The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-11-30
CHRISTINE ERcKHART,
Aged %,
Died 23d of October, 1868.
"HoME AT LAST"

What does 'Home at Last mean p
All! there is the mystery. And. from
these three words grows this story
Twenty-slx years ago Herman Erck-
hart, German musician, landed in New
York, and made his way to the Far
West. After following the life of a far
mcr for some years, he removed with
his wife and family, three boys and two
girls, to New Orleans. Christine Erck-
hart, the girl who sleeps beneath the
marble monument in the cemetery be-
fore mentioned, was the youngest of his
children. Herman turned to his old
love-musical art commenced teach
ing in the Crescent City, Christine wis
then seven years old, and beautiful
child. When she went out with her IA
ther her beauty astonished the fashion
able residents of New Orleans, and Her
man Eckhart, it is said, obtained many
pupils by the attractiveness of his daugh-
ter's face She grew'upa a thorough mu-
sician, and being possessed of splen-
did voice, soon became a concert singer.
Better she had been reared dairy maid,
for here she found the dark shadow OF
her life AT a concert, one evening, she
met young German, who had inst made
his debut as tenor singer. This man
was destined to be the curse of her ex-
istence. He sang with her, played with
her, and soon became her intimate friend.
Years passed away, he became great
singer, was at the head of his profess
ion, and only visited New Orleans once
or twice during the year. And during
those visits he was constantly at the house
of Herman Erckhart; and, somehow,
when he did come, a deeper blush tinged
the cheek of Christine, then a young wo-
man, and he sang to her the songs OF
Schubert and Abt, Of Mendelssohn and
Handel, of all those who, by their tai
ent, have made their names famous in
German musical att And as he sang
those lieders with his magnificent voice,
she often gazed into his face IN admira-
ton of his beauty for he was handsome.
And he, observing her, bent down and
whispered soft nothings in her ear, and
she blushed, but said nothing. He play
ed chess and smoked with her brothers,
gave presents to her sisters. and chatted
with her father about grand old Sebas-
tan Bach and his glorious fugues. And
he became one of the Erckharts, if not
in name, in reality, for Herman Erck-
hart loved him as his son. And i'll he
requited the artists trust, for he stole
from him that which was valued more
than his life-his daughters honor
Christine loved this serpent on her faith
er's heart, and believed in him implicit
ly. Her confidence was betrayed, and
she-fell. Away from her home, in the
dead of the night, she left for New York
with her seducer The night express
train ratified and rushed towns, hamlets
and villages flew by, cities were left be-
hind, and she clung to him trustingly,
fondly, confdingly. And her inmosl
soul was laid bare to him, and he prom
ised she should be his wife--his cherish
ed wife-when they reached this city
bis unnecessary to say that the promise
was never fulfilled, the freshness of the
toy faded away, and Christine found
herself the inmate of bagnoi, one of
seven, known as "rhe Seven Sisters i'll
Twenty seventh Street, near Sixth ave-
nue.. Deserted by her betrayer. and left
to die, she had no other alternative but
to remain as she was, and SO she lived
on from day to-day, a deep sorrow, can
cer-like, eating away her heart.
Her betrayer is living still. travelling
about the Union, singing in opera troupes
and received in the best society," or, as
Jenkins would say, 'the bon-ton,the elite
my boy 1t is stated, on good authority,
that he makes thousands of dollars by
teaching music to innocent daughters Of