Year: 1868

Dream OF the hufASelIef>S W1Ie.


/ Idreamed last night that was
passing leisurely through the streets
dressed with care, as l usually am
when walking out for pleasure and
as intended making some trifing
purchases by the way, recollect l
had the beautiful purse which was a
Christmas present in my hand. Mrs.
B. was walking a few yards ahead
of me, and l was wondering how
she got every new fashion, so soon
and whether she used her cast off
things to pay her help with, or sold
them to the china pedlers, or wheth
er it could be really true that she
gave them to the poor.


Well, just as this foolish train of
thought was passing through my
mind, all at once woman advanced
toward me, with no bonnet, and q
shawl drawn over her
head. I thought she was going to
beg, and was beginning to tell her
I had nothing to give, when she sci
zed the strings of my hat, and with
a resolute hand, and a look that al
most petrificd me, took it off and
put it on her own head and walked
away! 1 looked after with astonish
ment, but what could I do-go in at
the first door? The people were
strangers, and what would they
think ? There was no milliner's shop
at hand, and I quite distance from
home. AS I could do nothing in
my turn, I drew my shawl over my
head, and tried to quicken my steps ::
but my feet seemed paralyzed and l
made little progress


just then !. saw woman in the
distance coming toward me. Oh if
/ could only walk as she does,
thought I.


The woman WAS very meagre, poorly
dressed, and with nothing about her
shoulders, though the air was quite
keen. The moment we met, she stop
ped, looked me sternly in the face,
and exclaimed in a voice as stern as
the look:


"Give me my shawl, madam n'and
without waiting for reply or resis-
tance, stripped it from me, and wrap
ping it around her own Shoulders,
went on.


Scarcely had begun to cast about
in my mind what to do next,
when another of these wretched be
ings came upon me. She wore the
tattcred remains of an old cloak
about her; but as she raised her arm
| saw that she had no dress beneath
it, or rather but the remnant Of one.


"For mercy's sake!'' said I, as
she lad her hand heavily upon my
shoulder what do you want of me
now? I have met with robbers
enough already"


s'Robbers p cried she in a voice
that went through me like a sword.
Robbers p Take back that lie,
base thief! Thou art the rohber
Give me my own! So sayiug, she
tore from me my dress that splendid
silk one that you have so often ad-
mired, and. putting it on disappear
ed.


In utter dismay and confusion,
there l stood, not knowing which
way to turn or what to think But
I was not allowed much time for re-
Election. Immediatly l felt my hand
grasped by the cold, bony hand,of a
woman, with three ragged children,
who were crying and clinging to her
clothes.


"Give me my money! said she,
as she wrenched the purse from my
trembling hand. 'There it will buy
you some bread, poor things p she
added in a softer tone, as she flung
it into the eager hands CT the chill
dren; ''it will buy you some bread p


I looked after her as she followed
the tattered troupe: but my tongue
was dumb, my feet were glued to the
earth, and my whole frame was shiv-
ering with cold and terror.


This woman was only gone, when
her place was taken by another VIII o
was very delicate and pale, her dress
though much disordered, bearing ev-
ident marks of good taste. Her
eyes were red, as if she had been
weeping, but they frightened up
when they saw the watch and chain,
which to say, were still on my per
son.


eyes thank Godw she exclaimed,
'this will save him my own beau
tiful watch, my father gave me on
my marriage day-the self same one
i know it well-this will pay it
all-this will take him out of prison
Give me my watch! And without
looking at me at all, she seized up
on the watch and hurried away, re
peating wildly to her self, Yes, this
will save him, this will take him out
of prison-my own beautiful watch.


Next [ was disrobed of my elabor
ately quilted skirt, by a squalid Irish
woman, who went away muttering a
sort of apology for her rudeness:


"Poor crather, it's not that would
harm ye, to be sure and maybe you
have got as much left on ye now as
many poor thing that deserves
more! Wasn't it Patrick's wages
that bought the quilt? And ism t ii
ones own he takes wherever he finds
it?


Then three palid creatures, from
different directions, surrounded me,
as I stood Ikea marble statue,
hardly knowing whether 1 was dead
or alive. One Immediately divest-
ed me Of my jewelry, saying con-
temptuously as she turned away:


Il care not for the trash, but ii
is mine. It was paWned for rum