Hot corn: Life Scenes in New York IllustratedRobinson, Solon
General
Hot corn: Life Scenes in New York Illustrated
Robinson, Solon
New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction; Temperance -- Fiction
Who shall say there is not music in those two little words? "Hot Corn"
shall yet be trilled from boudoir and parlor, as fairy fingers run over
the piano keys. Hot Corn! Hot Corn! shall yet be the chorus of the
minstrel's song, and hot tears shall flow at the remembrance of "Little
Katy." But that one song had ceased. That voice came not upon my
listening ear.
What was that voice to me? It was but one in a thousand, just as
miserable, which may be daily heard where human misery has its abode.
That voice, as some others have, did not haunt me, but its absence, in
spite of all reasoning, made me feel uneasy. I do not believe in
spiritual manifestations half as strongly as some of the costermongers
of the fruits of other men's brains, who eke out their existence by
retailing petty scandal to long-eared listeners, would have them
believe; yet I do believe there is a spirit in man, not yet made
manifest, which makes us yearn after coexisting spirits in this sphere
and in this life, and that there is no need of going beyond it, after
strange idols.
I shall not stop to inquire whether it was a spirit of "the first, third
or sixth sphere," that prompted me, as I left my desk one evening, to go
down among the abodes of the poor, with a feeling of certainty that I
should see or hear something of the lost voice, or what spirit led me
on; perhaps it was the spirit of curiosity; no matter, it led, and I
followed, in the road I had seen that little one go before--it was my
only cue--I knew no name--had no number, nor knew any one that knew her
whom I was going to find. Yes, I knew that good Missionary; and she had
told me of the good words which he had spoken; but would he know her
from the hundred just like her? Perhaps. It will cost nothing to
inquire. I went down Centre street with a light heart; I turned into
Cross street with a step buoyed with hope; I stood at the corner of
Little-Water street, and looked around inquiringly of the spirit, and
mentally said, "which way now?" The answer was a far-off scream of
despair. I stood still with an open ear, for the sound of prayer,
followed by a sweet hymn of praise to God, went up from the site of the
Old Brewery, in which I joined, thankful that that was no longer the
abode of all the worst crimes ever concentrated under one roof. Hark! a
step approaches. My unseen guide whispered, "ask him." It were a curious
question to ask a stranger, in such a strange place, particularly one
like him, haggard with over much care, toil, or mental labor.
Prematurely old, his days shortened by overwork in his young years, as
his furrowed face and almost frenzied eye hurriedly indicate, as we see
the flash of the lamp upon his dark visage, as he approaches with that
peculiar American step which impels the body forward at railroad speed.
Shall I get out of his way before he walks over me? What if he is a
crazy man? No; the spirit was right--no false raps here. It is that good
missionary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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