Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-08-11
ANNIE LAURIE.


"lf you want to hear Annie Laurie sung,
come to my house" said man 10 his friend
we have love-lorn fellow IN the village
who was sadly wrecked hy the refusal of a
girl whom he had been paying attention
to for ayear or more. It is seldom he will
attempt the song, bnt when he does. / tell
you 1t draws tears from eyes unused to
weeping"
A small selected company had assembled
In pleasant little parIor, and were eailv
chatting and laughing, when tall YOUNG
man entered, who's. peculiar face and air
instantly arrest, d their attention. He was
very pale, with that clear vivid complexion
which dark-haired consamptives so often
have. his locks were as black as Jet, and
hung profusely upon square white collar.
Ills ewes were very large and spirited, and
his brow such one as poet could have
But for certain wandering look, casual
observer wonld have pronounced him a man
of uncommon intellectual powers, The
words ''poor fellow" and ahow sad he
looks, went the rounds IA he came for
ward, bowed to the company, and took his
seat. One or two tbonghtIeas girls Iauo3-
ed as they whispered that he was .Ioye
cracked" but the rest treated him with re-
spectful Difference
1t was Late in the evening when singing
wasproposed, and toask him tossing Annie
Laurie" was task of uncommon delcacy.
One song after another was sung, and at
last that one was Hamed. ut its mention
the young man turned deadly pale, but did
not speak; he seemed lost in a reverie-
"The name of the girl who treated him
so badly, was Annie" said the LADY, yhis-
pering to the new guest, ''hut oh / wish
he would sing it; nobody else can do it
justice"
mo one dares sing Annie Laurie before
You, Charles" said an elderly lady would
IT be too much to ask Won TO favor tha
nv uIu NOT reply for mOment-his lips
quivered little, and then locking up As if
he saw a spirit present, he began Every
sound was hushed-it seemed as if his
voice were the voice of an angel. The tone
vibrated through nerve and heart. and
made one shiver with the pathos of his
feelings; never was heard melody in hu-
man voice like that-so plaintiye, so soul
full so tender and earnest
He sat with bis head thrown back. his
eye half closed-the locks of hair glisten-
ing against his pale temples, his fine throat
swelling with the rich tones, his hands
lightly folded before him and as he sung,
"And twas there that annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true
it seemed as # be % shaHk Ifp ff7 fFein6Ied-and
there was no jesting, no laughing; but in
stead, tears iRmoTe than one eye.
And on he sang, and on, holding every
one in wrapt attention, till he came to the
last verse
Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the fa' of her fairy feet
And like winds in summer signing,
Her voice is low and sweet
/ Her voice is low and sweet
| And shes a the world to me-
| He paused before be added
''And for bonnie Annie Laurie,
I'd lay me down and die"
| There was long, solemn pause. The
black locks seemed to grow blacker-the
white temples whiter-almost impercepti-
bly, the head falling back-the eyes were
close shut One glanced at anether-al
seemed awe-strnck-till the same person
who had urgel him to sing, laid her banG
4 gently on bis shoulder, saying:
< "Charles, Chariesw
Then came hush-a thrill Of terro
crept through every frame-the poor trie
heart had ceased to eat-Charlcs, tn
love-bctrayed, was dead!!