Page:Peterson Magazine 1869B.pdf/311

 THE

LIBRARY

OF

FATE.

BY JANE G. AUSTIN. "SUNSET, gentlemen ! The library will close course of that year, Romuald had discovered in five minutes, " announced the janitor, taking that the friends, even the lovers, of a wild, his own coat from its peg in the corner, and young man, with his pockets full of money, not rattling the bunch of keys in his hand. even the acquaintances of a poor devil without The few students, who still lingered in the one cent to jingle against another in those same dusky hall, hastened to obey the suggestions pockets, that the accomplishments, or even the thus plainly given, and one after another passed now solid acquirements of such a young man , through the open door with a brief good-night are not available as legal tender on ' Change ; to the janitor, and, perhaps, some slight word and, finally, that he who cannot dig, while to beg of farewell to each other, as most of them were he is ashamed, runs every chance of starving to habitual visitors, and a sort of acquaintance had death, even in the midst of plenty. grown up from the mere fact of sitting several "I will go to Gomorrah. Surely, in the largest hours a day in each other's society without, and wealthiest city of my native land, there must be some honest work which even I can do," said however, even hearing each other's names. "All gone ! Then I'll go, too, " remarked our young friend at last ; and by the next steanPeters, the janitor, turning round from a last boat he arrived in Gomorrah with precisely nine survey of the smouldering fire, which he was cents in his pocket. Nine cents will not pay for allowed to kindle in the disused fire- place, for even a very modest lodging in Gomorrahı, a city his own especial benefit, in this chilly weather where prices are proportioned to the income-tax of early summer. of its upper ten thousand tax-payers ; but it will "All gone ! Yes," repeated the janitor, ab- purchase a limited amount of food, and, consesently, as he went out, locked the door, clumpedquently, in food did Romuald Braithe expend down the stairs, and out into the wintry street, it, purchasing, after long consideration, twelve where the gas, just lighted, contended with the large, soft crackers, for which be paid five cents, and a crumb of cheese, for which he gave the dying daylight. But Peters had not perceived, nor had any other four. The city stood treat for water enough one of the readers so unceremoniously ejected, to wash down this simple repast, and also exthat one of their number remained behind ; and tended the hospitality of the streets to the housethat the worthy janitor's remark, " All gone !" less wanderer, who promenaded them until daywas consequently an untruth, for Romuald light, when he took the liberty of stretching Braithe, fast asleep in a distant alcove, had himself upon a bench in the Park and going to neither heard the announcement of sunset, nor sleep, a proceeding permitted after sunrise, but the steps of his departing comrades, nor the severely censured during the hours of darkness clang of the closing door. by the astute guardians of the public safety. But then, to be sure, Romuald Braithe had an His nap out, our Romuald finished the crackers excuse for sleepiness, in the fact of having re- and cheese, collected and devoured every crumb mained awake and afoot all the previous night, remaining at the bottom of his pockets, and bis reason for this vigil being the simple fact, severely blamed himself for the extravagance that in all the vast city, where he found himself, of purchasing cheese at all : for, as he sagely he possessed neither home, friend, or the means argued, the cheese only added a relish to the of buying even the semblance of those comforts. biscuit, and tempted me to eat them the faster, Not to evade a truth that must finally be con- while the four cents expended in eight crackers fessed, this hero of ours is hardly better than would have given me a very good breakfast. Chewing this reflection instead of the missing a good- looking, gentlemanly, well- educated vagrant, without property or resources other than meal, our young philosopher next set forth in the capricious benevolence of an ill-tempered search of work, and, of course, found none, old man, his uncle, who, having bred him in Gomorrah governing itself strictly upon the luxury, had, in a fit of anger at some unexpected Biblical principle. " To him who hath shall be opposition to his will, turned him out- of-doors, given, and from him who hath not, shall be just about a year before this night. In the taken away even that which he hath. " 280