The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1854-01-04


genius, should be left to
'Blush unseen.
and waste their sweetness on the desert air"
What says mine honored friend :"
"It is pity. Mister Marvel"
Then why-why, | say, dost thou-thou
who art gifted with an overlooking talent for
MUSIC, permit these youthful prodigies to sink
into oblivion for want Of culture Would it
not be an honorable. aye, glorious, underta-
king in you-one that would be remembered
by grateful people long after you and are
numbered with the dead-for yOu my most
respected friend, to gather these promising
youth to your embrace, even as hen gath
ercth her chickens under her wings, and strive
to enlighteu their benighted minds upon the
science Of music most harmonious p
I" How might it be done ?" enquircd Dur
fee. taking for granted that Marvel was in
earnest-would that he had observed the
working Of Marvel's features, as he thus grand
iloquently addressed mine host
Oh Durgin Durfee Durgiu Durfee would
that mankind would learn wisdom from expe-
rience, and modesty from observation. How
many a poor fool Of thy stamp is even now to
be found-well-meaning men. perhaps-who
imagines his voice the prototype Of melody
itself but whose selfesteem and foolish ego
tism alone prevent him observing the taunts'
the sneers, and the gibes Of that most un-
merciful critic-the delr pubic--But thou
art now gone and methinks now hear thy
voice piercing mine car and grating upon
mine teeth, as in days Of gore. Thine was
a singular voice. friend Durfec-twas what
is nowadays termed the "con1b-aLto. ii G.,
the sound produced BY human voice hummcd
through loose.jointed set Of knock-kneed
teeth. But must proceed.
Holc p exclaimed Marvel. seemingly
much surprised; why, BY gathering them
at once into this room, and BY the aid Of your
bass-viol, rendering their music harmonious.
L viii do it /" exclaimed Durfee, with
great enthusiasm, running to the door upon
his great mission. Z" My lads. said be- "come
in. Walk in to the bar-room, and we will
have such music as will astonish the natives
besides I will teach you how to play BY
note. Come in. my little men--dOn't be BASH
ful, for I will assist you with my bass-viol !"
The boys started quickly to their feet on
the appearance Of the landlord. and would
have adjourned without further ceremony
but on listening to bis words and at the same
time seeing Marvel beckoning slyly to them
through the window, thy cast half-sheepish
gIances at each other, and after some dispute
as to which should 60 first, they finally con,
cluded to accept Of mine hosts proposition.--
All entered the bar-room with the exception
Of him with the cracked yolin--who swore
he hoped to be orn-darned if old Durfee
caught him in there to be thrashed for mock
ing his bass-yiol"' -
Reader that was truly a most ludicrous
picture.-aye. one III for t.e painte,-those
boys seated in a circle with instruments
in hand, and with Durfee aud his bass-yiol
seated in the CENTRE about to instruct them
in mysteries they wot not Of. But If you
could only have heard the music which they
produced which might be compared to the
Choir Of the Internal Regions, the groans Of
dying men on a battlefield, grimalkin sere-
made by moonlight, or-but stop It's in vain
to attempt description, for twas music in its
chaotic state we say could you but have lis
tened to it, you would have exclaimed with
Marvel, who stood at hand choking with
laughter.
Can such things be
And overcome US like the summers cloud,
Without our speeisl wonders"
The music continued Durfee at length
grew ueyg enthusiastic, and raised his voice in
melody divine" The urchins twanged des-
perately upon their "harps, blew upon their
whistles and thumped on their tin-pans. Old
Tige lifted up his voice" and yelped in
doleful tones. Durfee sawed desperately upon
his bass.yiol to drown the discord and such
hubbub. such a medley Of sounds did they
produce, that
1.-THE birds stopped to listen
They thought twas to eat -
How long this state Of affairs might have
continued know not but presume it might
now be rending the air in notes dismal enough
to awake the dead. bad not the citizens rushed
in upon "the Choir, with horror depicted in
their every look, and sworn BY the great horn
spoon to prosecute Durgin Durfee for break
ing the peacet
This was a death-blow to mine worthy host.
BE soon became firmly convinced that the
good people Of the town Of W. State Of
Vermont. had no taste for music sold out bis
claim to :he Constitution House. and moved
A. All