Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-05-22

tograph of his wife. He had been an or
ganiSt; music was his passion; in it he
lived and found the intellectual and spir-
ltual food of his being. His chief COM
fort now was in reading music realizing
as far as his enfeebled powers allowed
him it's tones and its meanings. For
long time past he had heard no music.
save the street organs, whose tangled
strains too often reminded him of his own
Lr0ken and miserable fortune At
O'Clock in the afternoon this mood and
all other melancholy reflections passed
away, and the meeting of the husband
and wife was like that of long parted
lovers, when joy is mingled with tears,
and the remainder of the day they were
happy; they forgot their distress and the
pproaching doom. All the organist's
passion Tor his art was now concentrated
INTO sublime and purified affection.
They spoke not Of this life, which held so
little and so brief a good for them, but
their thoughts and their conversation
were turned toward the future, the eter,
taL 1t was already so near to one of
Them that the other vision was made real.
a few more partings, few more meet
Ings and the world would be left behind.
Until then they solaced each other with
those fond attentions which usually ac~
company the days Of courtship. How
much a little served that devoted pair,
ard what cOmpenSatiOnS came into their
lives only those know who love through
all suffering and in every misfortune.
The least trifleS made the day bright;
they arranged and rearranged their two
TOonns. each time with some new device
to make them more fresh and attractive
or more comfortable and convenient
There was an air of refinement which
fingers long and is latest to be lost in the
home of those who have known better
days They made a few flowers bought
of the street vender, half alive, live q
week by careful nursing; and then the
green leaves, if by chance there were
any, would be kept fresh even longer.
The table was spread as neatly as if they
had nothing else to think Of. 1t is true
there were no dainties to place upon it,
only the simplest fare care and economy
could plan and select. The rent Of the
rooms exhausted the larger portion of
their resources. Then there were medi-
cines and the occasional visit of physi-
clan to be provided for. So, one by one,
the trihes which had constituted their
tuxuries were curtailed. The last thing
to be given up was fresh fruit, almost
the only article for which the invalid re-
tanned q relish.
But of late their diminished and pre-
Curious income had forced them to face
the stern necessities of their situation
and reduce to the last point every item
of their expenditures. Ambrose often
demonstrated whenever Margaret brought
home to him delicious peach or single
pear, not knowing that she had walked
the weary miles to and from her work IL
order TO have the car fare whereby she
could purchase the dainty for her hus
band.
Never since his marriage had Ambrose
failed to remember his Wife's birthday
He had so few opportunities now Oh
showing his affection by tangible tokens
that it was with real distress he saw the
day approach and realized the Impossible
ity Of making his usual gift. 1t was al
ready August and her birthday was the
18TH. With the morbid persistency O.
an invalid he had revolved various futile
plans in his mind, until he had grown
feverish, and it was with unusual ankle
ty that his wife left him on the morning
Of her birthday, which she had herseE
forgotten. After she had gone it oc
CURED to him how fond Margaret was
of fruit, although she seldom tasted tina
which she brought to him. The small
silver coin, long treasured, the last rem
nant of his earnings, would buy little
enough at least to show he remembered
the day Although he had not been GU
of his room for many months, he felt