Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1882-05-17


stood before her now She was no
longer In the nelghbornood of Eccleston
Square. She was far away in the coun-
try, in a bright little drawing room, gay
with flowers. The scents and sounds of
summer foated round her, the song of
birds and the perfume of roses were
waited in at the windows opening on to
closely-shavenla lawn. Sunshine streamed
into the room, and on patch of it lay
on the floor favorite collie dog. And
the boy her boy-in loose black vel
vet jacket, stood in one of the windows,
and read her letter telling how one of
his pictures then being exhibited at the
Royal Academy had been sold. Then
turning his bright face to hers, the young
artist lifted his straw hat from his head,
and opening his arms, exclaim ed ::
Kiss me mother p
The vision-for the recollection
amounted almost to such-van1shed.
Gone was the bright day, crumbled away
the pretty house, vanished the beautiful
face and form of the beloved artist son !;
and left, lonely London room, cruel
inter night, and crack voiced old beg
gar squeaking within yard or two of
| the dreamer.
What takes so long to write, hardly
occupied minute, The lady, brought
back to herself, rang her bell; and soon
the street door was opened, and neat
| little maid beckoned to the scarecrow to
come to her. He shuffied up the steps,
mad the shortest of interviews with the
messenger of "Sympathy," and then
passed away into the black night, breast
ing the storm with an energy remarkable
| to behold.
That night marked an important epoch
in that old mans life. 1t was Friday;
and thenceforth the shabby figure might
be seen every Friday evening shaubling
up the street to the house of his fair
sympathizer. His song was soon dis
pensed with, and he became regular
pensionef on the lady's bounty. Her
warm heart was touched by the helpless
ness of the poor fellow. He was past
work-that was evldent-and the lady,
herself certainly not in the heydey of
strength or health or fortune, lent what
material and moral support she could to
keep her poorer brother from the work
house-whither, he said, he would never
go while his old missus was alive.
been one of much incident or interest un-
til It's closing chapters were reached.
Born and bred in service, he had been
gentleman's servant, page, footman,
valet, butler, until paralysis had struck
him down; and then, though he partial
ly recovered, he was cast aside. like an
old coat or worn-out piece of furniture.
He had, however, married; and when he
and his wife finally left service, they set
up In very tiny little house, in hor-
ribly dull, dirty little street running out
of the New Cut, Lambeth. They man.
aged to get the house at remarkably
low rent, and hence the choice of this
unsavory locality. The wife let lodgings
to working-men; and the old man, when
he had regained sufficient strength to go
about, procured little connection for
himself, running errands for servants in
houses where he had formerly been in
high service, brushing clothes, cleaning
boots, and generally performing the
very minor character of gentleman's
gentleman.
This occupation began twenty years
after day, up to nearly last Christmas,
share towards the JOINT support of his
wife and himself in their New Cut nest.
On Friday, the 23d December, 1881,
the weekly visitor appeared for the last
time at the house of his benefactress,
and received an extra dole, because of
the season OF the year, and because of
more t1resome wheeze than usual that
was noticeable in his voice. He received
also two pair of warm socks from the
bountiful hands of the good lady, and
was sent away with words of comfort and
sympathy, which he laid to heart as he
walked home. He was very i'll, and he
knew it.
On the last Friday of the old year he
failed to appear at the house near Eccles-
ton Square. Then the lady sent to the
Lambeth address, and found that on
Christman eve the old man had passed
away, saying with his last breath ''Place
those socks which the dear lady gave me
on my chest, old woman; they seem to
cheer me.
The widow of a week was sent for by
the widow of many years, and then a
strange discovery was made. The latter
spoke to the former about what she could
OAOCAUnhO W OO 1O1 4lf1IS. dUo DLC
former, who was much younger than her
deceased husband, said she thought she
was still strong enough to look after an
Office. Then the lady said-how sweetly,
sadly and efficiently, [ cannot describe:
"But you know, fear there may be
some difficulty, when come to explain
how knew your husband.
"What do you mean, ma'm?" asked
the dead singers wife.
Well, you are aware that some peo-
pie would be preiudiced against you if
they knew that he sung in the street for
living"
The widow stood for a moment as if
rooted to the floor, her face puckered
with pain; and then her knees seemed to
give way, and she sank into heap on
the carpet, flung her arms on chair,
buried her face In her hands, and sobbed
out: "Oh, he never, newer told me
this ! He always said he'd got few
frien's in Westminster who he did a
thing or two for Oh, ma'am, ma'am,
how good he was Oh, my poor old
NANNY old man ! An he did this
for me; an Lord love i'm for it, e KEEP it