Middletown transcript., 1877-01-20
0Annie Laurie"

sung, come to my house tonight, sal,
a man to his friend. -"We have love
lorn fellow in the village, who was sad
ly wrecked by the refusal Of cir
whom he had been paying attention tt
for year or more 1t is seldom b.
will attempt the song, but when h'
does, I tell you he draws tears from
eyes unused to weeping"
A small select company had assem-.
bled in pleasant parlor, and were
gayly chatting and laughing, when a
tall young man entered, whose peculiar
face and air instantly arrested attention.
He was very pale, with that clear, vivid
complexion which dark haired .consump-
tives so often have His locks were as
black as jet, and hung profusely upon
a square white collar His eyes were
very large and spiritual, and his brow
such an one as a poet should have
But for a certain wandering look, a
casual observer would have pronounced
him man of uncommon intellectual
powers. The words "poor fellow" and
chow sad he looks" 3" went the rounds,
as he came forward, bowed to the com
pany, and took his seat One or two
thoughtless girls laughed as they
whispered that he was Glove cracked"
but the rest treated him with a re-
speetful Difference
1t was late in the evening when sing
ing was proposed, and to ask him to
sing "Annie Laurie" was task of un-
common delicacy. One song after an
other was sung, and at last that one
was named. At its mention the young
man grew deadly pale, but did not
speak; he seemed instantly to be lost
in reyerie
1.-The name of the girl who treated
him so badly was Annie" " said lady,
whispering to the new guest-"but,
eh I rish be would sing il; nnhndy
else can do it justice"
"No one dare sing Annie Laurie
before you, Charles" said an elderly
lady would it be too much for me to
ask you to favor the company with it ?"
she asked, timidly.
He did not reply for moment-his
lips quivering little, and then looking
up as il he saw spiritual presence, he
begun. Every sound was hushed-it
seemed as if his voice were the voice of
an angel. The tones vibrated through
nerves and pulse and heart, and made
one shiver with the pathos of his feel
ing; never was heard the melody in a
human voice like that-so plaintive, SO
soulful--so tender and earnest
He sat with his head thrown back,
his eyes half closed-the locks of dark
hair glistening against his pale temples,
his fine throat swelling with the rich
tones, his hands lightly folded before
him; and as he sung
"And twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true'-
it seemed as if he shook from head to
foot with emotion. Many lip trem-
bled-and there was no jesting, no
laughing but instead, tears in more
than one eye.
And on he sung, and on, holding
every one in wrapt attention, till he
came to the last verse
''Like dew on the gowan lying
Is the ia of her fairy feet
And like winds in summer signing
Her voice is low and sweet,
Her voice is low and sweet
And she's world to me''-
He paused hefore he added
"And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'll lay me down to die"
There was a long and solemn pause
The black locks seemed to grow blacker
the white temples whiter-almost i'm
perceptibly the head kept falling back
the eyes were close shut. One
glanced at another-all seemed awe
struek-till the same person who had
urged him to sing, laid her hand gently
on his shoulder, saying:
Charles, Charles p
Then came hush-a thrill of horror
crept through every frame-the poor
tired heart had ceased to Charles,
the love betrayed, was dead.
Civil Rights in st. Louis.