Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-11-22

) ply; went from publisher to publisher
hawking my songs about, selling them
almost for anything to buy bread. Oh
how they ground me down. Men who
had had successful songs from me, now
that they saw me in poverty cut down
the prices until starvatinn was close up
on me.
One afternoon-I shall never forget it
i left poor MillY in bed-she could
not rise-and went to seek for work.
called at her fathers, but was turned away
| wandered about from one place to an
other, but all my efforts were fruitless !;
| could not gain penny. Heart brok-
en- and weary, | turned homewards; I
had not money to buy even loaf OF
bread. Several times ! paused as well
dressed man approached me, and l de-
termned to beg but the words died on
my tongue, and they passed ON withoutno-
ticing my distress. When they had pass
ed | was ashamed of having thought of
begging, and yet angry with myself tnat
had not done so.
was standing at the corner of street
thinking what | should do, for | could
not go home to Milly-my poor, hungry
sick wife-empty handed, when | receiv-
ed hearty slap. on the shoulder, and
turning round, saw Glidden, the music
publisher.
Well Burdon," he cried. "you don't
seem happy. You look as pleasant as
if you had lost halfa-crown and found
six-pence."
Happy | exclaimed happy with a
wife dying with consumption and-and
starvation!
Dear me! that's very sad; why don't
you work."
Work | have sought it far and
near | have done everything, but with
out success"
"The music trade is bad, and no mis-
take; but still think something might
be done. Your songs have gone pretty
we'll. Now what time would it take you
to write me four songs?"
THAT all depends on what sort you
want"
They must be strongly bacchanalian
fast, full of life-you understand.
"Yes."
And | must have them the first thing
in the morning"
"That is a short time"
1t is but ready money you know"
Under those terms | agree"
Very we'll; then there is the price;
you know the music trade is very bad at
present; | can't give much, so we will
say two pounds for the lot"
Whatp | exclaimed, "only two
pounds for four songs2 why you gave me
more for one."
Things were different then two
poundsfor the four songs, and half
sovereign in advance; l can't give PEN
ny more"
AS he spoke he drew half a sovereign
from his pocket and held in invitingly
between his finger and thumb. The sight
of the money was too tempting, SO l
agreed to write the songs.
mind, | have them early tomorrow,
he said. If you do not bring them down
by ten, shall send for them"
i hurried away to purchase some food
for my wife, and also to procure her some
medicine. bought roll and ate it, so
that | could tell her had dined out. Tor
| needed all the money for her. Amonst
the things | bought was some brandy,
the doctor having ordered Milly to drink |
it, Loaded with these poor things, which
to me looked heaps of riches, l hurried !
homeward.
Poor Milly, when l reached her bed
side and showed her what | had bought.
met me with smile of patient love that
nearly broke my heart. she tasted a |
little food and drank small glass of I
weak brandy and water, and then fell in
to light sleep. Illness at the best os
times is terrible, but when we sit alone
and see all we love fading fast, the dis
ease aided by want, to see the thin, pale
face, so like death in life, to know that
before long even the sad pleasure of at
tending on it will be lost, and that be-
fore we can give proper comfort-this is
indeed awful As / sat watching and
thinking, became desperate; my brain
seemed on fire, and ny mouth was parch
ed. Selling the brandy l poured out
large glass of spirit and drank it. 1t
steadied my nerves, and l sat down to
commence my songs.
For some time | gained no thoughts
The dull silence of the night, broken on
y by the heavy breathing of my wife, !
and a low, purring sound that ratified at :
ler chest, palled upon me the thin,
face, half in shade, that re- ,
nosad on the DiIiow the Ghost I;Io L.l