Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1854-10-28
THE POWER OF MUSIC.

We were seated in the cabin of river steam
boat. There was a large number of passen'
gers, who seemed desirous of beguiling til,
tedium of the trip by contributing something
to the general amusement
Among the passengers was one long, lanl
specimen, whom no one could fail to recogniz,
as Yankee. He sat somewhat apart from
the rest, Notwithstanding the singularity of hi.
appearance did not fail to draw many curiou.
eyes towards him.
At length, when all the resources of thei
company seemed exhausted, one of them turn
ed obviously to the Yankee, and politely re-
quested him to favor the company with song
"A song!" echoed he, looking up
"Yes, sir; you sing, do you not!" .s.
Il did once" replied be; sand l may add, il
saved my life" ..-.
"Saved your life!"
All were eager to hear how this could be-
and after some little urging. the stranger con.
sented TO crafty them.
"You must know" said he, shat was one
of the first to 60 to California, when the report
first reached US at home of its stores of gold
It was nothing then to what it is now, perfec,
waste, in fact; with hardly mark ofcivilization
where now you can see flourishing towns mum.
bering their thousands ofinhabitants.
"Being fond of adventure, separated from
my company, and determined to find the way
to the diggings myself One night, found
myself lying upon the grass. with my pack fos
pillow, just on ths sd1a If . lasqn qDest. Il
dd not entexi my head 70 be afraid till it
0ecxHe somewhat dark, and heard with fear.
ful distinctness the cry of the praire-wolf
listened again, and was alarmed to find the cry
coming nearer. Evidently, they scented me.
aAt length whole pack Of the blood. thirsty
rascals came bounding on till they came with
in hundred feet Of me, and then they stood
stock still, and then began to draw nearer.
"My hair rose on end. was terribly alarm
ed. lendeavored TO think Of some possible
way of soaring them. Having heard that they
a match. They drew of little, but immedi.
ately rettacted their steps. This movement
was repeated on both Sides Ifound this would
never do; must think Of some thing more
decisive. But what! - ..s-
81 rccollected having in my youth attended
a singing school for the space oftwo evenings,
during which received some indistinct no.
tions of the manner Of singing 'Old Hum
dred." That recollection saved me.
sWithout more ado, began, and did as
well as could. By the time / had got
through the first line, observed that the VOL
yes began to look little wild and uneasy, and
will you believe it, gentlemen!'' said the
narrator, earnestly: "before ] finished, epery
individual ,0oE putting his fore pa,os up to his
ears scampersd aaoay as # old Jack ,Oas after
him!"
A shout Of laughter, both loud and long fol-
lowed this narrative, at the end of which the
speaker, who had not stirred a muscle, grayely
continued: - ~.
aYou see, gentlemen, have been frank with
you. did not wish to take undue advantage
Of your very kind and complimentary invitation
without forewaning you Of the consequences.
If after ] have told you, are still desirous Of
hearing me, ] will endeavor to give Old Hun
dred. which Is the only song know, uncom-
monty attached" l ,A
After that story, hs was unanimously ex-
cused.