St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-12-23
THE mUScIau'S STORY.


often tempted to think that it would
make very interesting story if reporter
would some time simply write out an &C
count of single days experiences aDd
tell all he sees without adding even a
tinge of romance. First of all the very
variety of the life has a certain charm
for the uninltiated, who have an idea
that it must be delightful to be behind
the scenes in everything, az they like to
put it. AS though it was always pleas
ant to see things stripped of all romance.
Now, it is right there that take issue
with what the colonel has just Said. 1t
is not well to have everything laid bare
would rather have some of the gilt left
on my gingerbread. l want q little TO-
nance in mine. would like to 60 all
through life and have some of the illu-
sions of youth left when get through ;
and here am not yet thirty, not by
several years, and the few ideals that
managed to bring with me through col
lege have been escaping ever since so
fast that / have hardly been able to see
them 60. That's why l am tempted to
quit journalism thanks, I mean the
newspaper business, of course. Now |
have story to tell that illustrates the
point | am making. Talking is not much
in my line, however, and l have often
thought ought to write what have to
say. Still, if somebody will stand mug
of ale, I'll tell it anyway. Thanks,
Judge, here's to you, aud here goes
Well. to begin with. l suppose you
boys all remember that fellow Harrington
who died a couple of weeks ago and had
such a big funeral. The papers gave
good deal of space to it at the time,
for his family amount to a good deal,
even if he didn't, peace to his ashes. lie
was pretty lively youth, and they do
say that the way he made the patcrnal
ducats hy was a caution to fathers, aud
I've no doubt lie has furnished the text
for many sermon to Maynard youth
since he left us. He set a fast pace and
every one knew he couldn't keep it up
long, but he had good time while it
lasted. The way came to get onto lis
story was a very natural one.
The day after lie died our editor called
me into his room and told me lie
wanted me to do the funeral and to give
1t good write up, you know
lie never did anything particular"
remarked the man Of the shears and paste
pot, "but his father was friend Of the
governors so guess We can stand about
half column ii you caa get it in early
enough. The ceremony is at 2 o'clock.
You can write your stuff up IN the organ
loft, and if you have enc of the bows
come IN there after Your copy you
ought to be able to get gn d story
down In time for the second edition,
There's nothing on the book for YOU
this evening, so you needn't come back
to the Office. "
1t was great show, and ! fatter
myself that we had fairly good account
OF 1t that afternoon. Pretty much all OF /
the West End was there, and I could I!
have filled half column with the names
of prom nent people in the congregation
if had wanted to.
was through my work and had my
work ON its way to the Office long before
the ceremony was over, but stayed on
because wartcd to see just how far the
minister would go in his remarks about
the departed brother. De mortuis aud
the rest of it is all well enough, but |
think they carry it too far sometimes.
hen, you Know, up at that church they
have an organist who can fairly make
that big organ of his talk, and cry, too,
when he feels that way: and like moth
ing better than to sit up there in the
loft when he is playing away so that he
fairly forgets that there is anyone else in
tic church. After the congregation is
all gone he sits there by the hour and
plays to himself as though it was his
only pleasure and solace in life.
He's a queer old chap. | don't sup
pose he ever had much fun out of life,
out somehow like him, and every time
am sent up there TO report the Bishops
make it a point to STAY awhile
'ltcrward with my old friend. I could
'tay there for hours and hear him talk
% me with his music. There is hardly
ever anything lively Or hopeful about
t, but it touches me in some sensitive
place, and makes me feel sure that there
s some story in his life. If only one
'ould get at it. 1t would make good
pecial, L know, and l am going to try
o get it, sometime. lie has no family,
" that l am certain. but somehow he
eems to take the greatest interest in
7oung people, and pvc noticed that he
lways played his best at weddings. He
locs not often talk much, but that dav,
fter every one had gone got him start
ID by asking him if he had known any
hing about tho. young man who was
lead. A. first he did not seem inclined
o talk, but, finally, after he had been
over the keys for some time,
making music that was indefinitely sad
S if it were full of tender memories, he
urned part way about on his stool and
old me story that l shall never forget.
do not know whether it was true. but
t any rate it Was worth the hearing, for
taught me lesson that was worth the
earning. 1t showed me that there are
wo ways at least of looking at the same
hing; and who can say which is the
letter way2
There was something very impressive
n the scene to me. BY the time he had .
nished the church was almost dark. and
IL the light there was came through the
tanned glass windows and gave melan-
holy tInge to it all. One ray from the
citing sun as it broke through the clouds
ell fair upon the old mans head and
'llded his snow-whitc hair until he
ooked almost young again. The lines
his face seemed to fade away as he
aikcd along in his low, sweet voice.
or time almost forgot the reality of
be world outside and was lost in the :,
Enthusiasm and fervor of the old must ,
ian's story T ran pfye vo,, a ,,rat+v ,