The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-02
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ESMERALDA,

Few stories of the stage are more pa.
thetic than the incident of the comedy of
1" Esmeralda.' cold Bald Mountain
Is situated in western county of North
Carolina, one Of the poorest sections of
that State. Mr.. Eben p Carroll was
the owner of rocky farm in that section
some years ago and lived frugally with
his dainty little girl of II years, Emma
by name. Emma was in love with a
neighboring backsmith's son. Her
father encouraged the lovers, and they
were to have been married on the 18th
of August, 1SS0.-Andy Metcalfe, her
lover, was an uncouth, handsome fellow
of about 80, with all the honesty and
awkwardnCss of a backwoods North
Carolinan training, while Emma was an
artless. graceful little thing, who knew
no life or romance without Andy.
Well, it will be remembered that on
the 18th of August, 1880, there was a
terrific earthquake in the vicinity of
"Old Bald Mountain, which did much
damage to that locality. The nuptials of
Andy and Emma We're just being per-
formed when the awful rumbling Of the
earth aroused the villagers; there was a
rocking for n moment of the little log
cabin church, a suffering of the lamps
then crash; then darkness and chaos.
The next morning the village looked sad
indeed.-Twenty people were found
charred and crushed under the church.
The young bride and groom were among
the missing: but few bodies were recog-
'nizable, SO thoroughly had the awful
work been done. Old Eben Carroll was
heart broken. His only child had been
taken from him-''gone, as he said, 'to
jine her mother, bless en- both, an |
hope to meet 'em SOON" He went about
half crazed for weeks, and finally sold
the farm for a tritling sum, and deter
mined to go East to his brother who
was a well to-do storekeeper in New
York.
In the great city Eben was escorted to
the theatres nightly by Seth Carroll
who hoped that in the theatrical world
his brother would forget his own wretch
ed life. SO one night they together
visited Madison Square Theatre. 1t was
during the run of "Esmeralda," and
Eben had asked his brother to take him,
as the Herd2d said it was "a charming
81 Of Nnr+b Al,
scene of all his joys and sorrows. When
the curtain assembled the big tears welled
up in the old mans eyes at the sight
of his own cold Bald Mountain" He
could hardly believe his eyes. There
was the same spinning wheel, the old
hickory bench, the same rag carpet &C.,
&c, that used to adurn his own little hut
at home.
"Why, lookec thar, Seth, he whis-
pcred cit 5 the gennywne thing, amt it?
Lor, don't | wish my little girl was here
with us His brother made no answer,
not wishing to draw him out on an I'M
pleasant subject, and the play proceed
ed.
All went well until the time for - Es-
meralda's entrance was spoken, and
Annie Russell's head appeared at tho
door, backed by her lovers Dave Hardy.
Miss Russelrs face was hardly in full
view before an audible exclamation of
pain issued from the auditorium, and the
ushers silently and quickly led out
wrinkled, awkward, grizzled-faced old
man.
1t was Eben Carroll, and he was saving.
My poor little Emma. How did she
get there, wonder, and who brought her?
Oh. brother, did you see her sweet face,
as she stood in the door for a mint with
a little yeller pail in her hand Oh
OH"
But, Eben, your mind must be wan
detlng; that is not your little girl, but
CONTINUED On FOURTH rAeE.J