Year: 1860

! finger on the tbreSh0ld-let me finger g moment yet, and ask you, if I never seemed eccentric to you? Often in passing to youl counting-house, you send me friendly noe as lean from my window in the sunshine

 and, doubtless, you go to your arduous tolls thinking what Q happy fellow l am to afford to be idle, when you and your whole estab lishment will be struggling to balance tht books of the firm. You honestly consider me idle at such moments; my friend, am never buster. You think me solitary; am sur rounded by companions. The street may bt wholly deserted; the public square wonder may not tempt @ single child to en joy its green sward and shadow-Miss Tabit6a ever may be busy at her invisible toilet, and he, window deserted-yet am not alone.

 When the real figures of actual, living personages appear, however, they do not by any means, disturb my reverie. am not al war with my kind, but often find in the forms of men, women, and children what pleases me, and heightens the zcst of my recolections

 l lean upon the sill of my window, and drumming idly with my fingers, scan the diff ferent wayfarers with smiling attention. ] see my friend Dives with his jingling watch. seals, his squeaking boots, his spotless shirt bosom, and his dignifed look, go by to his warehouse, saluted respectfully by the heads of one,or two first famiies"-tbe Scribes and Pharisces-who sometimes invite me to their palaces uptown. And, as Dives disappears like moving bank round the corner, I per ceive Lazarus, with his maimed limbs swing. ing by, on his hands inserted in woolen gloves the shadow of his low figure mingling with that of Dives. Of course I do not know Lazarus, as l move in good society; vet I am glad to see him with his cheerful smile on his pale, thin face; and when he passed on this side of the street, sometimes drop silly piece of money into his bosom, and laugh to myself, as draw back fancying his puzzled expression. I related this incident at dinner, the ether day, to my friend Dives and his guests; but he raised the question, whether such things were advisable, the pub lie charities being amply sufficient for merito- rious sufferers; while individual relief encour- aged paupcrism and idleism.

 But my dear Dives," I said with smile, Suppose the coin which I dropped bought some small articles for the children of Laza- rus, and so gave them pleasure far greater than any could have enjoyed by spending the money?"

 "The principle in the thing," replied my friend, slipping his claret and shaking his head, :" the principle is bad As members of society, we are bound to observe the laws of society; and as, in state of society, we must be governed by the rules and regula- tlons of that society so think as a member of that society you were rather bound to have this individual sent to prison as vagrant on society than to encourage him in what must eventually render it necessary to make an example of him for the good of society,""

 Those were the words of Dives: and, as my friend the Reverend A. Caiphas asked mo at the moment to take wine, the discus sion Was not resumed. am obstinate, nev- ertheless, and shall probably continue to out. rage these rules and regulations of "socie- ty," if the whim seizes me, when Lazarus passes beneath my window.

 am running on pretty much at random and shall not at this rate get to my story. But l take so much interest in my window observations that am led to weary you with them. A word more and I shall get regular. ly to my narrative.

 Besides Dives and Lazarus, I see many other figures pass on the street. I see Sure phon go by in the tightest boots the finest kid gloves and the glossicst hat escorting Miss Almra the daughter of old Two-pcr- cent; and l stand or rather lean in silent admiration of her gorgeous appearance, as she sails by rustling in silks and satins, with a bird of paradise upon her bonnet She has chosen to walk on account of the sunshine and the great carriage with its liveried dri- yer and footman rolls by unoccupied. It is pity that the poor girl wonder sliukiug round the corner and looking so faint and weak cannot ride little in it; and fancy Strephon might procure this favor for her as the weak girl exchanges look with him, winch seems to indicate acquaintance. The three figures pass on and disappear; but somehow the look of the pale weak girl dwells in my memory and haunts me. We'll l weary you, good friend, and another word ends my window pictures. In addition to the hgures have mentioned my observant eyes descry the merry forms of children dancing over the velvet sward of the public square rolling their hoops, playing by the fountain and shouting at their play--their sweet faces please me; and the bright eyes seem to make the day more brilliant, the deep blue sky of a softer azure. It is only in the afternoon that see them, for in the morning they are at school.

 As l gaze with my shoulders droopine. my fingers inveterately drumming, my eyes half-closed and my lips wreathed with smiles, little sad, perhaps, in their expression, I see my little friend come tripping along by the row of elms cased in their square boxes, and l am pleased to see her brig ght figure lit up by the sunlight which dances on her curls. her straw hat, her checkered flag satchcl gaily swung upon the bare arm, and the lit- tie boots of crimson morocco tightly fitting to her delicate ankles. l wait for her and look for her appearance, and when she comes I follow her with my eyes as she arrives op- posite and then disappears round the corner. She is different from some other young la- dies of my acquaintance who pass on simi. lar errand. These latter look up as they pass at my grizzled hair, my gray mustache, my carelessly drumming fingers, and know very we'll that at such times they are think. ing who on earth the old fellow at the win dow can be; the curious old fellow always leaning from the very same opening, in the same way, and smiling as he beats his tat too. with the very same idle and dreamy expression.

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