Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1872-12-05

life, you understand.
ssAnd must have them first thing in
the morning"
'sThat is short time"
at is; but ready money, you know
he replied.
''On these terms, agree
every well, then. Now about the
price. You know the music trade il
very dull at present, l can't give you
music-so we will say three guineas fol-
the lot"
"What!" exclaimed: sthree gum
cas- for four songse Why you gave me
more for one.
Things were different then. Three
guineas for four songs, and one ginuea
in advance / cantgive you penny
more
As he spoke, he drew a sovereign
from his pocket and held it invitmgly
between his finger and thumb. The
sight ofthe money was too tempting
so without further demur, agreed to
write the songs"
''Mind have them cary tomorrow,
he said. If you don't bring them to
me by ten, shall send for them"
hurried away to purchase some
food for my wife, and also to procure
some medicine. l bought a roll and
ate it, so that l could tell her that |
needed all the money for her.-Amongs1
the tn ngs bought was some brandy
the doctor having ordered Mile te
drink it. Ladened with these poo
thing, which seemed to me looked
heaps of riches, hurried homeward.
Poor Mile, when reached her bed
! side and showed her what I brought
met me with a smile of patient love
that nearly I r Ike my heart. She tas
ted little foo and drank small glass
IF weak brandy and water, and Their
fell into light sleep. Illness at the
best Of times, is terrible; but when we
sit alone and see all we love fading fast
the disease aided by want; to see the
thin pale face, SO like death in life, tt
know that before lorg even the
sad pleasure Of tending On it will be
lost and that lefore we can give it prop
er comfort this, indeed, is awful.
As sat Watching and thinking,
became desperate; my brain seemed or
fire and my mouth parched. Selling
the brandy bottle, poured out large
glass and drank it off It steadied my
nerves and | sat down to commence
my songs.
For some time 7 could gain nc
thoughts, The dull silence Of the night
broken only by the heavy breathing Of
my wife, and low purring sound that
ratified at her chest, ,palled upon me
the dull, glimmering light of a candle,
that threw a melancholy light over oul
wretched room; the thin, wedge-like
face, half in shade, that reposed on the
pillow; the ghost like hand that lay SC
still, stretched on the coverlit-all seem
ed to crush me. How, with such
things around me, could I write Of
ninth, drink and jo!ity?
I pressed my finger over my eyes
and the hot tears forced tliemse yes
through my fingers. l grew hysterical
( felt as if could scream with aughter
| could not write but the songs must
be done, OF | shou d not get the mon
ey In hopes of gaining more calmn IS
I drank more brandy. Class after glass
of the burning fluid poured down my
throat. l felt mad; was not tipsy
but de irious, could hear the rattle O.
glasses, the merry shouts Of laughter
strange tunes, such as would have SUITED
orgies held in praise of Bacchus, rang
in my head. | seized my pen, and
wrote rapidly. Some fend seemed
whispering the words to ME, they were
so full of recklesness and abandonment
Ny candle burned out, but | contin
ell writing by the gray light of day
break that came slanting over the house
tops. At last my task was done ano
springing up, hastenedto my wife te
tell her my success, and to cheer hel
with the assurance that these wild songs
would make my name felt my name
| felt my blood run through my veins
as | fondly leaned over to kiss her. Ou'
lips met; but l started back with a CRY
of terror she was dead.
l do not remember anything attel
that for some weeks. I had the brai1
fever When recovered she was gone
l had never again kissed her dear, deao
lips. 1t was some time before | was
able to crawl out, but orders for songs
came in thick and fast My last songs
had been success; their wild, dissolute
tone had suited the young fools with
money, and had become small mine Of
wealth TO the publishers.
| Years have passed since then, but
from that time have never written q
song of that kind, although large Sums
have been offered me. | hate them
Day and night l hear them buzzing ii
my ears. Scarcelya week passed but
hear one of them shouted out by some
drunkard as he staggers home, and
then the whoe of that terrible night
comes back on me.
They are evil spirits that have haunt
ed me night and day; they have made
me live in utter seclusion. Day an6
night, day and night, livein terror Of
hearing them. Sometimes in dreams ,
hear Mile singing the first song gave
her; and in the midst of this happiness
some fend seems to cheat those dread
full songs in praise Of wine.
Hush! | hear her voice; she sings
the song | gave her in those happy
happy days. She is going away.
must follow her. Hush she is singing
me to sleep. Millie! my own deal
Mile"
Misfortunes never come singly. Fl
1865 the great plague which carried
off hundreds of thousands Of people
broke out in London. In 1866 came
the great fire, which consumed 1905
houses So, in the United States, with
in the last month, we have Rad, first
the great horse plague. That was