The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-03-19
IN PAWN.

II was rainy morning. Customers
were few in the rambling old pawn-shop
in the Bowery about which I am going
10 tell YOU, and the strange little man
who kept the plac~ had more time than
usual 10 look over his stock and calcu-
late his sales.
A woman with battered face and
bleared eyes had just been in and
pawned an infants chair. which was
probably the last article Of any value
She had left in the house And this was
not worth much, for ssold Guttman :"
as the pawnbroker was called, would
only give her ten cents for the privi-
lege OF leaving il among his possessions
.vat you do with the nonish, Sal?"
he asked, as the woman, with trembling
hand, picked the dime from the coun-
ter.
I'm hungry she replied. in .
maudliD way, Elm hungry"
ave shall see,- he answered, IS the
woman. without another word, dragged
herself from the place.
Then old Guftman moved round once
more among his strange wares, mutter-
ing little TO herself in his own Ian
guage- Canary birds sung and hoped
about in gilded cages, quite forgetful Of
their former homes, and valuable NAL
tese cat. whose owner brought il food
every day, purred about the pawn
brokers' feet, to al appearance IS
happy as cat could be.
Ii would be almost impossible TO
name an article Of wearing apparel. or
an Tournament from paste TO diamonds Of
the first water. from gewgaws to solid
gold. that old Guttman did not have in
his shop French clocks and wooden
clocks licked side by side on . shelf,
while babies cradles, cribs, wax dolls
and playthings told > pitiful story Of the
destitution that made such sacrifice
necessary. There were oil paintings,
bronzes, statuary, books, and every con-
ceiyable article Of bric-a-brac. In
short, Guttman's stock was unusually
extensive and varied, and his pride IN
his miscellaneous assortment was CORE
sPondingly large.
Among the pictures was portrait Of
q beautiful woman. 1t was in costly
gilt frame, which occupied prominent
place on an easel in . corner Of the
shop. No one could glance at this
portal. without turning 70 look u il
again. 1t was evidently the face Of an
italian lady, and was marvelcusly
lovely.
The pawnbroker. with his feather
duster. reached this corner at last, and
as he busted the frame, he said, with .
shake Of his bald head
You hat been much trouble to M,
my lady. More than Won year, you bed
creature, you been here, and no month
paid Tor You. You will 60 to de shen-
tman what ask 70 buy you. You haf
break my rule with your great eyes, Ard
the ozzer eyes that comes in here and
cry for you, But old Guttman must
hat soft heart no more, my lady, no
more.''
At this moment the door with the
three painted balls on the ground glass
pane, swung open, and girl, perhaps
eight or nine years old, came into the
shop. She was ragged, and wet
through with the rain. Her long dark
hair was drenched, and hung in great
limp masses down her back. She wore
neither stockings nor shoes, but her
feet were small and shapely, and the
rags. grotesuue In their blending Of
shades and colors, could not conceal the
grace Of the giriish figure.
"Ohi have hurried 80, Gutfman,
deari" she said, looking quickly about
her as she spoke, shut she has kept me
begging till this minutei" and the child
stepped before the portrait and looked
ut Il with her whole soul In her eyes.
How much did they gif you, NinaP'