The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-09-20
From the New York Citizen.
a Tale Ol Foot falls.
by ALFRED TRAMpLE.


street is deserted. The last bacchanal reeled
homeward an hour ago. The most bclated
cabman has passed out Of hearing. The one
poor wretch who comes nightly to the water
side has closed her complaint; | saw her
shawl float over the parapet, rs she flung her
lean arms against the sky, and went down
with scream and splash. Here in the
busiest spot Of the mightiest city, there is no
human creature abroad; but footsteps are
yet ringing on the desolateness. They are
heard only by me- There are two of them
the first, light, timorous musical: the other,
harsh, and heavy, as if shod with steel. |
recognize them with thrill for they have
haunted me many years, and they are speak
ing to me now. The one is soothing and
pleading. and it implores me to write; bur
the second is like the striking of a revenge
full knell. confession and pardon" says
the one; .horror and remorse,' echoes the
other. They tinkle aud toll thus every mid
night, when my hour Of penance arrives and
l have tried to register my story 1t is al
most finished now. Let me read the pages
softly to myself
"My life has been long career of suffer
ing. The elements, whose changes and com
binations contribute to the pleasure Of my
species. have arrayed themselves against me.
l am fashioned so delcately that the every
day hustle Of the world provokes exquisite
and inccssant pain. Embodied like my fell
lows, my nerves are yet sensitive beyond
girlishncss, and my organs Of sight, smell
and hearing are marvellously acute. The
inolorous elements are painfully odorous 10
me. | can hear the subtlest processes in
nature, and the densest darkness is radiant
with mysterious lights. My childhood was
a protracted horror, and the noises of great
city in which lived, shattered and well-nigh
crazed me. In the dead calms, shudderea
ut the bowling Of winds. l fancied that
could detect the gliding revolution Of the
earth, and hear the march of the moon in
her attendant orbit
my parents loved me tendcrly. and fail
ing to sooth or conciliate me, they removed
from the busy city to a secluded villa in the
suburbs. Those labors which necessitated
abrupt or prolonged sound were performed
without our grounds. The domestics were
enjoined TO conduct their operations with the
utmost quietude. Carriages never came to
the threshold, but stopped at the lodge; the
drives were strewn with bark to drown the
rattle of wheels; familiar fowls and beasts
were excluded the pines were cut down.
though they had moaned for half century !:
the angles of the house were rounded, that
the wind might not scream and sigh Of mid
night, and Tapping of shutter would have
warranted the dismissal of all the servants.
Thick carpets covered the floors; my apart
ments lay in remote wing, and were sur
rounded with double walls, filled with wool,
to deaden communication. Goodly books
were provided, but none which could arouse
fears or passions. Fiery romanccs were
prohibited, and histories of turmoil and war,
with theology and its mournful revelations,
and medicine, which revived the bitter story
of my organism. My library was stocked
with dreamy and diverting compositions; old
Walton, the pensive angler; the yagarcs Of
ancient Burton, and the placid essayists Of
the Addisonian day OF poets, had Cowper
and Wordsworth. who loved quiet life. and
were the chroniclers of domestic men and
manners. Pictures Of shadowy studios and
calm lakes, unfrequented covcrts and sleepy
wayside inns, covered my wall. The tints
of tapestry, panel, aud furniture were sub
dued, and the sunshine which mellowed u
stained window, was softened by nm in
genious arrangement Of shades and refrac-
tors. Art interposed her quaintest contriv-
ances against the intense and violent moods
Of Nature, and my retirement was secure
from the inroads Of all except my careful
guardians.
But was still unhappy, and the prey Of
vivid fancies This privacy suggested the
great world without, where men were wrest-
ling with dangers. imagined ships upon
stormy seas, and whirlwinds around noun
tain homes-the chaos of cities. the rout OF
armies, dim arctic solitudes, where the ice-
bergs tumbled apart, and the frozen seas split
asunder. They had banished painful occur
rences, but the sensitive organism could not
be destroyed, and bore up until almost in
sane, struggling to be cheerful when stunned
and dazzled. At last, when my mother stole
into my room one day-it was October, l
think, for | could hear the tiniest leaves
dropping to the grass far below laid my
head wearily in her lap and covered my ears
with my hands. My eyes were filed with
tears.
My dear mother, cannot bear this life.
suffer IS Of old, though there be not mote
across the sun, nor breath in the air. II
my mind could DO led from these conscious
nessess, l might be calm"
"sLuke,' said my mother, you need \
companion
1.-The thought was new one, and SO
thrilled me-
"'No, mother replied; .strong, healthy
beings could not exist thus clustered.
".For less than money she responded !;
.they have done more
Give should not agree l said; Il would
be psevish, and hs would despiss me-