Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-08-27
PART I
CHAPTER L
THE LOWEST DEPTH

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1t was one cherries day late in Novem
ber. exactly year since first had turned
my back upon the home of my childhood
and went to seek my fortune in the big
wide world.
And how had Iprospered Is there any
| need to answer that question when my
reader already knows the conditions under
which my search was commenced
Yes, had perhaps only Jared as others
mad done before me- but that did not make
my lot any the less hard to bear
The fortune had gone to seek, where
was it, knew not. for had never
found it.
All, hope had been very strong when
cad first set forth but alas how quickly
1t languished, and at length almost died
within me-
Almost-why do not say quite for
On the evening Of which am about to
write 1t dh indeed seem to me that the
world was darker and more dreary than
oven l, In my most hopeless moods, had
ever imagined.
Far from even making one step to-
wards success in any direction whatever,
had-I blush almost to write the words
sunk lower and lower. until found N.Y.
self not only an -'cast but an absolute
beggar in the ST. ~Us.
Yesi beggar In the streets-for the
10" pCASO BdluOu ny Lu0duS Oh my Q8TD
were given me for charity.
was wellnigh beyond even earning
these. for my failing strength was fast
making helpless cripple of me.
My weakness, that was the one bar be-
tween me and all the great things would
achieve. When first starting into the
world had had opportunities, Of which
Heaven knows I would have made the
most had been allowed, but alas as
how nj r
when driven, could not do so when nay
very life depended on 1t.
So fell lower and lower, from one step
70 another, until came the day when, with
my harp on my back, had set forth with
out 30 much as a penny in my pocket.
Friends had none, but I had determined
70 try If by my one remaining hope Icould
keep myself from actually dyine of want.
All, the happy dreams had once had
af bringing all the world to my feet by
The magic of p1y beloved harp, as In fun
had been wont to call it Magiol How
truly was this the last of my fancies, des-
troyed soon found I could not even de-
pend upon this one hope. From town to
Town trudged-a poor, sicRly, broken
aown harpest, struggling by means of his
instrument to keep body and soul to
kether.
Struggling, but scarce succeeding. Day
~ Ooy 66W LAAc O1Ihu0SS GOuuu u40
gathering more closely; knew-and oh,
cow bitter the knowledge was to me -
that even my last hope, my music could
oot save me from starvation
Where would 1t end2 Ah, where's
Try as would, that one question and its
answer would force itself upon me, and
that answer not in words, but in the sud-
len, fierce longing which filled my heart
and at times drove me almost beyond my
self.
AL my childhood my one dreary fancy
lad been that nought in life was 50 beauti-
Jul as death. had many a time brought
tears to my mothers eyes by my unchild-
dke wish to die; but the WEAKNESS which
dad made me frame the wish was nothing
n comparison to the fierce eagerness with
which, in that strange time when 1 was
llone In the world, began to echo it with
n myself.
"Why" I would cry, as buffet after
buffet from the cruel waves of misfortune
1rove me back from the shore of rest and
peacefully is it that all my strength
gone from me, 80 that L have not even
)ower to dief"
What was to be the end2
1 recall that question, for it brings me
back to that dreary autumn evening when
my chapter opens.
1 stood on lonely high road, behind
me the glaring lights of the town, which
had treated me SO coldly, in front of me-
long, dark road, leading knew not
whittier, and at my feet-smiling with