Weekly Trinity journal., 1867-12-21
NUMBER so.

tenderly and pitifully as such thing could be
| told.
And l did not die; but lived to write the
truth to Bertha. For answer received this let
ter from her father
DEAR GUsTATE We grieve for your aflc-
tion, and regret that it puts end to your
union with my daughter. She will not disobey
me, and have already betrothed her to our rich
old neighbor Mr.. Van Tromp. | inclose the ring
you gave to Bertha, and trust that honor will
prevent you from communicating with her again.
Yours, with regret
And put Berthas ring upon my little finger,
and said ord % any one of my grief Life
had come to an end with me while | was yet
| earth, | said but who could understand that ?
All ambition was gone, all for anything,
when, at last heard that Bertha Mrs. Van
Tromp.
But l found that must win bread in some
way, and so | chose the humblcss and easiest
PATH performed at the homes of persons who,
without desiring to go to great expense for mu-
sic, yet gave dancing parties. played qua
dres and polkas and schottisches, and became
known as faithful, silent person, willing to OBJ
ligc. Without desiring it, earned more than
needed day by day, and laid up little hoard
| wore decent coats and did not starve but l
| formed no acquaintances, and stunned all COM
munication with strangers. And SO the years
rolled by, and ! grew gray and wrlnkled and
old and at last having saved enough to live
/
tude until my death. A younger man took my
place. and PLAYED no more for evening dancing
parties or daylight picnics.
1t was three years since had given up play
| ing, save for myself, when late one December
afternoon-the Christmas eve so close at hand
that with the fading of the crimson and golden
streaks athwart the sky, it would be come-a
man hand raped at my door and loud voice
answered my whispered inquiry as to what he
wanted, as opened it, in CHEEKY, comfortable
sort of way
"We've come to you for help, Mr.. -. Our
children are to have Chrstmas-eve party, and
every pianist in the city seems to be engaged.
Will you play for us Z!
"I have left off playing for three years."
said. " l am too old. l have quite given it
up"
ss But we will pay you WE'LL" said the gentle
man "and the little children will grieve so if
their dancing is spoiled Come, sir be persuad-
ed. Set your own price"
alt is not the price, said. Then my heart
softened Little children always dear to
me. @ If it were grown-up party, would not
come" | said; but for the children, yes.
Yes, will come and play the last time for little
children"
He thanked me and went away ; and when the
hour he had appointed came, dressed myself in
the evening coat so long laid aside, brushed my
white hair, and made my way to the handsome
! house to which had been directed.
1t was all aglow, bright coke-fres blazed in
the CRATES, every gas-jet lighted, and the
parlors were crowded with children-beautful
little creatures in gay dresses, all smiles and
dimples. 1t warmed my heart to see them.
They of all ages, from baby in arms to
the budding woman of fourteen and in their
midst, a strange contrast to them and to the
youthful matron of the house, sat old
woman - the grandmother for they ad-
dressed her - with rich jewels glittering on
her fingers, and a cap of costly lace upon
her white curled hair. very old woman,
but she seemed much beloved and honored
and, in my loneliness thought, must be very
happy with her grandchildren about her, and
her son and his wife, so fond of her and anxious
to anticipate her every wish. | looked at her
once as | bowed to her, and she gave my bow
courteous recognition. After that it was pleas
anter to watch the children. | played for them
the evening through, and they would have me
share their supper with them. The sweets and
pquant sours, the jellies shaking in their crys-
tai dishes, the heaped sugar-plums, the iced
cakes, the pyramids and wreaths and castles that
melted under the touch, the creams and ices,
and the hot-house fruit the charming chatter
and baby coquetry of embryo tlirts the manly
airs and graces of boys not yet in their teens,
all kept in check by natural infantne greediness,
amused me. | forgot to sip my coffee as L
watched them and the good-humored father
and mother were delighted We exchanged
glances and smiled. Even the old grandmother
laughed at times, and | forgot how time was
passing until heard the bronze time-piece on
the mantlepiece strike twelve.
Every Christmas eve since | left Bertha had
PLAYED our waltz at that hour. would not neg
lect it now | arose from my seat and stole
, away as softly as could. | went back into the
, parlor and approached the piano but midway
nv feet were glued to the carpet. There upon
, the stool sat the old grandmother bent ana
! trembling her blue-vened fingers straying over
the KEYS. The tones were feeble and falterng,
but the notes were those of our Betrothal WaltZ
Softly, as fearing to be heard-timidly, as one
| who does a wrong, the old woman played, anu m
/ heard her murmur in our native tongue Dos.
thou play it also somewhere? All Gusta'e
Gustaye i'' And then knew that it was bertha
> who sat before me. Bertha whom had loved SO
| all my life d.or-
ned NV fingers the keys, and we playeu oua o'.
7 waItz topetber for the second time ana Ior lne
Lost YES for the last; for as 1t ended' sue
.nrned r. me and dropped her head upon my
e breast c,;s,mes owe she
! said and then closed her eyes anu ''e"eu W
. sleep. of,, than apy that We
!; woLen from When the merry children
GIled the room again, they found me weeping
nrer NV dead But did not tell the SON
Madame Van Tromp's SON. VINO LOOK ner rom
NV arms-the truth I only said that we had
~ ny each other in youth, and that she had
+ remembered me. .. -,
Ard now am awaiting the time when I also
sbaII fall asleep, and have written this that, af-
ter am Dead any who may choose may read it.
: Now that it is done, twelve Of the Christmas
eve is striking, and | shall play Betrothal
Waltz. Somewhere in heaven she may play her
part upon the golden harp-strings, and shall
never play it upon earth again. Something tells
me
For GRANr.-The Marysville Appeal says that
all the Union papers in the State except two,
support Grant for the Presidency.
BRITISH tradesmen understand the importance
of liberal advertising. They are the most ex-
tensive advertisers in the world
AT Riverhead, Long Island, some school mis-
tresses have been arragned on a charge OF smo-
king-not delicate cigarettes, but pipes.