the complacent feeling that the path to heaven has been made very comfortable for them. I was thus gradually coming to an appreciation of what was honest and real, and an abhorrence for the counterfeit in life.

Matilda did not enter with any relish into Alice's Sunday occupation. She did not like to attend church, she said; the building was hideous, the congregation dressed in bad taste, and altogether a vulgar-looking set. Beside, the clergyman had a habit of snuffing.

Now, many will hold up their hands in horror at such an irreligious demonstration in one so young. What a mistake! The simple truth was, that Matilda's senses were so delicate and her appreciation so nice, that certain sights and sounds shocked her eyes and ears which would produce no effect on ordinary organizations; just as a person with a fine musical ear detects a discord where another perceives harmony only. This was the secret source of the greater part of her miseries, and to this most of her faults were chargeable. This same subtle sense made her dislike common clothing, and admire whatever was rich, so that all her tastes were expensive; it gave her a love for the refinements of wealth, and a disgust for poverty. Failing to possess what she appreciated so fully, and forced daily to take up with what was repugnant to her, she displayed at times an irritability of temper, coupled with many passionate demonstrations, which made her character appear in a very unhappy light. Yet the poor girl could not help this extraordinary temperment, neither was she to blame for it. Unfortunately, nothing had been done when she was a child to moderate the intensity of her emotions, and now it was quite too late to effect a change. However, Matilda did go to church, but I doubt if she derived much benefit from what she heard.

In and about the house she was charming. Competent as Alice herself, with a more demonstrative energy and resolution, she accomplished whatever she undertook in the most successful manner. Thus she really helped to lighten the load which I had to carry, which was destined to become more and more heavy as the years rolled by.

To be obliged to spend five dollars a day, and be able to earn but three dollars, gives one a gloomy look into the future. To a person accustomed to 'doing business' on a large scale, it would seem a very petty affair to secure five dollars per diem -so I used to think. But when one is ousted from one's position and divorced from one's circumstances, it is not easy to lay hold of a new opportunity. Charles the footman, in becoming livery, giving complete satisfaction to his employer at twenty-five dollars a month, is quite a different person from Charles discharged-in disgrace—walking about in very plain clothes, not earning a dollar, and eating into his last month's wages very fast. You would not know that it was the same person. Indeed it is doubtful if Charles recognizes himself.

Now, stop one moment, reader. In imagination, separate yourself from your position. Think how it would be with you. Cut off, this moment, your business, your income, your old associations-all. Turn yourself, (thank God

that it is only in imagination) loose into the street, and be told to earn five dollars a day. Ay, let it be understood you and your children will STARVE if you do n't earn it, and try and fancy how to do it! Beat your head against the dead wall. There is no door there which opens as doors used to open to you. You strive, you agonize. You have had enough of it. You implore to have the spell dissolved and you returned to your friendly associations. With me, it was not fancy work, but fact.

It seemed at first as if I should never get started. The first money I made on this return to business was three dollars on a hundred-dollar note, and this was through the agency of Downer. For there was but one man in the street who would buy the paper, and his name was Fink. He occupied a small hole, literally seven by nine, up two pair of stairs, in a side-street leading out of Wall. Downer directed me to him. I found a man apparently about sixtyfive years old. He was at work at his check-book when I entered. He did not even look up, but continued his addition. I sat down. In about five minutes he paused from his labors and peered at me over his spectacles.

'Will you take this note?' I said, at the same time placing it in his hand. Thereupon the following dialogue ensued:

'What's your name?'

'Parkinson.'

'Don't recollect seeing you before.' 'Perhaps not.'

'Parkinson,' (repeating to himself.)

in '37?'

'Yes.'

Was n't you in the silk business

'I was in the dry-goods business myself. Went out of it the year before; thought I remembered the name.'

'You can have it at two per cent a month.' I had been told it was idle to offer less.

Honest Mr. Fink paid no attention to my reply, but proceeded to fill out a check. When it was signed he handed it to me, saying: 'That's the best I take his notes at?'

I saw on glancing at the amount that the old blood-sucker had deducted

three per cent a month. As it did not exceed my instructions, and as I saw Mr. Fink meant what he said, I pocketed the check and came away. By this transaction I made three dollars - the voluntary offering of my man, who had given up all hope of getting the note cashed, and was delighted to get the money at any sacrifice.

This Fink, let me tell the reader, was worth over half a million of dollars. He had no family, no relatives, as I was told. He resided in New-Jersey to avoid being taxed in New-York; and for abundant caution, was careful to keep his name out of the city directory. He was never known to bestow a cent in charity, or to do any human being a kindness. He took great pains to make himself acquainted with second and third and even fourth-rate paper, and was exceedingly shrewd in his judgments about it.

'What will become of this man?' said I to Downer as he finished a pretty long story about him, which it is unnecessary to repeat here.

'What will become of him?' repeated he; 'why, some time or other he'll swallow a dollar the wrong way and die.'

I could not help smiling at the practical and very literal character of Downer's response, but forebore to follow it up by inquiring as to any speculations my friend might entertain concerning Fink's destiny after the dollar was swallowed. I thought a good deal, nevertheless, about this man. He excited in my breast a profound feeling of compassion. As I walked homeward, I asked myself, 'Is he never to change? must he go on so always? What would induce you to take his place?'

A shudder passed over me at the bare idea. I drew a long breath, experiencing a sense of relief, in being assured of my own identity. 'What does it matter,' I said, 'how poor I am, how hard I am pressed, so long as I feel as I do?' I was very rich at that moment, in all my emotions; and I was happier, I do believe, as I walked along, than ever I was before.

