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

Don't 60, old fellow said Burden. "I
confess | did not want you at irst. but now
you have come would rather you stav. You
and | have always been friends, 20 YOU NAV
as well see the end. Besides, you might be
able to do me favor"
FASTENED to assure him that anything
could do for him | would do with pleasure.
Now let me soe what can do" said
Fielding feeling his pulse,
can tell you the exact amount" replied
Burden, with a faint smile. " You can do
nothing 20
| looked in my friends face and saw that
Burden was right.
" You sec | know what is coming [ have
felt il creeping on these six months or more.
was certain nothing could stop it, and, as
you sec, | was right. have no fear Of death
tho only regret | have is for poor little
Charon there
" Is he your son2"
No | found him shiyering on doorstep
some eleven years ago. don't think he could
have been much more than eighteen months
DID, had just lost my dog at the time and
felt lonely and he, poor little wretch, looked
so lonely too that it struck up sort Of sym
pathy between Us and | brought him home"
But why on earth did you call him
Charon2'
Because he was the son Of Erebus and
Noxi at least he was found in the night and
don't know who bis parents were"
What do you want us to do for this boy2r
Bring him up. Please 10 hand me that
paper. Thanks. This is my will whereby
| leave Charon property to over the amount
OF five thousand pounds. | want you fellows
to become executors, il you will, and see that
the little imp is cared for. You will? |
thank you. Fill in the names aud will sign
it- There, thank goodness that is over.
You can alter his name, when | an gone, to
anything you like. You must take care of
him for my sake"
Have you no relations ?" we asked.
None You have often asked me for my
history, Fielding, and now that am so near
my end you shall have it. Now don't stop
me- old fellow; know what you would say
i must not excite myself to talk much.
You see | am almost as good a doctor as you
are but feel that cannot last another day.
aud as few hours cannot make much diff.
ference, prefer dying my own way. | may
as well keep my mind employed as not so
sit, old fellows, and listen to what no one has
heard but yourselves"
We took our seats on each side of the
couch, and Burden commenced his history:
"Six and twenty years ago | was a clerk
in merchants Office. | can't say liked the
business, but stuck to it, aud got on, for
loved my masters daughter, and hoped by
hard work one day to be able to make her
mine. | was an orphan, with neither kith
nor kin to look after me, but the love bore
Milly kept me quiet and industrious. rose
step by step in the Office, and Mr.. Bruce, the
merchant, was never tired of sounding my
praise
"All went on happily until he discovered that
loved his daughter and then his passion
knew no bounds. need not enter into the
particulars. | was turned from his house,
but not alone, for Milly aud had been se-
cretly married three months before.
We took quiet little lodging in the sub
urbs, and | went every day into the city in
hopes Of getting another situation. had a
little money that had saved on which we
lived lived, oh so happily, that even at this
distance it seems heavenly dream too bright
for earth. Milly was always trustlul that her
father would relent, and | always believed
that | should soon obtain another appoint
ment but VIC were both deceived. Time roll
led on our little capital was almost gone, our
hopes almost exhausted, but our love bloomed
as fresh as ever. | tried literature and made
few pounds, but my manuscripts but too
oiton came back without being read still /
struggled on, and wrote several songs which
had a certain amount Of success and once
more hope seemed to beam upon US.
Milly-leaveu bless her erl-fancied that
| should soon become famous, that all Eng.
land would ring with my name, and then her
father would be able to forgive us. What
might have happened had not met with such
mislortunes Heaven alone knows-I cannot
say; but in the midst of this bright happi-
ness my'wile was taken ill-it was consump-
tlon. | worked day and night to procure the
necessary medicines and food for her /
wrote TO her father, but received no reply;
went from publisher 10 publisher hawking
my songs about, selling them almost for any
thing 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 starvation was close
upon me.
One aiternoon--l shall never forget it,
left poor Milly in bed-she could not rise
aud went to seek for work. | called at her
fathers, but was turned from the door. |
wandered about from one place to another,
but all my efforts were lrutless | could not
gain penny. Heart-broken and weary, |
turned homewards; | had not money to buy
even "a loaf of bread. Several times | paused
as a well-dressed man approached me, and de-
termined to beg but the words choked mo,
and they passed on without noticing my dis
tFess. When they had passed was ashamed
of having thought Of begging, and yet angry
with myself that had not done SO.
| was standing at the corner Of street,
thinking what should do, for could not 60
home to MiIly-my poor, hungry, sick wife
mpty-handed, when l received hearty
slap on the shoulder, and turning round, saw
GIidden, the music publisher.
"Well, Burden" he cried, you don't
seem happy. You look as pleasant as if you
had lost hali-a-crown and found ix-pence."
Happy | exclaimed " happy with a
wife dying Of consumption and-and starya-
ton :"
Dear me that's very sad why don't
you work ~
Work have sought it far and near;
| have done everything, but without success"
"The music trade is bad, aud no mistake
but still think something might be done.
Your songs have gone pretty well. Now
what time would it take you to write me four
songs T.
"rhat all depends upon what sort you
want.
They must be strongly bacchanalian-
fast, full Of iie--you understand"
eyes,
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 well then there is the price, you
know the music trade is very bad at present;
| cant pive much 50 wa will saw two nonnds