to put it down.
 That's just the odd sort of thing to suit you, Madge,' cried Robbie. "Put the chain around your neck, and let me see how it looks. Just your style!
 Every link of the chain had some fan ciful bit of carving on it-a hand here, a profile there, moths wing, an imp's face, a fower-each done in such small space as almost to need magnifying- | glass. Here, you can look at it for your 1 self as I talk. MT. Schwarz said the lock ct aid chain were brought him, some thir- l ty years before, in Frankfort; by sickly- looking young Englishman, who only asked five pounds on them-hoping, he said, to redeem them within week But MT. Schwarz had never seen or heard from him again. s"Oh, father" said Robbie, "we1l lend that to Madge to wear at the Delancey'sr' At last she had found something I could not refuse. would rather have had that l locket and chain than all the iewelry in the world. There could be no danger in wearing it-a thing that had been pawned thirty years ago in Germany; no one would ever dream how I had obtained it. And so when went from Rebbie's house the next day the looket went with me-
 My dear Madge, " said Clara Delaney, few evenings after, as we were getting ourselves ready for soiree, Chow very distinguished looking you are in that black silk, and with your wonderful heir loom of locket P
 smiled to think how little foundation I had for distinction. Clara herself was looking exquisitely, wearing mauve and