Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-13
miscellaneous.
A NIGHT OF MISERY.

] any opening Dy winch 70 enter and gain shell
! ter from the fast falling snow. II beat against
the windows, rumbed in the chimney and
even went so far as to tear off some of the
states on the roof in its mad impetuosity.
Now and then the sharp patter Of nailstooos
was heard, and few Of them rolled down the
chimney, falling, splitting aud spluUering on
the blazing Goals beheath
But the storm did not affect me personally
for | was comfortably seated opposite a roar.
ing fire in a snug, cosy library, enjoying
cigar and a chat with my old friend, Dr.
Fielding The library-it was Feldna's-
was one Of the most perfect ever saw the
walls were covered with books excepting over
the chimney-pioce, and that part was hidden
by handsome lookiug-gass. The furniture
was all carved, and-oh, rare luxury every
chair an easy one The deep red curtains
were drawn, aud hung in graceful folds from
their golden corniccs. A huge moderator
lamp shed a mellow light over the table, which
at the present moment was entirely devoid Of
books, they having given place to a box Of
llayanas, a good.sized decanter Of brandy.
sugar, lemons, aud all the other Ingredients
FOR good old-iashioncd glass Of punch.
/ Fielding was a dne, clever fellow, who had
not only made great name in his profession,
but good.sizod fortune, which be had settled
down to enjoy. BY settle down one must
not imagine that my friend had entirely re-
tired far from it, Perhaps he never worked
harder than a; the period / am now speaking
about, only he selected his own patients
Lord Tom Noddy might write him hundred
times, Offering as many guineas if he would
but come and look at pmple chat had pre-
sumptuously dared to grow on his Iordsbips
face, but Fielding would not bulge an inch.
On the other hand, if he heard Of any real
case Of sickness he would hurry off to it, al
though he knew ho would never get penny
for his trouble.
Fielding great deligh, was in literature
he had dabbled in it little, and be belonged
TO all the literary clubs in London. He would
do anything for mau Of letters, and no
sooner did he hear that one was i'll than he
would call upon him as a friend, and, if de-
sired, attended as a doctor but would never
take aiee His best reward, he declared, was
to see his friend reinsta;od in health, seated
IN his snug library, smoking a cigar and talk
ing over literary affairs.
We had just liz our second cigars, refIlod
our tumblers, drawn our chairs closer to the
ire and settled down in them with that selfish
feeling Of satisfaction which every one expe-
rieLces at being warm and comfortable on a
cold choeress night when we we're startled
by loud single knock at the street door.
Now single knock at any time is a most un-
pleasant thing, a gentle one sounds mean
and despicable; you can fancy the person
who made it starting back, like Fear in Col
lins' Ode to the Passions, Even at the sound
himself had made = but bold, heavy "baug"
that wakes up the echoes all through the
house, especially if given about ten or eleven
at Dight, is terrible, causing cold shiver to
pass through your body as though something
evil approached you.
81 That is a strange knock, said |.
Very replied Fielding " wonder who
it can be ?"
We were not long left il doubt, for the
servant entered the room and announced that
boy wanted to see DR.. Fielding,
"What does he want? Can't he send a
message by you r.
Please, sir, he says he can't he must see
you"
"Well, show him up, said Fielding. And
the next moment lad Of about twelve years
entered the room.
lie wasa short, shambing lad, with fierce,
rough head Of hair, large, staring blue eyes,
and not too clean hands and face. His clothes
were strong but common, and hung closely
around his spare figure
(Which of you is the doctor ?" asked the
lad.
d" am" answered Fielding What do
you want, my lad ?"
Here is a note for you said the lad, at
the same time handing over a carelessly folded
hai-sheet Of paper " Please to come quick
he is bad"
Fielding took the paper and read it, and
then passed it to me. It ran as follows;
DEAR FIELDING: I'm worse aud worse
in fact | have only to be little more so aud
shall be much better. In other words, |
am about making my farewell bow en- this
worlds great theatre. Como and see the fall |
Of the curtain. The performance is entirely
for my benefit. Do come, old fellow Charon |
will show you the way.
Yours, Arthur BURDoN,
"It is as feared" said Fielding. "Ofl
course must 60. viii you accompany
me 2'
As Burden was an old friend Of mine | at
once consented, and in few minutes we were
in the street, following our youthful guide
q" Where does Burden live 2n | inquired, |
d" This is more than | know replied Field |
ing although we have been on friendly |
terms for so many years be has never told me |
his address He has ali his letters sent to
his music publishers think he resides
somewhere in Westminster"
And this boy Chnron, as he calls him lis |
he his son p
" That | cant say this is the first time | |
have either seen or heard Of the young gen.
teman."
" Burden must have made money
" Undoubtedly. His songs were always
successful, added to which be is good man
of business aud retains a right in all he does.
Then, again, he is so careful, almost too care
ful, with his money. So l think there can be
little doubt about his being well Of. "
4" Do you know his family2"
NO have questioned him a good deal
lately on that point, for could see that
he was breaking up, but he would never an.
swer lie seems to have morbid fear Of
poverty"
Our conversation was interrupted at this
point by our young guide stopping at a small,
dirty looking house. Drawing whistle
from his pocket he blew on it shrilly, and
then did breakdown on the grating over the
area These signals had the desired effect Of
bringing an old, withered crone to the street
door, who was, without exception, the ugliesi
specimen of humanity ever beheld. In
one hand, she held a thin, consumptye look
ing candle, which she shaded from the wind
in such manner as to throw its light fully
upon her own hideous features She placed
herself in the doorway so we could not pass,
and glared at US with her pale, dlmy eyes,
and murmured and moaned in a terrible man.
ner.
Don't mind old Sycorax," said the boy I;
" she won't hurt, because she cant she would
If she could"