EXTRACT FROM CHRYSAL OR THE ADVENTURES OF A GUINEA.* THE company to which my new master was in such haste to go, consisted of a few persons, whom a similarity of temper had linked in the closest intimacy. With these, he spent the remainder of the evening, in a manner which few would dislike, though fewer still could approve; the spirited wit, and liveliness of their conversation gilding the grossest debaucheries; at the same time, that the rectitude and sublimity of their sentiments, whenever their hearts could find opportunity to speak, made the vices of their practice still more horrible by the contrast. They broke not up, as it may be imagined, till nature sunk under their excesses, when my master, as he staggered home, was accosted by a female, who had something in her air and manner so different from those outcasts of humanity who offer themselves to casual prostitution in the streets, that his curiosity was struck, and he stopped to take more particular notice of her. She appeared to be about fifteen. Her figure was elegant, and her features regular; but want had sicklied o'er their beauty and all the horrors of despair gloomed through the languid smile she forced, when she addressed him. The sigh of distress, which never struck his ear without affecting his heart, came with double force from such an object. He viewed her with silent compassion for some moments ; and reaching her a piece of gold, bade her go home, and shelter herself from the inclemencies of the night at so late an hour. Her surprise and joy at such unexpected charity overpowered her. She dropped upon her knees, in the wet and dirt of the street, and raising her hands and eyes toward heaven, remained in that pos ture for some moments, unable to give utterance to the gratitude that filled her heart. Such a sight was more expressive than all the powers of eloquence. He raised her tenderly from the ground, and soothing her with words of comfort, offered to conduct her to some place, where she might get that refreshment of which she appeared to be in too great want. * See p. "O! Sir," (said she, pressing the hand that had raised her, with her cold trembling lips) "my deliverer, sent by heaven to save me from despair, let me not think of taking refreshment myself, till I have first procured it for those, whose greater wants I feel ten thousand times more severely than my own." "Who can they be?" (interrupted he, with anxious impatience) can humanity feel greater wants than those under which you are sinking?" 66 My father," (exclaimed she, bursting into tears) "languishing under infirmities, acquired in the service of his country; my mother, worn out with attending on him, and both perishing of want, (heaven grant they are not already dead!) together with two infant brothers, insensible of the cause of their distress, and crying to them for a morsel of bread, which it is not in their power to give." "Where can such a scene of wretchedness be hidden from relief? I'll go with you myself directly! But stop! let us first procure some comfortable nourishment from some of the houses which are kept open at this late hour, for a very different purpose. Come with me! we have no time to lose." With these words, he went directly to a tavern, and enquiring what victuals were dressed in the house, loaded her with as much as she could carry of the best, and putting a couple of bottles of wine in his own pocket, walked with her to her habitation, which was in a blind alley, happily for her not very far distant, as weakness, together with the conflict of passions struggling in her heart, made her scarce able to go. When they came to the door, she would have gone up first for a light, but he was resolved to accompany her, that he might see the whole scene in its genuine colours. He therefore followed her up to the top of the house, where, opening the door of the garret, she discovered to him such a scene of misery, as struck him with astonishment. By the light of a lamp, that glimmered in the fireless chimney, he saw, lying on a bare bedstead, without any other covering than the relics of their own rags, a man, a woman, and two children, shuddering with cold, though huddled together to share the little warmth which exhausted nature still supplied them with. While he stood gazing in horror at such complicated wretchedness, his conductress ran to the bedside, and falling on her knees, "O! Sir! Madam!" (exclaimed she in rapture)" Arise! I have got relief from an angel of heaven." "Take care!" (answered a voice, the hollow trembling of which was sharpened by indignation) "take care it is not from a fiend of hell, who has taken advantage of your distress to tempt you to ruin! for with whom else could you be till this time of night? But know, wretched girl, that I will never eat the earnings of vice and infamy. A few hours will put an end to my miseries, which have received the only possible addition by this your folly." "He must be such indeed," (interrupted my master, still more struck with sentiments so uncommon in such a situation)"who could think of tempting her in such circumstances to any folly. I will withdraw, while you arise, and then we will consult what can be soonest done to alleviate a distress, of which you appear so undeserving." While he said this, he took the wine out of his pockets, and giving it to the daughter, went directly down stairs, without waiting for a reply, and walking backward and forward in the street for some time, enjoyed the sublimest pleasure the human heart is capable of, in considering how he had relieved, and should further relieve the sufferings of objects so worthy of relief. By the time he thought they might have learned from their daughter the circumstances of her meeting with him, and taken some nourishment, he returned to them; when, the moment he entered the room, the whole family fell upon their knees to thank him. Such humiliation was more than he could bear. He raised them, one by one, as fast as he could, and taking the father's hand, "Gracious God! (said he) can a sense of humanity be such an uncommon thing among creatures, who call themselves human, that so poor an exertion of it should be thought deserving of a return, proper to be made only to heaven? Oppress me not, Sir, I conjure you, with the mention of what it would have been a crime, I could never have forgiven myself, to know I had not done. It is too late to think of leaving this place before to-morrow, when I will provide a better, if there is not any to which you choose particularly to go. I am not rich; but I thank heaven that it has blessed me with ability, and inclination to afford such assistance as may be immediately necessary to you, till means may be thought of for doing more." "O, Sir," (answered the mother) "well might my daughter call you an angel of heaven! You know not from what misery you have already relieved "Nor will I know more of it at this time," (interrupted my master)" than that which I too plainly see. I will leave you now to your rest, and return as soon as it is day "Speak not of leaving us, Sir, (exclaimed the daughter, who was afraid that if he should go away, he might not return) "What rest can we take in so short a time? Leave us not, I beseech you! leave us not in this place!""Cease, my child!" (interposed the father) 66 nor press your benefactor to continue in a scene of misery, that must give pain to his humane heart." "If my staying will not give you pain," (answered my master) "I will most willingly stay; but it must be on condition that our conversation points entirely forward to happier days. There will be time enough hereafter to look back." Saying this, he sat down on the bed-side, (for other seat the apartment afforded none) between the husband and wife, with whom he spent the little remainder of the night, in such discourse as he thought most likely to divert their attention from their present misery, and inspire their minds with better hopes, while the children, all ́but the daughter who hung upon his words, comforted at heart with a better meal than they had long tasted, fell fast asleep, as they leaned their heads upon their mother's lap. As soon as it was day, "Now Madam," (said my master, addressing himself to the mother) " I will go, and provide a place for your reception, as you say all places are alike to you. In the mean time accept of this trifle (giving her ten guineas) to provide such necessaries, as you may indispensably want before you remove. When you are settled, we will see what further can be done. I shall be back with you within these three hours at most." For such beneficence there was no possibility of returning thanks, but their hearts spoke through their eyes, in a language sufficiently intelligible. Departing directly, to save both himself and them the pain of pursuing a conversation that grew too distressful, he went, without regard to change of dress or appearance, to look for a proper lodging for them, where he laid in such provisions of every kind, as he knew they must immediately want, and to which he assisted in removing them. The story of the distressed officer then follows. |