Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-06-12
Written for THE EVENING STAR
STRAHAN.
BY SIDNEY LUSkA,
AUTHOR Oh "As IT WAS WRITTEN" MRS
PEIxADA," ETC.
copyright, 1861

Copyright, 1861
Strahan the deaf-nute sculptor, is famous
now: but ut the time with which we are con-
cerned, ne was still struggling In obscurity.
He lived and had his studio in an abandoned
stable. which stood by itself. midway between
Ninth and Tenth avenues, on oath street-a
rickety, wooden structure, one story high, hot
10 sUTocatiOn in summer and in winter justify
Ing the traditional siraile: as cold as a barn.
Blu the rent was low, and the light was good
and Strahan. considering everything, thanked
his stars that he had any roof at all, under
which TO sleep and TO do his work; for, like the
better part of his fellow craftsmen, Strahan was
poorer than a church-mouse.
Toward dusk one Christmas Eve Strahan sat
among his plaster casts, prey to a swarm Of
blue devils-voracious parasites, that gnaw
with peculiarly sharp teeth when the heart
they are attacking happens to be associated
with an empty stomach. Strahan's stomach
was empty, and was his pOcketbook He
had made up his mind that he would have to
10 suPperless to bed this Christmas Eve; and
nov, while the dusk deepened, he sat alone in
his studio, and unused upon many a cherries
theme.
OF course, ere long il got dark; and then, in
due time, the street-lamp in front OF Strahans
door was lighted. The light hared in through
the window, and SpOrted Enthusiastically with the
White parapheTnalia of the sculptor trade; but
Strsihan paid no heed. In spirit he was far
away. labOring through the slough OF despond.
His ueshy envelope remained where he had left
III, liked and mOtiOnless, like its plaster neigh
bOrs- How long this state of things lasted, /
do no: know, nor does it matter. Long enough,
i dare say, to- chill the poor fellows heart
through, aud long enough, certainly, To- chill his
body through; Tor. by and by, he shuddered and
got up and crossed over to- his stove. But his
stove Was cold; the fire in 1t had gone out.
Finding which To be the case, Strahan raised the
lld ut his coai-bin. and looked in. There was
JUS ight enough FOR him TO see that his coal-bin
was bare. Then ne went TO the door, opened it,
and stepped into the street.
The day had been mild-sky overcast, wind
from the southeast anu atmosphere charged
with lukewarm moisture. But now the wind
had vccred around into the northwest and it
was rapidly blowing up colo. The clouds had
scattered; the air had become dry and singing:
a million stars were shining overhead: in the
Uupaved roadway the mud was freezing. Stra-
ham stepped into the street. and stayed there
lii his observations of tue weather were COM
piete. Afte5that he returned indoors.
snap an an empty cOstl-bin formed the most
disastrous OF combinations. Not that Strahan
minded the coal much ON his own accountable
eoUl,. move about and keep warm. But his
Liliti-Sl. upon whom he had lavished his
Thought, his love. lis strength, his skill, for
year past-she who was the food of his ambi-
ton, the fountain of his lope-to her. cold might
mean nothing short OF absolute ruin. She was
still IN clay not yet quite ready to- have her
mould taken IN pi:lSter-and IL the clay should
freeze IL i. surely would. in this refrigerator of
"A studio. unless there was a fire III the clay
should freeze. Strahan did not allow the
appalling notion to assume paipable shape He
picked APP the tattereu ba>hel-basket, which in
his domestic equipment answered for q coal
EoG, donned his ancient wlde-awake hat and
set ont ior the srocers shop. He already owed
the grocer u Slug sum Tor iuel and 1t never oc-
Cured 10 him that that worthy might prove
unwilling To- ado another item 10 the account
The grocer sat comfortably behind his coun-
ter, reading "a Germ II news paper and smoking
"a GeruIan pipe. ~ the DELL over the door tim
kie.i a, Str,,han's entrance the grocer lowered
his newspaper and glanced up. But when he
SAW who the newcomer was ana recognized the
familiar outlines OF the coal basket ne pursed
ms lips, knitted his brow shook his head. and
IuF- 4,
Though the significance of this paDtomime
was CnmiStakabie 1t Jailed of its effect Stra-
ham not To be dismayed, drew a pencil FROM
EIs pocket, took ~ scrap oI wrapping pape- from
the counter, scrubbed "a word two upoE it,
and handed the paper TO the grocer.
