Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-25
Annie Laurie.

"If YOU want to hear Annie Laurie sung
come to my house." said a man to his friend
eve have lovc-lorn fellow in the village who
was sadly wrecked by the refusal of girl
whom he had paid attention to for year or
more. 1t is seldom he will attempt the song,
hut when he does, tell you it draws tears
from eyes unused to weeping"
4 small select company had assembled in q
little pleasant parlor, and were gaily chatting
and laughing when tall young man entered,
whose peculiar face and mir arrested their at
tcntion. lie was very pale, with that clear,
vivid complexion, which dark haired consump.
tivcs so often have. Ills locks were as black
as jet, and hung ProfuScly on square white
collar. His eyes were very large and spiritual
and his brow such all one as poets should have
But for certain wandering look, cusual Oh
server would have pronounced him man of
uncommon intellectual power The wor,lS
"poor fellow" aud " how he looks, went the
rounds, as h. came forward, bowed to the COM
pany and took his seat. One or two thought.
less girls laughed as they whispered that he
was lOvc-crackcd," but the rest treated him
with respectful Difference.
1t WAS late in the evening when singing was
proposed, and to ask him to sing annie Lau.
ric, was a task Of no uncommon delicacy.-
One song a0cr another was sung, and at last
that was named. Vt its mention the young
man turned deadly pale, but did not speak; he
seemed instantly to be lost in revcric.
"The name Of the girl who treated him so
badly was Annie" said u lady, whispering to
a new guest: but oh, wish he would sing
it. nobody else can do it justice"
mo one darcs sing Annie Laurie before
Charles" said lady; would it be too much
to ask You to favor the company with it," she
added timilly.
lie did not reply for momcnt-hiS lips
quivcrcd little, and then looking up as if he
saw a spiritual presence, he began. Every
sound was hushcd-it seemed as If his voice
were the voice of an angel. The tones vibra-
ted through nerve, pulse and heart, and made
one Shivcr with the pathos Of his feelings
never was heard in human voice like that
80 paintivc and soullul-So tender and earn.
est!
He sat with his head thrown back, his ewes !
half closed. the locks Of hair giStcning against
his pale temples, his fine throat swelling with
the rich tones, his hands lightly folded before
him; and as lac sung
"And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave Inc her promise TRUE"
it seemed as if he shook from head to foot with
emotion. Many lip tremhlcd-and there was
no jesting. no laughter; but instead tears in
more than one. s
And on he sang. aud on. holding every one
in wrapt attention, till he came to the last
verse
"Likc dew IN the cowan living
Is the n az her fury feet
And like winds in SUNNI r. signing,
Her voice is low and sweet
Her voice Is low and sweet
And she's all the world Ia me
lie paused before he added
"And for bonnie AnUie Laurie.
I'd lay me down aud die"
The black locks seemed to grow blacEer-the
white temple whiter-amoSt impcrccptibly
The head he t falling back. The eyes were
close shut. One glanced at another, all seem.
ID awe-struck, till the same person who urged
lim'tO sing, laid her hand gently on his shout
Ter, saying;
81 Charles, Charles"
Then came hush-a thrill of horror crcpt =
through every irame-the poor tried heart had
cased 70 hcat-Charlcs, the lovc,bctraycd, :
'as dead!