River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-06-19

gagged. had to return to London on
business. and when / went back to
Brighton she was gone.
Three months later met her at a
ball. She had just finished a waltz with
tall, good-looking man, and was prom
enading the hall on his arm. She
recognized me. But when said, How
do you do. Miss Blank?' she quickly re-
piled:
81 am well. Mr.. Lawson. but l am
surprised TO hear you call me Miss
Blank. When you left Brighton so
suddenly thought should never see
you again. You left no address-never
called again, and-well, am married.
To whom gasped-
"''To 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 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 a few days
later my last sovereign was gone.
was utterly stranded. homeless, and I'M
happy as it would be possible TO make a
human being. For nights / slept in the
cabmens cOffee-houses; then l was con-
sidered a nuisance, and some doorstep
served me for bed. l pawned every
trinket, decent suit of clothes-every-
thing, and finally spent three months
in a wOrk-house under an assumed name.
at was there the presence of Marie
haunted me again. One day-Christmas
Day-we were at dinner. Several rich
people came to distribute among US
such gifts as tobacco, warm clothes, etc.
was hungry and didn't look at the
visitors, when suddenly voice said to
me:
My good man. which would you
prefer. some warm clothing or some
pipes and tobacco? / looked up. IL
was Marie. / rushed from the table
out into the fields, and there i was
found hours after insensible.
I'm my bed, there in that work-house
hospital. wrote the words of the song
you heard me sing to-day. Then got
NtAAs anu SAIh VI llAts At1L Ntt place.
and became night Waterman at some
new buildings that were putting up in
Aldersgate street While there the
music of my song came 20 me. l got a
scrap of manuscript music paper and
jOtted il 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 l poured
out my soul in this little song, and
after awhile the night gamins used to
come and listen TO me. IL pleased them.
To me it brought back the memory of a
dead love and 9 ruined life. But you
are firing of my story. There is little
more TO tell.
II could not endure the solitary med
itatiOn of my past / again began to
drink. lost my situation, and as last
resort i thought that perhaps my little
song was worth a few shillings and
brought il to Mr.. Turner"
At this the fellow burst into tears.
When he was himself again they went
Turner, addressing Lawson, said:
Mr.. Lawson, here is ten shillings
IL Will be enough to get your supper
and decent room tonight. TO-mor-
row morning / waat you to call here,
and I shall give you a good position in
INV warehouse. As for your song,
want you to remember this: If you
will keep sober ! will pay you a good
royalty. but if you spend this ten shil-
lings in drink not another 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 entered il. His
vest was gone; his boots were ex-
changed for old ones; his hai-well. it
was an apology for hat His coat ian
old onel was buttoned tight around his
collarless neck. and his hair was un-
kempt and face unshaven--as unclean
as he was five days ago. Mr.. Turner
looked at him. He did not even speak
TO him. The smell of bad rum suffi-
GENTLY told him all he wished to know.
He took a half-crOwn from his pocket,
handed il to Lawson, and turned on his
heel Addressing Mr.. T, he said:
IF this man comes here again, put him
out"
The composer of Ever of Thee" i'm
mediately left the shop, and Heaven
only knows what his fate has been.
Certain it is that he never called at
Turner's again
Men. women and children of every
color and cline sing the song of the
tramp. Lawson And the composer and
his sad life are forgotten and unrecog-
nized in the Hear. old song, Ever of
Thee. st. John Globe.