We are wanderers here and there and everywhere . Wherever there is mirth our merry hearts are drawn to it . To-day , indeed , the people have told us of a great frolic and festival in these parts ; so perhaps we may be needed at what you call the camp-meeting at Stamford . '' Then , in my happy youth , and while her pleasant voice yet sounded in my ears , I sighed ; for none but myself , I thought , should have been her companion in a life which seemed to realize my own wild fancies cherished all through visionary boyhood to that hour . To these two strangers the world was in its Golden Age -- not that , indeed , it was less dark and sad than ever , but because its weariness and sorrow had no community with their ethereal nature . Wherever they might appear in their pilgrimage of bliss , Youth would echo back their gladness , care-stricken Maturity would rest a moment from its toil , and Age , tottering among the graves , would smile in withered joy for their sakes . The lonely cot , the narrow and gloomy street , the sombre shade , would catch a passing gleam like that now shining on ourselves as these bright spirits wandered by . Blessed pair , whose happy home was throughout all the earth ! I looked at my shoulders , and thought them broad enough to sustain those pictured towns and mountains ; mine , too , was an elastic foot as tireless as the wing of the bird of Paradise ; mine was then an untroubled heart that would have gone singing on its delightful way . `` Oh , maiden , '' said I aloud , `` why did you not come hither alone ? '' While the merry girl and myself were busy with the show-box the unceasing rain had driven another wayfarer into the wagon . He seemed pretty nearly of the old showman 's age , but much smaller , leaner and more withered than he , and less respectably clad in a patched suit of gray ; withal , he had a thin , shrewd countenance and a pair of diminutive gray eyes , which peeped rather too keenly out of their puckered sockets . This old fellow had been joking with the showman in a manner which intimated previous acquaintance , but , perceiving that the damsel and I had terminated our affairs , he drew forth a folded document and presented it to me . As I had anticipated , it proved to be a circular , written in a very fair and legible hand and signed by several distinguished gentlemen whom I had never heard of , stating that the bearer had encountered every variety of misfortune and recommending him to the notice of all charitable people . Previous disbursements had left me no more than a five-dollar bill , out of which , however , I offered to make the beggar a donation provided he would give me change for it . The object of my beneficence looked keenly in my face , and discerned that I had none of that abominable spirit , characteristic though it be , of a full-blooded Yankee , which takes pleasure in detecting every little harmless piece of knavery . `` Why , perhaps , '' said the ragged old mendicant , `` if the bank is in good standing , I ca n't say but I may have enough about me to change your bill . '' `` It is a bill of the Suffolk Bank , '' said I , `` and better than the specie . '' As the beggar had nothing to object , he now produced a small buff leather bag tied up carefully with a shoe-string . When this was opened , there appeared a very comfortable treasure of silver coins of all sorts and sizes , and I even fancied that I saw gleaming among them the golden plumage of that rare bird in our currency the American eagle .
In this precious heap was my bank-note deposited , the rate XXXXX exchange being considerably against me .
To among as by from of than that throughout with