Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1872-10-10

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she was having a charming time, and
wanted me to share it, Robbie Schwarz
wrote that she loved me dearly as ever,
and if ever came to New York, she
begged / would spend few DAYS with
her. decided to go to Rebbie's first, for
week, and then 10 Clara's.
1t was long journey, and quite dark
when | reached the city; but took car
riage to Rebbie's address
Is this the place p asked the driver,
as, after awhile, he stopped his horses and
came to the carriage door We were in
front of lighted shop, and great many
people were coming and going. There
Were three great golden balls over the
door, and a sign, "Joseph Schwarz."
That is No. H." said the driver :;
here is No. IA at the side door It's up
stairs, Miss"
Rather bewildered, toled up the long,
narrow 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 she had
grown TO be tall, 1.-the, dark, with glow
ing cheeks and luminous, tathomless eyes.
Then her mother came in, stout lady
very Jewish-loo<ing, not so handsome as
Rebbie, but gorgeous in ruby-Colored vel
vet, and warmly &C dial. A young Jew
boy brought in tray of refreshments,
and filled a slender glass with some wine.
felt as if ! were in Jerusalem or Damas.
Gus
Robbie was evidently petted daughter
Her room, where we slept together, was
furnished with the utmost luxury, and
smiled at the familiar sight of an open
ewel-box, and trinkets scattered all over
the dressing-table. We talked half the
night, and among other things, ! asked
her about the three golden balls.
WHY, father is pawnbroker," she
said innocently. Didn't | ever tel
your"
Now I had the vaguest possible ideas
about pawnbrokers, but they were not
very agreeable ones, and for an instant
was little taken abaCk But there was
dear Rebble's warm, loving hand in mine,
and there was the beautiful room and the
comfort and the welcome ] suddenly
made up my mind that pawnbroker's
life must be full of interest and romance,
and so | went to sleep with perfect resg-
nation under the eider-down coverlet
Joseph Schwarz was an old man
with a bent figure and sharp, black
eyes, but he had a kind word for his
daughters guest, and | took fancy at
once to his odd, foreign ways. He was
German Jew, and had been apawnbroker
in his own country before coming here,
asked him if he did not get interested in
his customers sometimes.
"Fell, it ish very sad sight sometimes
he said, thoughtfully. THE sick and the
hungry comes to mine door, and ! helps
them all little"
Dear me! a pawnbroker's shop all at
once became exalted to benevolent in
stitution in my mind, and the next even
ing begged Robbie to let me visit it, She
took me to a small back room, from which
we could peep into the shop. But did
not want to stay long, for of all the
wretched sights | ever saw, this was the
most pitifu! Such haggard and desperate
men, such pale, wan women! such Old,
sharp children! each bringing some little
property to get money on. And | am
bound to say that good Joseph Schwarz,
with all his benevolencc, ground them all
down to the smallest possible amount,
"They are not all like these. said Reb
bic. "Sometmes fine ladies come in their
carriages, and bring their Jewels to pledge,
aud sometimes they never redeem them.
Then, after awhile, father gives them to
me, That is how | always have 50 many
to wear
| really felt as if | had left my own
couRtry and gone into some foreign land
while stayed with Robbie, for all their
callers were Jews and Jewesses; even the
little children and babies were dark, and
had aquiliue noses and keen eyes. On
Saturday we went to the synagogue, and
Robbie and | sat up in the gallery, while
the men worshipped below,
1t was soon time for me to go to Clara
Delancey's, and Robbie and | were talk
ing it over. Robbie declared that | did
not dress enough for Clara's gay society,
and, as of old offered to lend me any
thing she had. But | refused,
Though it is rather peculiar" ! said,
laughing, that | never wear ear rings,
and have not ring on 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 un-
locked it. II contained a 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. | looked at
them with interest. In what romantic
histories, perchance, they had played a
part There was a diamond cross, a
string of gold beads, a carbunce heart,
an old, old watch set in the side OF a
mimic castle of gold, with curiously
carved turrets and parapets There was
great lustrous, pink opal. 1T brings
bad luck" said Mr.. 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 1t 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 y
Every link of the chain had some fanci-
full bit of carving upon it-a hand here,
profile there, moths wing, an imps
face, a flower each done in such small
space as almost to need a magnifying-
glass. Here, you can look at it for your
self as talk Mr.. Schwar2 said the locket
and chain were brought him, some thirty
years before, in Frankfort, by sickly-
looking young Englshman, who only
asked five pounds on them-hoping, he
said to redeem them within a week But
Mr. Schwarz had never seen or heard from
him again.
"Oh, father said Rehbie, well lend
that to Madge to wear at the Delanccy's!