Contrasts In Life

A pbysician met me: "Would yon like to see a curious picture of lífe?" said he. "Of course! how far off?" Within the sound Sí tbal trumpet." We turned out of Broadway, and in a few moments were at the foot of a rude and dirty staircase leading up to the sidc of a wretched building to a kïrid of temporar)' loft. The Doctor opened a door, and we entered a dingy room, jusflo'n'g enough for a man to lay bis length in it thelongest way. Acobbler'sbench without tools, a few scraps of old lcathervand a man lying on soine dirty straw in a corner with a raggedquilt over lïim, were all the contents of the room. Yes, one thing more - a centlaid carefully on the window-sill.'Have you taken the medicine?' ásked the Doctor. 'Nosir!' LWhy not?' 'It's of no use sir.' 'How of no use?' 'Why, I don't want it.' 1'm sick of tife Doctor.' '1 didn't send for you.' Here the sick man turned his back to us with a groan of pam at the ëffort, rtnd drew the dirty coverlet over h is hend. The Doctor leaned over him and got hold of bis pulse. 'Don't trouble me, Doctor, said he. I hopelshall pop off btjforë night. There's no room for me in the world.' The doctor said something kind to him, and he went on speaking brokenly and with difficulty: 'I could'nt go to the alrnhouse, for I hear it's Full. I can't get no work, if I was ever so well - people don't have their shoes mended now, I believe. I have no pleasure in life at the best. There's no comfort for me, I'd ratber die and be quiet. 1 was glad when I got sick.' He persisted in refusing the medicine, and the kind physician, who had been called in by one of the neighbors; gave directions to a poor char woman who lodged in the cellar below, and we Ieft him. In 3 minutes more we were again in gay Broadway, and the waltz was still playing most merrily in the Museum, and the fountain was slill leaping joyously in the Park. - Truly there is here and there a contrast