San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-17

Nuul i AIN uO"s 1Ou NSlc uSlOlllSueu W
hear me play the piano so we'll That little
song has been the only companion from
which | gained any comfort for tie past
twelve months 1t brought back to me the
days when was rich, loved, looked up to and
happy. OF course it has its sad side for me.
But the memory of what it recalls is the
dearest thing in my existence"
r interrupted him at this point and indi-
Gated that it was growing late.
"Please bear with me-" rejoined his com
panion. Let me tell you how and why
composed the little sorg. Two years ago
met girl in Brighton. II God ever allowed
one of his angels to come on earth she was
that one. | adored her. She seemed to re-
turn the affection. l escorted her every
where, was at her beck and call morn, noon
and night, and it was currently believed that
Miss Blank and were engaged. had to re-
turn to London on business, and when / went
back to Brighton she was gone.
"Three months after / met her at ball
She had just finished waltz with a tall,
good looking man, and was promenading the
hall on his arm. She recognized me- But
when / said, How do you do, Miss Blankr
she quickly replied:
I'm well, Mr. Lawson, but am surprised
to hear you call me Miss Blank. When you
left Brighton so suddenly thought l should
never see you again. You left no address,
never called again. and-well, am married.
ITO whomr gasped.
ITO Mr.. Prize she replied, pointing at the
same time to the gentleman with whom she
had been dancing.
THAT ended my life. My Marie, my dream,
was gone. | left the hall, went to a low
gambling place, and in drink and gambling
endeavored to kill my grief 1t lasted but
little time for in four months was pennileSs.
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, HON, aSs
and unhappy as it would be possible TO make
a human being. For nights | SLEPT r the
cabmen's coffee houses; then was considered
a nuisance and some doorstep served me for
a bed. | pawned every trinket, decent suit
of Clothes-everything and finally | spent
three months in a work house under an as
6umed name
1T 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 at the visitors, when suddenly a voice
knew said to me, Ny good man! which
would you prefer, some warm clothing or
some pipes and tobaccop | looked up. 1t
was Marie. rushed from the table out into
the fields, and there was found, hours after,
insensible.
I'm 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 | left the place and became night
of h,,il, linCrS tbay
putting up in Aldersgate street. While there
the music of my song came to me. | got
scrap of manuscript music paper and iotted
it down, and for a time | was happy. My 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.
"Often, 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 dead love and a ruined life.
But you are firing of my story. There islittle
more to tell.
II could not endure the solitary medita-
ton of my past. again began to drink. |
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
you to call here and / shall give you good
position in my warehouse. As for your song,
want you to remember this: If you keep
sober will pay you good royalty; but if
you spend this ten shiliings in drink, not an
other penny will you GET"
Lawson left the shop, and did not make his
appearance for five Gays. Then he was in a
condition almost as bad as when he first en-
tered it. His vest was gone his boots We're
exchanged for old ones, his hat was-well, il
was an apology for a hat His coat tan 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 TIE smell of bad rum
sufficiently told him all he wished to know.
He took a 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. n-English Paper.