The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American RevolutionAbrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
History
The Trials of the Soldier's Wife: A Tale of the Second American Revolution
Abrams, Alex. St. Clair (Alexander St. Clair)
Confederate States of America -- Fiction; United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction
"I don't know dat you vash here to see me pefore," he replied.
"You do not recognize me," she remarked, and then added: "I am the
lady who sold her last piece of furniture to you some time ago."
He frowned as she reminded him who she was, for he then surmised what
the object of her visit was.
"Oh!" he answered, "I recollect you now, and vat do you vant?"
"I have come upon the same errand," she replied. "I have come once
more to ask you to aid me, but this time come barren of anything to
induce you to comply with my request. Nothing but the generous
promptings of your heart can I hold up before you to extend the
charity I now solicit."
"You have come here to peg again," he observed, "but I cannot give you
anything. Gootness! ven vill te place pe rid of all te peggers?"
"I cannot help my position," she said. "A cruel fortune has deprived
my of him who used to support me, and I am now left alone with my
children to eke out the wretched existence of a pauper. Last night I
was turned out of my room by the man who left here a few seconds ago,
because I could not pay for my rent. One of my children was sick, but
he cared not for that. I told him of my poverty, and he turned a deaf
ear towards me. I was forced to leave, and my child has become worse
from exposure in the night air."
"And vot have I cot to do mit all dis," he enquired.
"You can give me the means of purchasing medicine for my sick child,"
she replied. "The amount thus bestowed cannot cause you any
inconvenience, while it may be the means of saving life."
"Dis never vill do," Mr. Swartz said, interrupting her. "My goot
woman, you must go to somepody else, I can't give away my monish."
"You have got a plenty," she persisted, "you are rich. Oh, aid me! If
you believe there is a God above, who rewards the charitable, aid me,
and receive the heartfelt blessings of a mother. Twenty dollars will
be enough to satisfy my present wants, and that sum will make but
little difference to a man of your wealth."
"Mine Cot!" he exclaimed, "If I make monish I work for it, and don't
go about begging."
"I know that," she answered, "and it is to the rich that the poor must
appeal for assistance. This has made me come to you this day. Let my
desire be realized. Aid me in saving the life of my child who is now
lying ill, and destitute of medical attendance."
He could not appreciate her appeal, and he again refused.
"I can't give you any ding," he answered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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