The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-02-25
EeIeGteA MistellanY,
ANNIE EAURAE.

off YOU want to hear Annie Laurie
sung, come to my house tonight" said a
man to his friend "We have . loye-lorn
fellow in the village, who was sadly wreck
ed by the refusal Of girl that he had
been paying attention to for a year or more.
1t is seldom he Will ever attempt the song,
out when he does, l tell you he draws
tears from eyes unused to weeping.
A small select company had assembled
IN pleasant pa.Ior, and were gladly chat
ting and laughing when tall young man
entered, whose peculiar face and air in
stantly arrested Alteration. He was very
pale, with that clear, vivid complexion
which dark haired oonsumptiyes so often
have. His locks were black as jet, and
hung profusoly upon square white col
lar. His eyes were very large and spirit
ual, and his brow such an one as poet
should have But fer a certain wander
ike look, a casual observer would have
pronounced him MIN Of Gnoommon in-
teIlectual powers TIE words "poor fell
low" and " how sad he looks" went the
rounds, as he came forward, bowed to the
company, and took his seat. One or two
though}less girls laughed as they whis
pa"ed pc was Glove craokcd'-but the
rest of4he company treated Kim with re-
spectful Difference.
It was late in the evening when the
singing was proposed, and to ask him to
sing d" Annie Laurie" was q task of un-
common delicacy. One song after anoth-
er was sung, and at last that one was
named, At its mention the young man
grew deadly pale, but did not speak he
seemed instantly to be lost in reyerie.
The name of the girl who treated him
so badly was Annie" said lady whis-
peripg to a new guest" but oh l wish
he would sing it; nobody else can DO it
justice"
No one dare sing Annie Laurie be-
fore you Charles" said an elderly lady ];
+" would it be too much for me to ask you
to favor tie company with it ?'' she add
ed, timidly.
lie did not reply fer moment-his
lips quiyered little, and then looking up
as if he saw a spiritual presence, be be-
gan. Every sound was hushed-and it
seemed as if his voice were the voice of
an angel. The tones vibrated through
nerve, and pulse, and heart, and made
one shiyer with the pathos of his feeling
never was heard melody in human voice
like that-so plaintiye so tender and
earnest
He sat with his head thrown back, his
eyes half olosed-the locks of dark hair
gIistening against his pale temples, his
fine throat swelling with the rich tones,
his hands lightly folded before him; and
as he sung
9 And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true"-
it seemed as if he shook from head to
foot with emotion. Many lip tremblcd
and there was no jesting, no laughing :;
but instead, tears in more than one eye.
And on he sung, and on, holding every
one in wrapt attention, till he came to the
last verse
"Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the IA of her fairy feet
And like winds in summer signing
Her voice is low and sweet;
And she's a world to me
He paused a moment before he added
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'll lay me down and die"
There was long and solemn silence
The black locks seemed to grow blacker !;
and white temples whiter-aImost imper-
ceptibIy, the head kept falling back-the
eyes were close shut. One glanced at
auother-all seemed awe struck-till the
same person who had urged him to sing,
laid her hand gently on his shoulder, say
ing:
" Charles, Charles !"
Then came hush--o thrill of horror
crept through every frame-the poor tried
heart had ceased to beat-thc loye-be-
trayed, was dead.-OljOe Branch.
A BEAUTIFUL INCIDENT-A naval
officer being at sea on dreadful storm,
his lady was sitting in the cabin near him
and filled with alarm fnr tho rnfo4r &C Il