The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-06-18

after that popular song.
"'He Turned Her Picture Toward the
Wall" came out. I was then living at
Branton. our family consisting CT ,y'
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.
was the musical enthusiast Of the
family. and while l did not like all the
songs then extant. when one did strike
me Immediately mastered II. / went
into ecstacies over this particular song.
and whistlcd II in the woodshed.
hummed 1t In the parlor. sans IL 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 a
day. But I still repeated the song. the
FIRST thing on rising in the morning.
and the last thing on retiring at night.
Then she expostulated and venturcd
10 hope that no more popular songs
would come out for ut least year. l
realized that my state was becoming
alarming. Something must be Gone.
and Immediately.
Mrs. wilters." said. 1.-The thing
shall be stopped"
But how. dear:" she qucried wear
ny.
81 shall lock up the organ"
Which I did; but the song still ran
in my head. At last collapsed. I was
Ill from an overdose of music. The
doctor said would recupera,e after
q few days Of rest, but upon my be-
ming convalescent I must refrain
from all music: l must not even sing
yankee Doodle" Ben Holt" or
"Mary Had Little Lamb"
Eigat in the midst Of this mental
tribulation something happened. Mrs.
Wilters staggered into my bedroom one
morning. her eyes as large as saucers.
and exclaimed:
"Sam Wilters. every picture In the
parior is turned to the WALL
"Yes." chimed In George. land tic or
gan Is unlocked"
".And pa" added Matte. 1.-THE organ
stops are open where you play. He
Turned Her Picture"
Instead Of throwing ne into a mental
fever, this information dill the reverce.
1t broke up the musical trend Of my
thoughts.
Reverse every picture" I COM
manded. Lock the organ anG fetch
the key to me-"
was obeyed. Then sail:
George. 80 and fetch my gun from
the attic"
"Oh" sasped my wife.
ayes. I will Sit here in bed. armed.
and at tie first approach OF danger.
leap from it and shoot the person who
IS per1etrating this joke"
But you are too sick to think OF
anything Of tie kind" .expostulated
my wife.
i shall need only to step from the
bed and fire. Pity II I cannot sing a
popular song: We'll see about it."
1T will be murder" said Matte.
with fearful eyes.
I'm the first degree too" cried
George. severely.
rIt won't be murder! Itll simply be
defense against 4 burglar. See?"
They all saw: and as I was master OF
the house and thoroughly aroused to
the situation. it was decided that l
should 60 on picket duty that night.
Mrs. Wilters. you will retire to the
chamber above" ordered at bedtime.
sand. Matte. you can accompany your
mother. As for you, George. get a
club from the woodshed and become
q soTt OF body guard to me-"
AS night set In the darkness Of the
rooms became intense. Not flicker
OF ligh; anywhere; just total darkness,
George sat in the parlor behind 4 case
OF books containing poetry. prose and
enough dictionaries to scare an Ordi
nary burglar out Of his wits. I sat bol,
upright in bed. my back testing agains,
the headhoard. Ey trusty gun in my
hands.
The clock struck one. two three. The
sound o: ;he bell had scarcely ceased
when loud noise came to my ears
Striking a match. I peeped into the
room where George was sitting. HI
was fast asleep and his falling clui
had awakened me. lighted the lamI
and stared at the pictures.
GEORGE l shouted.
"What. father:" he cried, startin.
from his chair.
"See."
He staggered back. All the picture!
were again turned toward the wall
the organ was unlocked and my favor
ite stops were out.
George stared Mt me. stared q
George.
What does Ii mean. dad:"
"You slept"
'Bur you were on guard:"
ayes" =
"Ard did you sleeps"
Il think not"
.How came you here. :hcn?"