Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-11-15
A RIGHTEOUS RETRIBU'TION

My house, like that of the American
patriot iIumortalized in Martin Chuzzle
wit" Is now beyond the setting sun
that is to say, in the uttermost regions Of
Western Misunderstanding there was
time when itwas situated at the opposite
extremity OF Cottonopolis, from which l
fled. for reasons to be hereafter stated, with
the feeling that could not put too great
distance between myself and It. Ny former
habitation was Il semi-detached villa (of
which was also the proud proprietor) in
Paradise Row My occupation lay i'll the
town, but it had in truth, but small charms
for me. 1t was there made the wax from
which derived the major portion of my
income, but my honcy-and | was very
busy lee at that time-was made at home
after Office hours, still, indeed, by the pen,
but in a very different fashion. Ny soul
was devoted to literature, and all the time
that could spare from Messrs. Bale &
Crop. cotton cOrncrerS. was given TO COM
position Except for the interval con-
sumed in getting home, | might indeed
have been said to have stepped from my
high stool on to the back Of Pegasus which
took me flights which lasted from
o'clock to 10.
Let me hasten to say that this express
sion Is metaphorical. rs a man who is
still connected lat all events on one side
with business, should be sorry to have it
supposed that | ever wrote poetry. No, it
was only prose (if may be permitted to
say sol of high order. ! wrote stories
for tine magazines, and leading articles for
local newspaper or two-what, in short
may he fairly called imaginative litera-
ture had 4 Young wife and Il growing
family and the addition | thus made TO
my official income was very welcome, yet
not more 50 than the work itself. With
my quiil pen in my hand-l could never
use steel one, such rs sufced me IN the
city for these tights-lny knees in their
snug haven under my writing table, and =
good stock OF ideas in my head to draw
upon, ! fell as happy rs king. 1t Is a
modest pleasure, known to few and envied
probably by none, but, believe me, there Is
none more satisfying or supreme.
When our little children had been put
To bed my wife used to come down and sit
with me, occupying herself with needle
work. it was understood that dixie a
ghost she was not to speak unless She was
spoken to. lest she should interrupt the
flow OF composition. ! could trust her toI
that. implicitly There are some good
women who can never keep silence whel
they work for two consecutive minutes, but
must be always making some muttered oh
serYation about their stitches Ccmentina
WAS not one of that SOFT. which was iortu
nate for both Of Us.
There might have been two opinion:
(tllat IS, my opinion and that of other peo
ple( as to whether my work may have beer
Of Il meritoriou, or valuable kind but, sncl
as it was, il required perfect silence. /
there was the least noisc-a coal flying on
from the fire, door hanging in the attic
all was over with me; if Il nightingale
had begun to sing in the back garden
should have been paralyzed; our two maid
servants always went about during those
hours of composition in list slippers.
For q month after my purchase OF Edel
Lodge. Paradise Row, the house in no way
belied It's name but in the eth week the
serpent raised its head among the flower
and Kissed out Sir, You are mistaken
about the name of your residence; tins i
Purgatory Villa
Ii was about 7:I5 +. NJ, and | had a
usual sat down alone to my beloved occu
pation.whcn. from the party wall at whicl
my desk vas placed, there issued forth
bang. As if cannon had gone of, followed
bv three or four shrili explosions such 4
are caused by rockets. FOR the moment
really thought they were rockets, and tia
the sticks had penetrated M brain, whicl
indeed was scattered in all directions
Nv faithful wife, who had felt the shoel
in the nursery, rushed down stairs, and va
by my side in an instant As She enterc'
the room the hideou, cannonade was re
stunned. ana with such effect that the heart
brush fell down stunned in the corner Z
the hreplace and the top Of lay ink bolt!
shut Of Itself with :, click.
"Merciful heavens" | cried, what
it?o
J feared ii would annoy YOU bega
Clementina, in trembling tones.
Annoy me! 1t has DESTROYED me-
exclaimed Not another line shall b
able to write tonight What is it27
My dear Charles, | am sorry 10 say
Is the daughter of our neighbor, Mr.
Brown, who has just come from school, IN
is practicing the Battle OF Prague J,
NINA. whom we took with Eden Lodg
YOU know, says she does il all through II
holidays The foolish girl never said
word about it, or am sure you woul
never have bought the house"
But do You mean 10 say this Is 10 90 {
always di,ndys ?" | exclaimed despairingl
''Hars at it
1t was like magnificent pyroteehn
display without the fireworks. No hum.
being could stand it; no one bat fier
could have inflicted ii.
1t goes on, Jemima says" replied n
wife despondingly, for six weeks fro
Z to 10; only on Sundays she plays sacr,
music"
am not passionate person, but a
impatient and il at that moment ! cou
have got at that girl next door, belle,
notwithstanding her sex, her age and h
piety, that l should have strangled h,