The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 193: what you’re looking at

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a eA a gs meer eee as re DE I SI I I ST a I a i ea i I I PST TL I C—O LE OT ET aT RT TT TO I I aT CTE I OE A ET TT ' ggnall seal, with mourning wax —— Egad! it must be from the poor orphan, Rose Foster f” Then, hastily breaking it open, his eyes glanced over the contents, which ran as follow :— “Tes generous interest which you-heve shows in.my unhappy lot, and the kind assistance and counsel which you have given me in my otherwise friendians eqndition, would indeed experience but an ungrateful return were I not to make you acquainted with the resolution to which I have come, after very matare consideration. You may perhaps think that it is improper, and even in- delicate on my part, to have given way to reflections of @ worldly nature so soon—so very soon after the eruc) and terrible bereavement which I have experienced. Bat it is precisely because the sense of this bereavement is intolerable in the long and unemployed hours I pass by myself, that I have determined to seek an occupation which may to some extent relieve my mind from inces- sant meditation on the loss of my beloved and lamented parents. Besides, I feel that, situated as I am, it fs a sin to remain idle, and that every day which is passed by me in inactivity and in brooding over my misfortunes, ie the wilful abandonment of an irretrievable portion of my youth to an unavailing despair. Employment, |} feel, will tutor my soul to resignation; and although I can /. never cease to think of my loet parents, and must often Often drop tears to their memory, yet I am well assured that constant occupation will mellow down my grief to a sentiment of placid submission to the divine will. “Under all these circumstances, I feel convinced that you will approve of the resolutiun I have adopted, and the step I have taken. Before you receive this jetter, I shall have entered a large and most respectable mil- linery establishment, the mistress of which carries the excellence of her heart and the kindness of her soul in her frank, honest, and open countenance. I shall therefore be enabled to earn my bread, withunt meking any farther inroaés upon the sum which remained from the amount paid by the Prince and after the settlement of Messrs. Hodson and. Morley’s claim. That sum will therefore remain to accumulate in the Bank of England, where, under your counsel, I deposited it. “In the establishment where I shall be when you receive this note, I have entered under an assumed name. I do not wish the mention of that of Foster to provoke curiosity and lead to questions concerning the lamentable death of my beloved parents. I am con- vinced that you will approve of my resolution fn this re- spect. “But now Iam about to write something which may appear ungrateful: I however beseech you te view it altogether in another light Fearful that you may think the step I have taken to be premature and that the ave- eation I have chosen is derogatory to a young lady well and tenderly brought up,—and apprehending that, under those impressions, you may seek ts wean me from my parpose, I dare not for the present 4aform you where that establishment which I am about to enter is situated. But when my mind has become more settled, and I havo given thie new mode of lifea fair trial, I will then write to you again and ask you to call and ses me. For I shall ever regard you asa friend whom God raised up to shield my father’s memory from any biame which the result of a Coroner’s Inquest would have attached to it,—as a friend, also, to counsel and assist myself. Accept, then, Mr. Mea- dae bagpipes Dor edlngrstelgansieee! tres elare that I shall ever entertain a deep semas of the ce eee eee toe soee “ROSE FOSTER.” © She hes acted wisely—prodently f* said Meagles to himself, when he had terminated the reading of this epistle. “The delicacy of ber ‘innocent mind has suggested to her that it would be improper for a friend of my sex to visit her in her-mew abode—and she is right. But God knows that I would sooner bave cut my hand off than injure a hair of her sweet nead! Ah! what—a tear trickling down my cheek ! THE MYSTERIES. =~ Well—be it so—and I am‘inot ttabthtied of it! May your existence prove a BapPy one, sweet Rose; eng perdition seize the villain who shall seek t do you -harm !” Having thus mused aloud, Tim Meagles heatiig’- passed his hand across his eyes, and then draine# the tumbler of reeking punch which stood near him : for he felt moved— affected —unmanned ! O man of the world that thou wast—rake and de- bauchee though thou mightest have been — yet thine heart was good: and the drops which thes trickled down thy cheeks, were an atonement for many vices and errors! Flowing like the spring from the hard and sterile rock in the desert, the tears of a man are the waters of hope gushing forth from even a rugged nature: like the vinegar upon granite, they dissolve obduracy into the softness of holy and blessed feelings! CHAPTER Lil NEWGATE. Tux clock of Saint Sepulchre’s church was striking eleven in the forenoon, when Mre. Brace, accom- panied by Harriet, alighted from a hackney-coach at the door of the prison of Newgate. They entered the dark and gloomy vestibule, where the chains of notorious malefactors were suspended to the walls—as if crime must have its relics and justice treasure up its memorials! The turnkey on duty inquired the business of the lady and her attendant; and the milliner instantly placed a piece of paper in his hand. It was an order, signed by one of the City Aldermen, “to admit Mra. Brace and friends to view his Majesty's prison af Newgate.” “‘ Now, then, Soper !* exclaimed the turnkey, at the top of his voice; anda short, stout, dirty-looking individual woke up from a nap which he was enjoy- ing as he Jay stretched at length upon a form. “Two ladies to see the gaol. Come—bustle about now— and be alive, will’ee? Why, I’m blowed if you've slept off last night’s ale yet t” “Keep your observations to yourself, Mr. Pig- man,” growled Mr. Soper, as he with difficulty sup- pressed a yawn. “ This way, ladies, if you'll be so kind.” And taking up a bunch of huge keys, he opened « targe Grated door leading into a dark passage. Mr-. Brace and Harriet followed him; and he eonducte.' them into a low hall, paved with massive flag-stcne., and the roof of which was supported by thick squa: - pillars. At the end of this hall, a door epened to .. staircase leading up into the chapel; and this wr: the first feature of interest which was inspected b. the visitresses. High—narrow—and dark, the chapel of Newga'~ is indeed well suited for the place. Its sombre aspe. : —the dark wood of which the pulpit, galleries, an : pews are made—and the absence of al) sounds fro::. withont, combine to render it a place of awfi.: gloom. In the times of which we are writing, an . indeed until within the last few years, there was - large circular enclosure in the middle, where persor doomed to death were seated td hear the “ condernnc . sermon.” Now-a-days a chair for the wretched cu: prit occupies that spot; and the authorities thu. render the unhappy being painfully conspicuous ax . eee ee eee (CO COMIC OOO SS |