Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-02-12
SELECT STORY.
HOW NELLIE WAS PAWNED.


There is certain side street running
across Broadway, which will, with
your permission. call Chickory street.
Chicory street is not its name, but as
am about to relate some private matter
in connection with it, it would not be
either delicate or judieious if | were to
be too geographically correct
In Chicory street resides gentleman
named Lazarus Levi, Esq, whose spa
cious old fashioned house is the reposi
tory of various articles of property be
longing to numberless enlightened but
distinguished citizens of the United
States. The lower portion of Mr.. Lee
Wis dwelling is fitted up with a glass
front, and articles exposed to view are
but dimly seen.
You can see all sorts of things in Mr.
Lewis window. California diamonds,
real diamonds, very rare; banjos, relics
of disappointed minstrels, guns, silver
tea pot, now black and uncheerful, him
ting at terrible domestic troubles in
some poor fellows home, and making
you see the thin wife stealing out at
night to raise money on the family val
uables to feed the children.
Mr. Levi is my friend. I have occa
sionally mercan tile transactions with
him, for am literary man, and it
sometimes happens that | find myself
the slave of a sudden necessity for five
dollars.
One day, having need of the tradi
tional five dollars to meet the expenses
of a forthcoming literary soiree at my
rooms, I, after some deliberation. de
termined to present my Indian chess
board to Mr.. Levi, as token of my af
fiction, and work his feelings 80 far as
toinduec him to present me with the
longed for V. The chess-board was
ivory inlaid. The men were delightful
ly oriental, being carved all over, even
to the tips of their noses, and, altogeth-
er, had great faith in the article, as it
had never before been under Mr., LIE
Wis charge.
l waited until evening. 1t was a
lovely evening fer paving. A thick
fog, damp and threatening rain, hung
over the streets, so that there were but
few passengers abroad. Chicory st.
was almost deserted.
l rang at Mr.. Lewis door. 1t was a
privilege had earned, both by the con-
stancv of my friendship, and the usual
ly valuable nature of my presents. A
delightful Hebrew servant girl, with
nose massive as Egyptian architecture,
opened the door and admitted me to
Mr.. Lewis private parlor. In few
moments that estimable gentleman en-
tered.
"Ah! Mister Papilote," he said, hold
ing ont his hand, chow do you do?
Come again, Ell Well, what is it this
EVENING"
ga little matter want you to ar
range for me" | replied, unrolling my
silk handkerchief from the chess board.
81 want five dollars on this for a few
days"
alum! On my word Mr. Papillote,
I am sorry to see such gentleman as
you coming here 80 often. Its really too
bad"
Levi, as I have said before, took an
interest in me, and sometimes talked to
me like father.
"My good Levi [ answered, laugh
ing, "don't take any serious trouble on
my account I'm all right. You know
the best Of us will get into difficulties
occasionally. By the way are you go
ing to the opera to morrow night?"
His eyes glistened.
"Have you got tickets?"
'Here are two. Can you let me have
the money
"Well, really, Mister Papil.ote, chess
is not valuable property just at pres
ent, 1t comes hard on the intellect
sir
"But this is an Indian chess board
It belonged to the Rajah of Gundar
cool, and was taken from the royal ia
bic by an uncle Of mine in the Albicore
Fencibles, who was at the seige Of
Gundarcool. tits a historical chess
board Mr. Levi do>you play chess9"
."Not exactly sir. But / came very
near learning once