The Opelousas courier., 1902-09-06
he Turnsd Her Picture
Tuward tie WALL
HAT I am about to relate
= BY Horace Eaton Walker.

occurred u uuu1DeE VI
" " years ago, a short time
after that popular song,
she Turned Her Picture Toward the
WALL" came out. I was then living at
Branton, our family consisting Of my
self, my wife and two children, Mat
tie, aged fifteen, and George, aged sew
enteen. We possessed an organ upon
which my daughter played, George
singing, and Mrs. Wilters and myself
coming In on the chorus in regular
country fashion.
I was the musical enthusiast of the
family, and while I did not like all the
songs then exkant, when n did strike
me l Immediately mastered it. | went
into ~ecstacies V e this particular song,
and whistled it in the Woodshed,
hummed it in the parlor, sang it to
visitors, neighbors and friends. Many
of these took the fever; but mine was
especially malignant, and the song
haunted me for weeks after everybody
else had caught onto something new.
My wife casually mentioned an
asylum for lunatics several times q
day. But l still repeated the song, the
first thing on rising in the morning,
and the last thing on retiring at night.
Then she expostulated and ventured
to hope that no more popular songs
would come out for at least a year. |
realized that my state was becoming
alarming. Something must be done,
and Immediately.
"Nrs. Wilters," I said, "the thing
shall be stopped"
"But how, dear?" she queried wear
fly.
~ shall lock up the organ"
Which I did; but the song still ran
In my head. At last I collapsed. I was
iii from an overdose of music. The
doctor said I would recuperate after
a few days Of rest, but upon my be-
coming c~onvalescent I must refrain
from all music; / must not even sing
Yankee Doodle" "Ben Holt," or
MARY Had a Little Lamb
Right in the midst of this mental
%tribulation something happened. Mrs.
Writer'S staggered into my bedroom one
morning, her eyes as large as saucers,
and exclaimed:
"sam Writers. every picture in the
parlor Is turned to the WaIlE
"Yes," chimed in George, "and tie or
gan is unlockedv'
"And pa" added Matte, "the organ
stops are open where you play, He
Turned Her Picture"
Instead of throwing me into a mental
fever, this information did the revere.
Tt broke up the musical trend Of my
thoughts.
Reverse every picture" I COM
manded. Lock the organ and fetch
the key to me-"
i was obeyed. Then 1 said:
George, go and fetch my gun from
the attic
"Ohv gasped my wife.
Eyes, / will sit here In bed, armed,
and at the first approach of danger,
leap from it and shoot the person who
is perDetrating this joke"
But you are too sick to think of
anything of the kind" e1postulated
my wife.
Il shall need only to step from the
bed and fire. Pity If ! cannot sing a
popular song! Wen see about it."
1T will be murder" said Matte,
with fearful eyes.
I'm the first degree, too" cried
George, severely.
1T won't be murderi It'll simply be
defense against a burglar. Seer
They all saw: and as / was master Of
the house and thoroughly aroused to
the situation, 1t was decided that /
should go on picket duty that night.
Mrs. Writers, you win retire to the
chamber above 7 ordered at bedtime.
And, Matte, you can accompany your
mother. As for you, George, get q
club from the Woodshed and become
a sort Of body guard to me-
AS night set In the darkness OF the
rooms became intense. Not a flicker
Of light anywhere; just total darkness
George sat In the parIor behind a case
OF books containing poetry, prose and
enough dictionaries to scare an ordi
nary burglar out OF his wits. / sat boil
upright-in bed. my back resting against
the h%eadboard. ny trusty gun III my
hands.
The clock struck one, two three. The
sound Of the bell had scarcely ceased
when 4 loud noise came to my ears
Striking a match, + peeped into the
room where George was sitting. HI
was fast asleep and his falling cluf
had awakened me. + lighted the lamr
and stared at the pictures.
aGeorge!' ! shouted.
what, fathera' he cried, starting
from his chair.
Seer
He staggered back. All the pictures
were again turned toward the wall
the organ was unlocked and my favor
ife stops were ont!
George stared at me. I stared q
George.
What does II mean, dad.
You sleptln
but you were on guardsn
Eyes,
hAnd did ron sleepg
81 think not
aAQV came ron herr. taepls