Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1854-10-28
The Power Of Music,


We were seated in the cabin Of the steam
er Ocean. There was large number OF
passengers who seemed DESTROYS of beguil-
ing the tedium Of the trip by contributing
somewh hat 10 the general amusement.
Among the passengers was one long, lank
specimen. whom any body would recognise
| Is a Yankee. He was somewhat apart
iom the rest, notwithstanding, while the
| snguarity Of his appearance did not not
fail to draw many curious eyes towards
him.
AT length when all the resources Of the
| company seemed exhausted. one Of them
! turned obviously TO our Yankee and polite
! " invited him to favor the company with
song.
"A song.' said he, looking up.
"Yes, sir, you sing don't you"
Il did once" said he, "and may add that
it saved my live"
"Saved your iife."
All were eager to know how this could be
and after some little urging, the stranger
consented to crafty It.
"You must know" said he, 81 was one Of
the first to goto California when the report
Z first reached us at home ofstores OF gold
II wa. nothing then to what is nova per-
fec, waste in fact, with hardly mark OF civ
& i!ization, where now you can see -four
3 ishing towns numbering their thousand in
q hab;ants.
4 being fond of adventure, separated
! from my compsny, and determined TO find
y the way to the diggings myself. One
nigh, found myself lying upon the grass
3 with my pack for pillow, just on the edge
Il OF large forest Ii did not enter my head
y 10 be afraid till it became somewhat dark,
y and heard with fearful distinctness the
Il cry of the prairie wolf. listened again
and was alarmed to find the cry coming
b nearer. Evidently they had scented me,
q Atlensth whole pack OF the blood thirs-
n ,y rascas came bounding on till they came
II within hundred yards OF me, and then they
III stood stock still, and then began to draw
n nearer.
q Ny hair stood on end, was terribly
y alarmed. endeavored TO think OF some
po.slbie ways of soaring them. HAVING
4 heard that they were terrified by the sight
~ Of fire. lighted match. They drew off a
lIttle but Immediately retraced their steps.
Isl TINS movement was repeated on both
u SIDES. found this would never do: ]
must think of something more decisive. But
III what!
ID recollected having in my youth attend
ca singing school, for the space Of few
evenings, during which received some in
ms,nct notions Of the manner Of singing
oid Hundred" That recollection saved
III me.
without more ado, began, and did as
# Meil as could. by the time | had got
I'M .n'ough The first line, observed that the
"o'ses began to look little wild and unca
~ ahd-will you believe it gentlemen"
.d'u the narrator earnestly, "be fore finish
w. every individual wolf, put his fore paws
X r. 70 MS ears, scampered away as if the old
8 JACK was after him!n
# ,,n ~ shont Of laughter, both long and loud,
8 Siiowed this narrative, at the end of which
I'm we speaker, who had not stirred a muscle,
h8 g'avey continued
ia on see gentlemen, have been frank
@ m'ln you. did not wish to take undue ad-
M image OF You very kind and compliment
w.! 'hV'tatoi, without forewarning you Of
wi" "l consequences. II after what l have
WIN you, you are still DESTROYS of hearing
81 d, e, VIII endeavor to give you Old Hun
wt ea' winch is the only song know, and to
nmch Tor reasons already given, feel un-
'ohmony attached"
Ns needless to say that he was unani-
mously excused.
will listen to any ones convictions, bu,
plsyy, Keep Your doubts TO yourself have
p's''y Of my own