Delaware State journal and statesman., 1861-12-24
My Whistling Neighbor.

We had moved into new house, situ-
ated about the centre in row of ten, all
run up together in hurled, mushroom fash
ion; and divided from each other by par
titions Of brick so thin that sound was
only little deadcncd in passing through.
For the first three or four nights | was
unable to sleep, except in snatches, for so
many noises came to my ears, originating,
apparently, in my own domicly, that any
iety in regard to burglars was constantly
excited. Both on the first and second
nights | madc II journey through the
small hours, but found no intruders on my
premises The sounds that disturbed me
came from some of my neighbors, who
kept later vigils than suited my habits.
There ii is again 7 said !, looking up
from my paper as I sat reading on the
second day after took possession of my
new home. 'That fellow is nuisance
What fellow 2 asked my wife, whose
countenanee showed surprise at the re-
mark She was either unconscious or
affected by the circumstance that affected
my sensitive ears.
Didn't You hear it 2 said l.
Hear what ?
That everlasting whistle
'0hN A smile passed over my wile's
countcnancc
Docs it annoy you"
i can't say that am particularly an
noycd by it yet but / shall be if it's to
go on necessarily. \ man whistles for
want of thought, and this very fact
will
. / am not so sure of that, remarked
my wife, interrupting me, the poet, not
withstanding. ] would say that he whis-
ties from exuberant feelings. Our neigh
Dor has a sunny temper no doubt what,
| am afraid, can not be said of our neigh
bor on the other side. have never heard
him whistle; but his scolding abilities are
good; and, Judging from two days OBJ
servation, he is not likely to permit them
to grow feeble for want of use
did not answer, but went on with my
reading, silenced if not reconciled to my
whistling neighbor
Business matters annoyed me through
the day, and felt moody and depressed
as took my course homeward at night
fall. | was not leaving my cares behind
me. Before shutting my account books,
and locking my lire-proof safe, / had
made up bundle of troubles to carry
home with me, and my shoulders stopped
beneath the burden.
did not bring sunlight into my dwell
ing as l crossed, with duh, deliberate
steps, its Threshold The flying feet that
sprung along the hail. and the eager
voices that filed suddenly the air, in u
sweet tumult of sound as entered, were
quiet and hushed in little while. | did
not repel my precious ones, for they were
very dear to my heart, but birds do not
sing joyous except in the sunshine, and my
presence had cast a shadow The songs
of my home birds died into iitfu chirpings
they sat quiet among the branches.
saw this, and understood the reason. /
condemned myself; Ireasoned against the
folly of bringing worldly cares into the
home sanctuary; endcavored to rise out
of my gloomy state. But neither philoso-
ply nor self.compelling effort proved Of
any avail.
was sitting, with my hand partly sha-
ding my face from the light, still in con-
flict with myself when l became conscious
Of a lifting of the shadows that were around
me, and of Il freer respiration. was be-
ginning to question as to its cause when
my thoughts recognised an agency which
had been operative, though not before ex-
ternally perceived, in consequence of my
abstraeted state. Ny neighbor was whist
ling, "Begone dull carep'
Now in my younger days, had whist
led and sung the air and words of this
cheerful old song hundreds of times, and
every liue was familiar to memory. / lis
tened, with pleased interest, for little
while, and then, as my changing state gave
power to resolution quick born of better