Do the best I could, it was impossible for me to meet our necessary expenditures. I had a good many notes to sell, but the men who would purchase drove such hard bargains, that the commissions were necessarily small. It was astonishing how close they all calculated. On one occasion, I was asked what commission I expected to charge on the transaction; I answered frankly, when the griping wretch insisted on my allowing him that before he would give me the money.

'You must make your man pay you,' was all I could get from him.

As I was limited by the owner, and knowing the note could be sold elsewhere by other brokers, I preferred to close the matter, and do the whole for nothing to losing a customer. Very different business indeed from the ready, off-hand work of disposing of first-class paper.

At the end of three months, I was decidedly behind-hand. We owed the servant for two months' wages. The grocer a two-weeks bill, The butcher also for two weeks. The children all required new shoes; some summer I myself should at least have a new hat. I could not bear the idea of disturbing Alice's treasure, so carefully placed in the sav

dresses were necessary.

ings bank. What had I best do? Up to that time I had never visited a pawnbroker's shop. It seemed as if it were a species of humiliation to enter one. Disappointed in receiving a small sum I had that day counted on, and knowing I must not go home without some money, I determined to make the trial. I had in my pocket a valuable hunting-watch, of an approved maker. It had cost me two hundred dollars. I looked at it. Never did it seem so much

of a companion as at that moment. I strolled slowly up Nassau-street, till 1 reached the Park, and stood quite undecided.

It was here that Downer, on his way home, came up with me.

'What are you waiting for?'

I told him.

'It's of no use,' he replied, 'undertaking to pawn any thing. You will lose it, that's all; and you will be just as bad off afterward. If you have any thing to part with, sell it; for you will keep along paying twenty-five per cent per annum for two or three years, perhaps, and it goes in the end.'

'That may he,' I said, 'but there is no help for it; I must have the money to-night.'

'Hold on, Parkinson,' said Downer, as I started to cross the street. 'Let me go I have been through with it—just as lief as not, I tell you.'

I was on the point of assenting, and had partly raised my hand to my pocket, when I looked in his face, and saw his harsh, repulsive features betraying the strongest feeling. He seemed actually as if he were in pain on my account. Had I been a child, about exposing myself to some great peril, he could not have appeared more apprehensive or considerate.

'No, my friend!' I exclaimed, 'I will go through it too; better now than at any other time.'

‘Mind, you ask for as much again as you want,' he said.

I nodded, and crossed over to where Simpson displays three golden balls, the arms of the Lombard merchants, who were the first in old times to lend money on pledge of chattel securities.

My heart beat violently as I entered. I would not thrust myself in one of the coffin-like stalls, but walked straight up to the counter, where a man was already engaged, attempting precisely what I proposed to do, to wit: to get a loan on his watch.

He had just handed it in. Behind the counter stood not a black-eyed, longbearded, sharp-visaged Jew, as my imagination had pictured, but an intelligent, business-like looking individual, who carelessly opened one side of the watch, and shutting it again, without the least examination, said: 'How much do you want?'

'Twenty-five dollars,' replied the man.

'Will give you ten dollars.'

'Can't you give fifteen ?'

Only ten.'

'Well, take it.'

It was now my turn. My hand trembled as I drew out my watch. The fate of my predecessor augured poorly for me.

The watch was speedily transferred to the hand of the pawnbroker. The same careless examination was passed, just a springing of one of the sides, as if by habit, and then the monotonous, 'How much do you want?'

'I must have fifty dollars on it.'

"Tis good for that,' was the answer, 'but we are not loaning now over twenty-five dollars on any watch. The demand is so great, and we must give our small customers the preference.'

'I suppose so, but really I must have this money, and I beg you to accommodate me.'

There was a moment's hesitation; then he turned around, and took up two pieces of paper.

'What name?' he inquired.

'Parkinson.'

In just a minute a ticket was handed to me, (the name written on it looked more like Frogson, than any thing else.) Fifty dollars were placed in my hands, and the transaction was closed. A new-comer took my place, and I marched away triumphant. I felt very grateful to the man behind the counter. I hardly knew why, but I stepped out on the pavement, with a happy appreciation of the institution of pawnbrokers, since it could thus so suddenly bring relief to the suffering. Just then I cast my eyes up at the dial-plate on the City Hall, and was surprised that it was so late, and unconsciously I undertook to compare the time with my own. My hand took its usual course to my watch-guard, but it grasped vacancy; a slight pang, and it was over. After all, my friend of the three balls had a very perfect security, and an excellent rate of interest.

'Well! all right?' It was Downer's voice.

'All right.'

'Mind, I say, you have been very foolish. Such a thing as a watch gets to be a part of yourself. You should n't have parted with it. You should have imagined you had no watch, and then you would have managed some way to 'raise the wind' without it. I tell you, it's so. What are you going to do when you have pledged every thing?'

'GOD knows.'

Downer shook his head, and we separated, each on his way home. When I came to pay off the petty debts which had accumulated, I found I had but eighteen dollars left, with which to purchase shoes and summer dresses! How the fifty dollars had melted away! Never mind. I must keep at work. I gave Alice no opportunity to ask questions that night. The next day, I went early to the office. I thought I should escape unobserved, but I did not. I heard nothing about it, though, for several days. One evening, after dinner, I was seated, reading the newspaper, when a ring at the door was followed by the girl bringing in a small box, carefully done up, and directed to me. I proceeded to open it. The young ladies raised their eyes with a very natural air of inquiry. I found a neat morocco watch-case, in which, on opening, I discovered my own handsome lever! I was amazed. I hardly knew what to say or do. I imagine I looked a little foolish, too, for the young ladies kept eyeing me, and I fancied, with an air of ill-suppressed mirth. But when I proceeded, with a