Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-07-19

gamDrng place, and In drink ana gambling
cndeavored to kill my grief. 1t lasted but a
little time, for in four months was pennless.
'Then came my trial The men who played
with me Stunned me- My friends shut their
doors, and few days later my last sovereign
was gone was utterly stranded homeless
and unhappy as it would be possible to make
human being. For nights l slept in the
cabmens coffee houses; then was considered
nuisance, and some doorstep served me for
a bed. I pawned every trinket, decent suit
of clothes-everything and finally l spent
three months in a work house under an as
sumed name.
sit was there the presence of Marie haunt
ed me again. One day-Christmas day-we
were at dinner. Several rich people came to
distribute among us such gifts as tobacco,
warm clothing, etc. was hungry and didn't
look art the visitors, when suddenly voice
l knew said to me, MY good mani which
would you prefer, some warm clothing or
some pipes and tobaccog l looked up 1t
was Marie. rushed from the table out into
the fields and there was found, hours after,
insensible
SIN my bed, there in that workhouse hos
pital, wrote the words of the song you heard
me sing today. Then got well, and sick of
the life l left the place and became night
Waterman at some new buildings they were
putting up in Aldersgate street. While there
the music of my song came to me. l got
scrap of manuscript music paper and jotted
it down, and for time l was happy Ny old
friends often passed me at night, jolly and
careless, little dreaming that James Lawson
was the poor night Waterman who answered
their indolent questions.
soften, when all was still, poured out my
soul in this little song, and after awhile the
night gamins used to come and listen to me.
1t pleased them. To me it brought back the
memory of a dead love and ruined life.
But you are firing of my story. There islittle
more to tell.
81 could not endure the solitary medita-
ton of my past | again began to drink. I
lost my situation, and as last resort /
thought that perhaps my little song was
worth few shillings, and brought it to Mr..
Turner"
At this the poor fellow burst into tears.
When he was himself again they went out,
and few minutes afterwards Mr.. Turner,
addressing Lawson, said:
''Mr. Lawson, here is ten shillings 1t will
be enough to get your supper and decent
room tonight. Tomorrow morning want
JOu W Ce1l uclc, eIlu Suel1 SlFo yOu SOOu
position in my warehouse. As for your song,
want you to remember this: If you keep
sober will pay you a good royalty; but if
you spend this ten shillings in drink, not an
other penny will you get"
Lawson left the shop, and did not make his
appearance for five days. Then he was in a
condition almost as bad as when he first en-
tered it. His vest was gone, his boots were
exchanged for old ones, his hat was-well, it
was an apology for hat. His coat IAN old
one) was buttoned tight around his collarless
neck, and his face was unkempt and I'M
shaven, as unclean as it was five days ago.
Mr.. Turner looked at him. He did not
even speak to him. The smell of bad rum
sufficiently told him all he wished to know.
He took half crown from his pocket, handed
it to Lawson, and turned ON his heel Adj
dressing Mr.. T, he said: "If this man
comes here again, put him out"
The composer of ''Ever of Thee" immedi-
ately left the shop, and heaven only knows
what his fate has been. Certain it is that he
never called at Turner's agaiu.
Men, women and children of every color
and cline sing the song of the tramp, Law
son. And the composer and his sad life are
forgotten and unrecognized in the dear old
song, ever of Thee. English Paper.