"CJaIs-plestse, was what Strahan had writ
ten
The grocer in his turn produced a pencil. and
wrote by way Oi rcJOindeT, Got emmy mummy"
Despite tEe absence OF interrogation-point
Strahan Construed this to be Ii question and
made a sign In the negative.
Again the grocer shook his head and waved
his hands,
'.Do You mean, wrote StraEa-, that YOU
Will not trust nir tor a basket-fuii?"
The grocer nodded.
~ ny note wrote Strahan.
Ss-on, wrote tlie grocer. aliuding doubtless
to The amount of Str;liIan's present score
Il shall surely receive some money this conn
Ing week, wrote Strahan. land then I'll settle
with YOU You must let me have Goals Tonight
or els my work Will BE- destroyed. Please let
me have them"
SjrahaDs eyes-eager as the ere; OF dumb
persons are wont 10 be-devOured the srocer's
face. as the latter scanned this appeal
FOR "a thlTd tine the grocer shook his head
aud waved his hands. But this time ne aid
more Tie pointed mpatientIy toward the door
Strihan took the hint. Outside. he east a
padl1cked cosi-box. If he that Iooketh unon
anOthers goods 10 lust after them hath
already committed robbery in his heart, Stra-
nan at that moment sunk TO the level OF a pick
ptcseL
Back in his studio. he realize. that the con-
ditIon o. affairs was now worse than grave II
ken
Ing, the cold iT;e1Sifying. Strahan had nor a
penny In his purse, nor an object in his posses
hlOn which might be exchanged for money at
the pawn-shop. To the other yrocers of the
quarter ne was u stranger. He could expect no
credit from them. Yet il behOoved him 10 kindIe
a IRE AT once, and to keep il going al least till
morning Otherwise-i
st HIS iiiitn stood in the center of the floor,
shrouued IN damp cloths Impulsively he
PAT out his hand 10 caress her. HorrorI The
cloths were already beginning to CONCEAL,
lie looked about the room. What had he
There, that Inig-4t be converted into fire-wood.
Little enough, firsooth. The coal-basket Itself
chair with a broken baci<-a Wasb-s+and.
these were all. His bedsIesd was of iron PM
quick as thought, these were reduced TO
spil SPLINTER anc into the stove they Went srahan
appIied a match Presently Iusty fire WAS
waking the echoes UP the chimney.
Eut this was merely makeshir I.iI,th-s
peril was not aVerted: she had obtained !. shOr,
iePTieVe. An hour or two at the farthest, and
The last of the embe-5 would die and tn. cold
enhIe swooplng down again upon her, hercer
imam before. But Ill an emergency TO gain time
l. something. In this hour o. twI much miaii
De accomplished. Within a couple OF nOu,s IL
AL Went well, StrahaE would be able to reach
the abode Gi his OLD pupil. Walter Elicit Dor
10" a dollar from HIM, ge. back home and
recruited by Goals purchased with ready money
osre The elements to do theis. worst
Elliott dwelt over in SD street, east OF Lex
IhgtOh avenue. Strahan followed n diagonal
course across Central Park. The full moon wa
Bet hke a splendid topaz in the dark yauIs of
tiie SKY The naked twigS of the trees coatel
Win Ice, spark led diamond lou in the wind
All The air shimmered with a ffoSty mystic
Hkht- Ihe cold was piercing, and Str.th:tn was
thlnIy clad; but he walked brisklv and he
tween exercise and excitement. managed 10
Keep tolerabIy warm. In less than five-and-
iOtt minutes ne had pulled E!lioti's bell.
A maid answered IL.
StTahan fished "A pad of paper rom on. tho
depths of his pocket, and with stiffened ringers
scIawied: rs Dir. W alter Elliott at homer
The maid read the question: eyed the dumb
ana shabby visitor With suspicious CURIOSITY
and at length said: "Yes.'
Strahan watched her lips and understood
linen, he wrote, please say that Mr.
Sirdhan would like to see him.
lne maid lett Strahan standing In the hall
ahO went upstairs BY aud by coming back
she slgnalled 10 him to enter the parlor Then
having lit the gas, she handed him q note and
Vanished. The note ran thus:
Dear Sirahan: Merry Xmas Delighted
tilat you have hunted me up. Am dressing for
party. viii be with you inside of ten
minutes. Meanwhile. sit down and make
!ourseli monarch of all you survey. w. E."
. Strahan sat down, and tried 10 be patient
Ten minutes! And each of them Infinitely
precious, He wondered how much headway
A. 10 "a