The constitutional union., 1861-02-15

| Queen, ana was weeping not, Silent tears, that fell on my boys face, one by one. His sister was sunk on her knees by the bedside, as 1 entered, and the people of the house were standing looking on. shall never for get it-never.
 1 was reused by touch on the shoulder A message from the theater
 Manager says he should be glad if you could come back"
 Look here, Jennings, do you think can :?
 Not to do anything sir, but you might see him :; perhaps it would be better.'
 1 left them and went back, saw the mana ger and told him; and though 1t was his ben eft night, he said he would read both parts himself
 l am sorry for you, very sorry; if l can do anything for you, let me know"
 We buried the poor boy, and then went on as before His mother never recovered the blow, but gradually sunk, and about six months after his death could no longer take her parts; so Alice and had to do our best l noticed that young fellow had been rather attentive to her, and was not surprised when he took me aside that night, and told me he wanted to make her his wife. He was just such another as I had been myself when at his age 1 thought it better to see her the wife of respectable actor than remain single behind the scenes, for she was good girl Well, they married and remained in the con- pany. was getting old, you see, then, and 1t was some comfort to see her with some one to take care of her. Soon after she married her mother died, and laid in the grave be- side her son one of the best women that ever lived. was alone now, and old, for the wear and tear of an actors life, and the late hours, tell on the strongest constitution. It was something awful, the change from the light and glare and noise of the theater to the si- lence and quiet of my own poor room. Just then, too, the company was broken up, and, at the age 1 was then, it was serious thing for me. We all three tried to keep together but it was no use. Those who wanted an old man did not want second lady or third old gentleman, and so we were divided I went on circuit as an old man with very poor pay, as much as l was worth, though, 1 dare say, for 1 was getting feeble, and Speak up, old 'un P was the salute I heard from the galle ries directly 1 opened my mouth.
 1 heard from Alice every week and saved her letters for Sundays, for the day was long and dull to me- could not make new friends The young pitied me, and l was proud then, and loved not pity;' so 1 was a lonely man.
 Alce's husband died I don't remember now how it was, but he ded and she told me how it was, how he died, and she told it was just after this little one was born. quite longed to see her, but she could not come, and 1 could not come, and l could not go So we wrote to each other I have all her letters now, poor girl. She came to see me once af- terward, and was looking i'll and fagged; and soon after that our company was broken up again.
 1 tried hard to get new engagement, trav- eled from place to place, spent all the little 1 had saved, and then was laid up at place some fifty miles from here. They took me from the inn to the Union when the money was gone; and after a deal of waiting and grumbling they brought me here. I little thought, when, boy, l used to get the nests out of this tree, that 1 should end my days here, an old, worn-out pauper, You know where it says There's divinity that shapes our ends, rough-hew them as we may" 1 often said that on the stage. 1 feel it now" And the old man unused in silence.
 "And your daughter 2"
 Alice? She died in this house not two years ago, poor child
 Here, do you mean ?'
 "Yes, there, in that room." And he pointed to I window in the back part of the house "That one where the sun shines on it through the trees"
 "Of what did she die ? She was young"
 Of the same disease that carried off her brother-consumption She knew 1 was here, and spent her last money in coming, and the doctor good fellow as he is, would have her in here. She fingered on for about fort night up there, then died ono evening at sun set, holding my hand, and the child lying on her breast Poor child she looked so beau tiful in her coffin. An! I've outlived them all but this little one" And the old man looked fondly on the child and stroked her head with his lean, shriveled hand Its rather sad to see them all -all-wife- sons-and Alice-all gone. Poor Alice v And the old pauper's eyes were full of the slow-coming tears of age.