Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-02-18
TINE DYING MANS STORY.
REV. JOHN rHko. ETrERs,

have it. Now, don't stop me, my dear friend
know what you would say-I must not excite
myself or talk much. You see am almost as
good doctor ~ you are, but feel that cannot
last another day, and ss afew hours cannot make
may ~ well keep my mind employed Al not ; so
sit down and listen to what no one las heard but
yourself.
Ski -and-twenty years ago was clerk in a
ness, but stuck to it and got on for loved
my masters daughter, and hoped by hard work
to one day be able to make her mine. was an
orphan with neither kith or kin to look after me,
but the love bore Mily kept me quiet and in
dustrious. rose step by step in the office, and
Mr.. Bruce, the merchant, was never tired Of
sounding my praise.
AL went on happily until he discovered that I
loved his daughter, and then his passion knew
no bounds need not enter into the partlcu-
lars. was turned from his house, but not alone,
for Milly and had been secretly married three
We took quiet little lodglngA the suburbs,
and went every day into the city in hopes of
that / had saved OH which We lived-lived, oh
10 happily that even at this distance it seems q
heavenly dream too bright for earth. Milly was
always trustful that her father would relent, and
l always believed should soon obtain another
appointment, but we were both deceived.
Time rolled on our little capital was nearly
gone, our hopes almost exhausted, but our love
bloomed as fresh as evor. l tried literature, and
made few dollars but my manuscripts but too
often came back without being read. Still l
struggled on, and wrote several songs, which
had 4 certain amount OF success and one nero
hope seemed to beam upon us.
Mily-Hexven bless her-fancied that should
soon become famous, that the whole country
would ring with my name, and then her father
would be glad to forgive us. What might have
happened had not met with such misfortunes.
Heaven alone kno~s-I cannot say but in the
midst Of this bright happiness my wife was taken
night to procure the necessary medicines and
food for her I wrote to her father, but received
no reply 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 starvation was close upon
me-
One afternoon-1 shall never forget it-I left
poor Milly In bed-she could not rise-and went
to seek for work. l called at her fathers but
was turned away from the door. ! wandered
about from one place to another, but all my
efforts were fruitless. could not earn cont.
HoAIt-broken aud weary, turned homeward. l
Several times 1 paused as . well-dressed man
approached me, and determined to beg, but the
words choked me, and they passed OH without
noticing my distress: When they passed was
angry within myself that had not done 80
was standing at the corner Of q street,
thinking what should do-for l could not go
homo to Milly-my poor, hungry, sick wlfe,
empty-handed, when received hearty slap OIL
the shoulder, and turning round saw ddlen,
"Weli, Burden" he CRIED "you don't seem
happy. You look as pleasant as though you had
lost . dollar and found q cent"
Happy " I exclaimed; 'happy with wife VI
dying OF consumption nd-and-slarvation "
F" Dear me that's very sad Why don't you
work p
"Work have sought work far and near.
have done everything, but without success"
"The music trade is bad and no mistake; bu
still, think something might be- done. You
songs have succeeded pretty well. Now VIVA
time would it take you to write me four songs T.
"That ali depends upon what sort you want
"trhey must be bacehadalan-ru of life
You understand p
eyes"
"And must have them the first thing in th'
morning."
"Thst is a short time"
"It is but ready money you know" he re
On these torms agree"
"Very well, then. Now about the price. Yo,
know the music trade is very bad at present,
can't give you much, 80 we will say three guinea
for the lot"
"What !"I exclaimed " tbroo guineas 70
1O0f songs, Auu Ono Ill hoNnuoo. e"A
give you . cent more.'
sAs he spoke he drew . sovereign from hi
pocket and held it invitiugly between his hnge
and thumb The sight OF the money was 70
tempting so without further demur agreed
Mind have them early, tomorrow" lie sait
''H you do not bring them to me by ten sii'
send for them"
hurried away to purchase some food for m
wife and also to procure her some medicine.
a roll nd ii that could Cgll nt
that had dined out for needed all the none
for her.
Among tho things l bought was SON
brandy, the doctor hsviag ordered Miily to dfli
it. Laden with these poor things, which ~ IL
looked heaps OF riches, hurried homeward.
Poor Milly, when reached her bedside al
showed her what had brought, met mt with
smile OF patient love that almost broke my hear
She tasted little food aud drank q small gla
Of weak brandy -ant-water, then fell into lig
sleep.
Illness At the bcst Of times is terrible; b
when we sit alone and see all wo love fadil
pale face 10 like death in life-to know that
fore long even the sad pleasure OF tending on
will be lost, and that before We can give it p,
per care--this, indeed, is awful.
As sat, Watching and thinking, became d.
perats my brain seemed on fire, and my mou
parched- Seizing the brandy bottle, pour
out large glass Of spirits and drank it of.
steadied my nerves, and sat dawn to commen
NY songs. -
For soma time 1 could gain no thoughts I
dull silence Of the night, broken only by
heavy breathing OF my wife, and low, purri
sound that ratified At her chest, palled upon II
The dull, glimmering light Of the candle Il
threw . melancholy light over our wretcl
room the thin, wedge-lke face, half in sha
that reposed on the pillow the ghost-like hs
that lay 10 still, stretched out on the coverle
all seemed to crush me. How, with such thil
around me, could write of mirth, drink I
jollity?
pressed my hands over my eyes, and the
tears forced themselves through my fingers.
grew hysterical. felt ss il l could hi
screamed with laughter. l could not write
tho songs muAt be done, or should not get
money.
In hopes Of gaining more calmness l dr.
moro brandy. Glass after glass Of the burn
fluid poured down my throat l felt mad.
was not tpsy. but delirious. l could hear
rattle Of glasses, the merry shouts OF Taught
strange tunes such ~ would have suited orr
held In praise Of Bacchus, rang in my head
seized my pen and wrote rapidly. Some Il
sssnsd whispering words to me, they were
full Of recklessness and abandonment.
Nv candle burned Out, but continued wri
BY the gray, cold light Of daybreak that C
sfsuting over the housetops. At last my
was done, and springing up !! hastened to
Wifa to tell her nv success, aud to cheer her
the assurance that these wild songs would n
felt my blood rushing through my veins
fondly leansd over to kiss her. Our lips l