Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-01-21
TALES AND SKETCHES.
From the English Womans Magazine
TEEE APT AIMS WIFE

We had lived more than month under
the same root before | met her; but without
having seen her face, without having heard
her voice, it seemed to me. in some way
that knew Amelia Weston intimat ely
Night after night, when came home tired
to my lodgings. md used to sit, idly gazing
in the fire. and thinking over my days work,
the same patient hand at the same hour
would begin its practice, and continue it
krow not till what hour OF the night -
! till long after midnight certainly for once
or twice, when | returned from the theatre
between twelve and one o'clock, a light still
burned in Miss Weston's room, Miss Weston's
piano wus still going" rs the servant of
the house termed it, when, in Il deprecating
way, she apoogized to me for the nocturnal
habits of my fellow lodger
! | don't think ever heard a more sympa-
thetc touch than hers. Under ordinary
circumstances, prt fcssioual person practis-
ing OF an evening, for four or five hours at a
stretch, in the room Immediately beneath
you, is not thing to be desired; but in
whatever mood was, however tired, how
ever depressed, this girls playing soothed
me: yes, whether she played common
place set OF quadrillcs or waitzes, or worked
at, over aud ov,r and over again, p ssage
in some eXquisltcly graceful little reverie
or nocturne of her own composition. |
t ink it must have been the delicate finish,
the sense of unweurying patience in all she
did, that give SO intimate pathos to her per-
formunc', or she was not at all fine, nor
even, tlare say, good second-rate musi-
| clan. At all events. and howtv r. it might
have effected higher judges, her playing
touched me singhlarly; and sitting, as
have said, alone of an evening, gazing
wcaridly at the fire, and listening ta her.
used to often think: Patient artist, whom
soever you may be, | know you and feel
with you. Work, hope deferred, courage,
scant Acknowledgements of your claims.
" You and speak the same language
Our WAYS IN the world lie wide apart, and
yet our feet treatiing the same long and up
/ hi!l road. Patient artist YOU and / are
I akin"
Z felt :his and liked to indulge the feeling;
and, tancifulll, to make out Miss Weston's
history and ever the color of her eyes and
hair; but purposely ah,tained from seek
! ing to meet her, or even 10 ask any ques-
/ tions regarding her from the servant Of the
! house. | was old enough 10 know the
value Of AIRY pretty little fancy that my
bIain might amusc itself with, and wise
enough not To court disillusionmcnt, even in
| the most unimpnrtant things of lite. No
doabt, if came tn know this neighbor who
charmed me SO in the spirit, should find
i her, in the flesh, common sort of young
, woman enough, with large hands, and de-
iective aspirates, who would give me a card
setting forth her abilities as professor OF
music, and request me to Recommend her
among my friends. The secret OF retaining
n sentiment of interest in our fellow creatures
is 20 imagine much, and know little con
cernins them. Let my patient fellow lodger
remain unknown to me, even by sight, that
so | might be able to listen 10 her playing
with pleasure, even if we remained under
the same room for years. \ friendly hand,
a congenial familiar mind, would speak to
me every night, Just as long as the artist
herself remained inyisiblc-no longer, pro
badly.
But | was wrong saw poor Amelia, and
my vague intangible interest became one ui
the strongest | have felt at first sight, and
for an utter stranger. 1t happened thus
Two or three friends were dining with me
one December night-a bitter snowy night
it was, remember and knowing we should
be late, | sent the people of the house tC
bed, promising to SEE myself to the fastening
OF the street door when my friends left me
did SO, considerably after midnight and
then having a heap of papers to wadt
through, and feeling no inclination for sleep
made up "a blazing ire, and sat myself dowr
to work. About an hour and a half later
at half past 4. NJ, that is to say--I was
startled by hearing ring at the front dool
bell. well sat up ] thought. "lIerC
is one Of the second lloor dodgers depcnGen
upon his latch key, and carefully boited anC
barred out by my own hand" And wish
ing to save the delinquent alike from thC
bitter cold of the night air and from thu
land-lady's wrath, should he ring again anC
rouse her, | lit my bed room candle, RAJ
quickly down stairs and opened the door.
The ghost of girls face met my sight.
"The latch was down, and was obliged
to ring" sand hoarse tired voice. II hop
| haven't kept any one up"-and the cir
blood rushed up violently into her death
white checks. II beg your pardon, sir,
she stammered. Il have been attending
party, and it was so near ran home on foot
. Susan forgot was out, suppose, and pu
the latch down." And then she begged m
pardon again, with kind of mingled prid
. and humility that touched me more than
V can say.
/ This, then, was nay patient unknow
Q artist. The roll of music that she held i
; her trembling ungloyed: hands, her plai
black dress, her desperately tired iac'
y would have told me her story in momen
g even il she had not made use of the WORD
''attending party" This was my patier
, artist; and shc'had been doing about Ii
Srearie.t work picking oakum perhaps ei
hapA. heI