The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-03-20

but still / think something
might be done. Your songs have sue
ceeded pretty well. Now what time
would It take you to write me four
songs2" aT 'uu u
''Thst all depends upon what sort
you want" I replied. aa3
"They must be bacchanalian--full Of
life. You understand 2'' 4s 4
.Yes." 81. .u.I- do. ,NL5 IL
Sand must have them the first
thing in the morning" "oiav Ir.
"That Is short time." IaI4f
'It is; but ready money, you know"
he replied.
"On these terms agree" '.a
Every well, then. Now, about the
price. You know the music trade Is
very bad at present. I can't give you
much, SO we will say three guineas for
the lot." lie n1. I"t .F' '."
"What |" / exclaimed; three gulneas
for four songs, and one guinea in ad-
vance. ""i''. 'N''.'.H .'''..a
''I cant give you cent more.''
AS he spoke, he drew sovereign
from his pocket, and held It invitingly
between his finger and thumb. The
sight Of the money was too tempting;
so, without further demur, I agreed to
write the songs. '''.' '''' ''> ''- ''-
"Mind, / have them early to.mor.
row." he said. ''If you do not bring
them to me by ten l shall send for
them"
1 hurried away to purchase some
fool for my wife, and also to procure
some medicine. 1 bought q roll, and
ate 1t, so that l could tell her that I had
dined out; for I needed all the money
for her.
Among the things I bought was
some brandy, the doctor having ordered
Milly to drink it. Laden with these
poor things, which to me looked heaps
Of riches, hurried homeward.
Poor Milly, when reached her bed
side and showed her what I had
brought, met me with a smile Of patient
love that almost broke my heart. She
tasted little food, and drank small
glass OF weak brandy and water, then
fell into light sleep. ,i- ls
Illness at the best 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--to know that before long
even the sad pleasure Of tending on 1t
will be lost. and before We can give II
proper cars-this. indeed, Is awful.
As sat, watching and thinking,
became desperate; my brain seemed or
fire and my mouth parched. SEEKING
the brandy bottle, ! poured out large
glass of spirits and drank 1t off. Il
steadied my nerves, and l sat down Il
SohmShSo My "ohS' s... ..-# H.H.. H .l.#U
| For some time / could gain M
thoughts. The dull silence Of th'
night, broken only by the heav.
breathing OF my wife, and o low, pur'
ring sound that ratified at her chest
palled upon me. The dull, glimmer.
ing light Of the candle that threw
melancholy light over our wretche'
room; thin, wedged-like face, half il
shade, that reposed on the pillow; tn
ghost like hand that lay 80 stili
stretched out on the coverlet--al
) seemed TO crush me. how, with sue
things around me, could write Q
mirth, drink and jolity? 7.
l pressed my hands over my eye:
and the hot tears forced themselve
through my fingers. I grew hysterica
! felt as could have screamed wit
, laughter. I could not write; but th
songs must be done, or / should nc
get the money. 10 ai'Hi 2 '--oI
In hope Of gaining more calmness
; drank more brandy. Glass after glas
: of the burning tiuld poured down m
. throat. l felt mad. was not tipsy
but delirious. could hear the ratt
. Of the glasses, the merry shouts {
! laughter; strange tunes, such as woul
have suited orgies, held In praise
Bacchus, rang in my head. seize
my pen and wrote rapidly. Some fer
: seemed whispering words to me; ths
were so full Of recklessness and abanC
onment. ......-.,s.-r ..t- .. Hfl
y My candle burned out, but ! CO.
tinued writing by the gray, cold lig
u Of daybreak that came slantiug oy
: the housetops. At last my task W
+" done, and springing up / hasten ed
my wife to tell her my success, and
! cheer her with the assurance that the
u