The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-08-10


First Piano in Northern Illinois.
During the summer following the ter
mination of the BaIck Hawk war-being
among the first of the down east emf
grants to the country then barely evacua-
ted by the red men of the forest-Dr. A.,
of Baltimore, removed to what has since
become small town near the Illinois RI
yer, by the name Of P. The doc
tors family was composed of three young
ladies and his wife, all of whom were
performers on The piano, and one of them
the possessor Of the instrument in ques-
ton,
As is usually the case in all newly set
tied places when ssnew conner makes
his appearance, the neighbors (that were
10 bc) had collected together for the pur-
pose of seeing the doctors .'plunder" un-
packed, and making the acquaintance of
its possessor.
DR.. AS "household' was slowed away
in seven large wagons-being first packed
into pine boxes, on which were painted,
in large black letters, the contents, ad-
dress, &c.
One wagon after another was unloaded
without much sensation on the part of the
little crowd of lookers-on, except an occa-
sional exclamation similar to the follow
ing, from those who never had sseen the
like before:"
"Glassi This side up with care -
Why / thought this ere felier was doc
tor. What on yearth is. he going to do
with that box of winders -
"'This side up with care! p exclaimed
one. "He's got his paragoric and ile-of-
spike fxins in that. Won't he izic them
agur fellows down on the river!"
In the last wagon there was but one
large box, and on il were printed to words
piano Forte-Keep dry and handle care
fully" 1t required the assistance of all
the bystanders TO unload this box, and the
curiosity excited in the crowd upon read
ing the foregoing words, and hearing the
musical sounds emitted asit struck the
ground, can only be gathered by giving a :
few of the expressions that dropped from
the spectators.
"Pine fortp' said tall, yellow-haired,
fever-and-ague looking youth; ''wonde- if
he's aIeerd Of the Iniuns He cant scare
them with pine iort.''
keep dry" was spelled by large.
raw-boned man, who was evidently lib
eral patron of "old bald face" and who
broke of at the letter .'y" with .'D-m
your temperance karacturs-you needn't
come round here with tracts 70 =
He was Interrupted at this point by a
stout built parsonage, who cried out:
"He's got his skeletons in thar, and
he's afeerd TO gin them ticker, for they'll
break out eff he does Poor fellers =
they must suffer powerfully"
"HANDLE CAREFULLY said a man in a
red hunting shirt, and the size of whose
'fst'' as he doubled it up was twice that
of an ordinary man. "Thar's some live
crittar in thar. Don't YOU hear him
groan !'' This was said as the box struck
the ground and the concussion caused a
vibration Of the strings.
No sooner had all hands let go Of the
box, than DIR A. was beseiged by his neigh
bors, all whom were determined to know
what were lis contents, and what were the
meaning of the words "Piano forte. -
On his telling them that it was musical
instrument, some srcckoned that il would
take tarnal sight of wind TO blow IL"
others that sit would take lot Of men to
make it goI'' &c. The doctor explained
its operations as well as he could, but
sill his description was anything bat sat
isfactory, and he could only get rid of his
quisilivc neighbors by promising a sight
at III early day.
Three days--days that seemed like
weeks to the persons above mentioned
elapsed before the premises of DIR. A.
were arranged for the reception OF vlsi-
tors; and various and curious were the
surmises among the settlers during this
time. DIR. Al. and his >'plunder" were
the only topics OF conversation for miles
round. -
The doctors house had but one lower
room, but this was one of double the ordl-
nary size, and the carpets were all too
small TO cover the entire floor; hence
strip of floor appeared at each side of the
room. Opposite 10 and facing the door
was placed the "Pine fort" All was rea-
dy Tor the admission of visitors, and Miss
E. was TO act as the first performer. The
doctor had but TO open the door, and half
score of men were ready to enter
Miss L. took her seat, and at the first
sounding Of the instrument, the whole
party present rushed in. Some went di-
rectly up TO the "crittur,' as 1t had been
called on account of its having four legs
some, more shy, renamed close TO the
door, where, if necessary, they could
more easily make their escape; while o.
theirs, who had never seen carpet, were
observed walking round on the strip OF
bare floor, lest by treading on the .hand-