New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-17

Illness at the best of times ia terrible. bu,
when we SIT alone and see all we love fad
ing fast, the disease aided by want, to see
the thin pale face. SO like death in life, t,
know that before long even the sad pleasure
OF attending on it will bc lost. and tina,
before we can give proper colntort-this is
indeed, awful. As ! sat watching and
thinking, l became desperate; my brain
| seemed on fire. and my mouth was parched
Selling the brandy bottle, ! poured out a
large glass of spirits and drank it Oft. Ii
steadied my nerves, and sat down to com
mence my songs.
For some time could gain no thoughts:
the dull silence of the night, broken only
| bv the heavy breathing of my wife. and a
| low purring sound that ratified at her chest,
| palcd upon me the thin, wedge-like face,
half in shade that reposed on the pillow;
the ghost-like hand that lay SO still.
| stretched out on the cOverlet-a!l seemed
to crush me. How. with such things around
me. could write of mirth drink and iol-
lily!
IL pressed my hand over my eyes, and
the hot tears forced themselves through
my fingers. grew hysterical. | felt as If
/ could have screamed with laughter |
could not write: but the songs must be done
or should not get the money. In hopes OF
gaining more calmness, | drank more
brandy. Glass after glass OF the burning
fluid l poured down my throat. | felt
mad; was not .ipsy. hut delirious could
hear the rattle of glasses; the merry shouts
of laughter; strange tunes, Snch as would
have suited orgies held in praise of Bac
chus. rang in my head. ! seized my pen
and wrote rapidly some tiend seemed
Whispering the words to me- they were so
full Of recklessncss and abandonment
my candle burned ont, hut continued
writing 10y the grey cold light OF day break
that came slanting over the house tops.
At last nv task was done. and. spriEgiEy
up. l fastened to my wife to tell her my
success. and to cheer her with the assur-
ance that these wild songs would make my
name. | felt my blood rushing through my
veins as | leant over to kiss her: our lips
met, but | started back with a wild cry of
terrOr-She was dead =,
As he spoke Burden stretched forth his
thin hands and closed his eyes. AS if to shut
ont the painful memory. but the tears that
rolled slowly down his hollow cheeks
showed the immensely Of his agony.
Il do not remember anything after that
for some weeks. ] had brain fever" he
continued. after a short pause. When !
recovered she was gUne. l had never again
kissed her dear dead lips. Ii was some
time before ! was able to crawl ont. but or
ders for songs poured i'll thick and fast.
MY last songs had been a success: their
VIII, absolute tone Iliu SUlttu tue young
fools with money, and had become il small
mine Of wealth to the publisher.
Years have passed since then, but iron,
that time ! have never written q song of
that kind. although large snms OF money
have been offered me. | hate them Day
and night hear them buzzing in my ears.
Scarcely week passes but l hear one OF
them shouted out by some drnnkard, as he
staggers home. and then the whole OF tina,
terrible night of misery comes back to me
They are devils that have hauntrd me night
and day: they have made me slnn my fell
low men they have made me live N this
secln>ion. Day and night. day and Ii. 1T.
live in terror of hearing them. Sometimes
in nv dreams hear Millv singing the first
song l gave her. and i'll the ud,t of this /
happiness some devil seems to chant those
cursed songs in praise Of VINE.
Hush l hear her voice: she is singing !
the song I gaze her in those happy days I
she ia going away. | must follow her. .
Hush : she is singing me 10 sleep. Mil!y /
my own dear Mliy..
1t was broad daylight when We resaine,. .
Fielding's house. Little Charon was with .
us. weeping bitterly for the kind friend lie
had lost