Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-01-11
The power Of Music.

We were seated in the cabin OF the steamer
Ocean. There was a large number ot pas
Sengers who seemed desirous OF begulIing the
teIium of the trip by contributing something
10 the general amusement.
Among the passengers, was long, lahR
specimen, whom 10 one could fail 10 recOg-
nize as Yankee. He sat somewhat apart from
the rest notwithstanding, while the singular
ity of his appearance did not lail 10 ora"
many curious eyes towards him.
Atlength, when all the resources oil the COM
pany seemed exhausted, one oi them turned
dubiausly to our Yankee, and pohtely re-
uueSted him to favor the company with song
ga song!" echoed he, looking up.
ayes sir; you sing, do you not Z"
al did once" replied he, "and lmay add II
saved my life"
"Ssyed your life!"
All were eager 10 hear how this could be,
and after some little urging, The stranger con
SenteL 10 gtatify them.
"You must know" said he, "hat ! was
one of the first to 60 10 California when the
renort first reached US al home OF It's stores ot
gold. Ii was nothing then TO what 1t Is now
"a per ect waste in fact, with hardly mark
of civilization, where now you can see -four
ish!ng towns, numbering their thousand CT In
habitantS.
"Beinp fond of adventure, Iseperated from
nv company, and determined TO find The way
to the diggins myself One night found my
self lying upon the grass, with my pack fol
a pillow, lust on the edge o. large forest
1t did not enter into my head to be AFRAID I'LL
il became somewhat dark and, heard with
fearful distinctneSS, the cry oi the prairie
wolf. listened again, and was alarmed tt
. find the cry coming nearer. Evidently they
| scented me.
"At length a whole pack Of the ood-thirSt!
rascals came bounding on till they came wIthlI
| hundred feet of me, and then they stoo'
stock still, and then began 10 draw nearer.
"Mt hair rose on ends. | was teHlbI!
ALARMED. ende vored 10 think Of some pos
, sjbe way of soaring them. Having heard tha
! they were terrified by the sight Of fire light
ed a match. They drew of little, but i'm
mediatey retraced their steps. This move
ment was repeated on both sides. found
this would never DOL must think OF some hin!
more decisive. But what t!
! al recollected having in my youth ATTENDED
f singing school for the space oi two evenings
during which received some ndstinct no
tioEs of the manner Of singing 'Old Hundred.
That recollection saved me.
:. "W nhout more ado, began, and did
! we'll as could. By the time had cot througI
! the first line, observed that the wolves be
gan TO look a little wild and uneasy, and
D will YOU believe il, gentlemen % said tn
narr ,tor earnestly, "before niShed,eOeTy in
D diridual acolf, putting his fore pacS up to hi
ears, scampered atuay as il old Jack 1Hs gtts
; him %
A shout of laughter, both loud and long
followed this narrative, at the end Of which tn
speaker, who had not stirred muscle, gravel
continued:
"You see, gentlemen, l have been fran
, with YOU. did not wish 10 take undue ad
! vantage OF your very kind and complimentar
{ invitation without forewarning you Of the con
c sequences. If, after what have told you
i yon are still desirouS of hearing me, | will en-
, leavor to give you odd Hundred which
the only song know, and 10 which, for rea
! sons already given, l feel unconmonIy at
= tached."
Ii is needless to say that lie was unanimous
ly excused.