The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-05
He Cannot Sing That Old Song Now.


He was very much infatuated with her
at first, and gushed out the happy fullness
of his heart in that expressive sentiment,
elf ever / cease to love"
Throughout the long, prosy, working
hours, when his companions were grlm-
bling and ffetting away at trifles, his task
seemed to glide smoothly through his
hands, and an oath from workman at
another bench would start John up into
"If ever cease to love-
There was a look of mingled hope and
contentment upon his fine saddle-eOlOred
features that spoke of peace within, and
when he would arouse himself suddenly
from delightful reverie and burst forth
with
"If ever 1 cease to love-"
it was apparent to all i'm the shop that John
was happier than they. They could not
sing that old song themselves, and so har-
dened and devoid of sentiment were their
hearts that it displeased them TO hear the
carol from other lips, that spoke of hopes
and joys they might never know. Still
the light-hearted John sang on
elf ever cease to love-"
and the .flameu shook their heads and
gnashed their teeth in agony and malicious
anger. What cared he how much discOn-
tent and ill-feeling rankled in other breasts
so long as his and hers were filled with
that delicious sentiment that has come
down to the world on the breath of angels?
He hammered away on the shoe he was
making, and merrily trilled-
elf ever / cease to love-
The men in the shop stuck their fingers
in their ears and fairly hOwled with pain
T~1,,, 10 ont Drfh
than that one line, and always at the close
of it he stopped and meditated, as though
inwardly conjuring up the terrible pun
ishments he wished to overtake him in the
event OF his ceasing to love. But he
would soon emerge from his meditatiOns,
and in louder key than ever, sing
elf ever cease to love"
and his associates would go into cOnvul-
siOns, and some would throw hammers,
and lasts, and avis at him. But what
cared John? He waXed his thread and
pounded away, and in the smoke of his
pipe he saw a rOse-cOvered cottage and a
buxom little girl at the door awaiting him.
When the shades of Saturday yening
CAME down. ne arose, pulled off his
apron, and treating his comrades to a
parting burst of melody
eff ever | cease to love-
lodged the missiles that envy hurled at
him, and walked proudly down the street.
Sabbath evenings he went to see her, and
in sweet converse they whiled away the
hours that speedily opened upon the dawn
of blue Monday. Thus it was for several
Sabbaths, but last Sunday night-alas, oh
Woe! She was sitting on his knee, and
he had Just begun in an impassiOned
voice
elf ever IL
when his foot slipped, his knee dropped
down, and that angelic form trembled,
swayed, and fell. With a frantic grasp,
John strOve to save her; but too late. His
hands had seized upon her curls, and as
she went down there remained in his grasp
the whole wealth of those dark brown
locks. 1t was wig. On the top end of
the aforesaid angelic form, that lay stretch
ed upon the floor, there glistened in the
lamp-light a something that looked like a
gigantic peeled onion. John gave an un-
earthly yell and fled.
For two long weeks he had rayed in the
delirium of brain fever; for two weeks
frightful demons, with bald heads and
handsful of hair, had Knocked and jibed at
him, had torn his frame with cOnvulsiOns,
and filled his soul with horror. Now he
was calmer; he had sunk back exhausted
upon his couch, and the physician said he
would soon cease to live. His comrades
gathered around him to watch the expiring
taper of their brother Crispin. All ami
mostly, all resentment, was gone out of
their hearts-all they wanted was to see him
die. Fainter and fainter came .the breath
of the sleeper, and it seemed that the last
breath was just on the draw, when an OdOr
~ h1rY ,iY,0r CHI
over the way, entered the room and reached
his nOstrils. He reused, raised on his
elbow, and glaring wildly into vacancy,
almost shrieked-
'.If ever | seize to lOvel'
The eXertiOn was too much-in fact, two
or three too much; and John laid his weary
body down for its final rest.
Sadly, yet resignedly, they bore him
away and deposited him in the corner of
fOrty-acre field, the owner of which had
generously donated it for the reception of
the mortal remains of any of that vast
multitude of young men who have a fond
ness for that old song.
While we wipe away the tears that un-
hidden flow at the memory of John, we
will Just remark, for the benefit of those
who are out of employment, that the kind
dOuatCr of that vast graveyard offers five
dollars per head for mortal remains-Of
the kind above mentioned Charlton Co1o1-
ty MO- B17tHs1oicker.
a