Year: 1870

| HAVE it yet. WhatP Why, the first
coin l ever earned in public. 1t is six
pence; old, battered, thin, dilapidated, but
with not only cross on it, but q hole in
It,. That's the reason why kept 1.-THE
hole in it. 1t was lucky coin. l won
der IL the kind hearted gentleman who
gave 1t nc guessed wasn't an every day
street musician9 l think he did, for he
stepped up to me so kindly, and handed
u to me so gently, that l was certain he
had his thoughts on me more than on my
music. There was young lady with him,
on his arm-his daughter, l think, for l
tanoied that | heard her say "papa" to
him. Though, for the matter of that, she
might have been his wife, repeating her
children's name for her husband. All me |!
children, and wife, and home They had
nice house and nice furniture, no doubt,
and plenty to eat and to drink, and where
withal to be decently and elegantly clothed.
They had all their household gods en-
shrined in comfort, and they were happy,
could see that they were; while the
player who stood before their door, and
tried to minister more pleasure still to
them, was far otherwise.


Some day intend writing the history
of that fearful time of expectation and
misery; but here l pass over it to that
dread day when l knew l had not the
price of another weeks lodging for my
poor darlings. There were the horse and
gig, to be sure, which Smith, with whom
lodged, assured me would only bring in
about eight or ten pounds in Melbourne.
But did not dare to think about parting
with them any more than with my cloth
ing seeing that if got a situation any
where out of Melbourne, should have
no other means of getting my wife and
my chickens to our new home. 1t was
Heavens own mercy then, am sure, that
the day for paying my insurance premium
Was not near at hand. My life was in
s1red for nearly thousand pounds-all
left by my will to them. Often have 1
thought since, how many men must die
accidentally on purpose" Ever since my
marriage | had managed to keep up the
payment of my premiums; and feel sure
that in my despairing state of mind at this
crisis, it would have been too much for
ny reason: the thought of losing the
only provision 1 had made for my treas
,lres, through inability to pay the pre-
MUM, or through living up to the time
he last was due


All, my dear reader, pray God that you
may never be brought to understand the
full meaning of the words, In order to
live | must do sonlething" feel aston
ished that that something" is not often
more unlawful than it really is. l often,
too, think with trembling what, at that
time, should have done for my wife and
children if hadn't thought of trying my
fortune as street musician.


1t occurred to me at first that ought tC
try for an engagement in some concert
hall or musical tavern asa negro minstrel
1 didn't seek an engagement among the
negroes, however, for fear l should bt
recognized, even through the lampblack
No; made up my mind to try my for
tune all alone, seeking the darkest places
only. Should disguise myselfH Yes, i
necessary. But how ? that was the rub
thought at first of merely backing my
face, then of turning it of tawny hut
only. Then / determined to make clear
shave of all my face-hair then of play
ing all manner of changes by means o
the mustache and beard. Finally, how
ever, didn't do anything to my face, in
asmuch as 1 was not living in house o
my own, and didn't want to attract tn,
attention of my kind-hearted but timiC
landlady. She might take the alarm, anC
turn us all out of her house, and then wha
could be doneS


Some years before I met an old friend
lady too; and we know how observan





didn't recognize me because / had on on
of the new fashioned helmet hats. Thi
lucky recollection made me feel sur
that head dress might be made suffl
cient disguise for me, and attempted n
other, except the putting on of an oil
loose coat.


My poor wife, when got home, saw i
my face that had been unsuccessful tina
day in getting place had fondly e1
pected. 1t was half past six o'clock thi
gloomy autumEal day, and she had hear
my horse coming along the stony road
the dusk, and had run out with the can
die in her hand to learn the news from m
whilst embarrassed the horse and stable
him. The light held up to my face, thoug
the face smiled, told her all but she bor
IL bravely, and made no sign. 1t had bee
drizzling rain all that day, and by the tim
got home, although it had then cleare
up-at least, into a sad wintry fog-I ws
wet to the skin. To tell the truth, indee,
hadn't taken the smallest trouble in tn
orld to keep myself dry, or warm, {
otherwise comfortable My wife saw th
expression of my face, and knew tn
worst And then, while she began tel
ing me in her most cheerful voice no
shy faVorits pudding was waiting for IN
End the dinner-tea was smoking ht
On the table, the good little Woma
put the candle on the stable floor an
set to work with her trembling hands
unfasten the harness of the horse. 81
kept talking all the time, with only
quaver here and there in her sweet voic
and actually forced laugh, too, at III
awkwardness in groom's work. 1t WI
only incidentally, as it were, that " SUI
pose you didn't get that beggarly place
and it's Just as well, dear, indeed" eau
out And she handed me the horses foo
which she had, in the daytime, laid
ready in a cloth, and led the horse up
his manger while / carried in his harnel
sad rags by this time


"Now come and take your nice h
dinner, and wen have such pleasant Ia
afterwards. have got something partic
lar to tell you"


And she took me by the arm.


My poor fellowl How cruel of 4
not to have noticed it before Why, y,
are dripping wet Why didn't Y,
sheltery Come along and change 20
things Immediately"


And did change my things immediat
ly; for her loving forethought had pI
vided warm on the fender everythiu
from socks 70 coat Then set to work
the eatables with what appetite Nigh
and the extent of that may be guessed
The children had already thoughtful
been washed and put to their beds, to
out of papa's way; and then after o
nashville Mrs Tom Smith, with who
we lodged, put the tea-things aWay-I
wife and went out 10 the garden and
gan talking together over our poor Il
tunes. told her of the events of the dl
and of my new plan for earning livi
for her. The poor thing was surprised.
felt her hand tremble in my own, as W