The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-05-11
A SAD LITTLE STORY.
How The Poor Creature Auccumhc bed

Station to find old John Bizanski, tht
centennial turnkey, sitting by the fir
and apparently in pensive mood.
What are you thinking Of, old
veteran ?" we asked
OF the past" he almost suddenly
answered.
/ ltseems that a drunken woman haC
Just been brought in with her child, anc
the sight and the ieers of the crowd
(who followed her in) had ruf1ied old
John s temper. That such an ordinary
occurrence should excite emotion
in police turnkey, who had
for twenty five years or more, almost
daily witnessed similar things, did not
seem natural at first thought And yet
the old man was not only quite put out,
but was actually unable to conceal his
emotion After some conversation on
the subject, John, in his own hlhnt way,
explained why il was that such sights
were always painful to him whera every
body might believe to have become
hardened by contact with these ever
recurring episodes in the life of a police
man. He began:
1t was on a bitter cold rainy night. I
was sitting doing at this very
spot, near bright, cheerful fire,
even as am to-night... 1t was
about five years ago. The shrieks
and means OF a drunken Woman outside
awolIe me from my half slumber ana
presently | was called upon to take
charge Of a young woman who had been
arrested for drunkenness She was
scarcely nineteen and had been very
handsome. 1t was not the first time
that | had been caiied upon to perform
the painful duty Of locking up this poor
unfortunate outcast, and | was about
performing my duty mechanically when
| noticed that her child, about two wears
old, had been brought in with her. Both
were SO drenched by the rain that it
would have been criminal on my
part to have locked them up in
a cold cell in that condition When
| was left alone with them 4 brought
them up to the fire, and it was not long
before the mother and child had gone
to sleep. Towards morning the mother
awoke to thank me for my kindness.
with tears in her ewes. / told YOU /
knew her before. She had always
struck me as an unusually intelligent
woman. and when the effects of the
nights dissipation were dispeIled her
department was such that | was com
PEELED to believe that she had seen
better days and might be the victim
Of misfortune. With this conviction
on my mind and the sympathy
which she naturally provoked in my
heart, when she awoke that night
| asked her, persuasively, to leave off
drinking and lead a life of honesty.
which her education seemed to render
possible il she would only make the
effort; and l told her many other things
which the situation suggested. She lis
tened attcntiyely to all had TO say. in
terrupting me at times only to sob pite-
ously. Now, ] am accustomed to these
OF regret and repentance
but | could see IN her eyes an honest
and | was satisfied that my
good words were not entirely lost
Well, she sObbed out, when | was
done, John, You are the first person
who has spoken a kind word to me
since the great misfortune which has
brought me to this state of moral
dissolution. Your register will tell
You that my name is Mary Roberts.
and you are right TO believe that
ell YOU the short history of my life, /
hat You may Judge for yourself of the
.rials which have befallen me. and made |
ne the base creature that am now /
once had a happy home and fond
ather and mother They gave me a
air education, and, while they lived. my /
ife was bright and joyful. I was still a
when death came into our
and tore my parents away
rom me.
| was left an orphauand without means
md found myself compelled to work for .
/ living The change was a cruel one
o me, but | bore it patiently, even
,heeTfully, when found a home in the .
establishment of milliner Of this city.
)ne evening | was sent to carry a ball
iress to a house in the upper part of the .
'ity. While on the way | was accosted
~ young man. who was not entirely
| stranger to me, for. admit, | had no.
iced him frequently before as he
passed the store Unsophisticated as
was then, ! did not attach the impor-
ance that might, to his unceremoni-
'us manner OF addressing me on the
treet. And then he spoke Of his admi-
alton for me in such earnest tones. and
ven breathed the word marriage, that
was easily seduced, besides. | think,
already loved him. We walked back
o the store together Every evening
ItSi tIldt we met. ne l)ItSSct me To
'ecome his wife, and | was bat too glad
0 accept his offer Of marriage. How
apply we lived together for nearly a
Then came the sad iest
age in the history Of my life. One day
ny husband left our home never to re-
urn. When | realized the situation,
rev franticSwith despair; / thought I
-ould go mad. As soon as | could
compose nay distracted
anses, I sought distinguished lawyer
this city who had been my fathers
lend, and told him how | had been
9wardly abandoned by him in whom l
ad centered ali my affections. Through +
)me strange presentmentI ] had brought :
ith me my marriage certificate. After
wing my situation before him, pro- i,
iced the certificate I will not annoy {
)u with the details, but suffice it to say :
lat after making the necessary inqui- J
es, it was ascertained that the certif- =
lie was false, and that had +
zen the victim OF mock mar .
lge. The shock was too severe q
fell unconscious at the feet Of =