Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-03-28
THE ROW. MUSIC.

we We're seated IN The CABIN OF a river
Steamboat. There was large number
ofpassengers who seemed DESTROYS Of be.
quilting away the tedium of the trip by
contributing something tothe amusement.
Fl Among the passengerssw one long.
lank specimen. whom no one could fail to
recognise as Yankee. He sat apart
from the rest. notwithstanding. while the
sfhgularity Of his appearance did not fail
to draw many a curious evetowards him.
At length when all the resources of
the company seemed exhausted. one of
them turned obviously to our, Yankee,
and politely requested him to favor the
company with song.
" A song" echoed he, looking up nj
80" Yes, sir, you sing. do you not?'' .
Il did once replied he. ?" and may l
add, it saved my life" ,s.,. -...., .- r III,
"Saved your life - -.... ~.
All eager to hear how this could be,
and after some little urging. the stranger
consented to crafty them.
"You must know" said he. "that was
one of the first to go to California when
the report first reached US at home. of its
stores Of gold. 1t was nothing then 10
what it is now, u perfect waste, in fact,
with hardly mark of civilization, where
now you see hourishing towns, numbering
their thousands Of inhabitants. $3.50.
Being fond Of adventure, separated
from my company, and determined, to
find my way to the diggings myself. One
night l found myself lying on the grass,
with my pack for pillow, just on the edge
of a large forest. 1t did not,enter my head
- I
dark, and heard with fearful distinct
ness the cry of the prairie wolf. Ilisten-
ed again, and was alarmed to find the
cry coming nearer. Evidently they scent
ed me. 30 -. s " r.t-
cat length a whole pack of blood>
thirsty rascals came bounding on till they
came within hundred yards of me, and
then stood stock still, and began to draw
nearer. r-r 80 -.s-
"My hair rose on end. was terribly
alarmed endeavored to think of some
possible way of soaring them. Having
heard that they were Terrified by fire, l
lighted a match. They drew off little,
but Immediately ratraced their steps.
This movement was repeated on both
sides. found this would never do ]
must think of something more decisive
But what? ...o -..F .. -.l e-
'' reelected having in my youth at
tended singing schoolslor the space oftwo
evenings. during which received indis-
tinct notions of the manner of singing
''Old Hundred" That recollection saw
ed me. --i -ta -.rr g. e,.ls
without more ado, began and did
as we'll as could. By the time had
got through with the first line. l observed
the wolves began to look a little wild and
uneasy, and =" will you believe it ?
said the narrator earnestIy-"b i
finished, every Individual wolf, putting
his fore paws up to his ears. scampered
away as if old Jack was after him. Pc
A shout Of laughter. both loud and
long followed this narrative, at the end OF
which. the speaker who had not stirred a
muscle, grAveIy continued:
''YOu see, gentlemen, L have been frank
with you l did not wish to take advan-
tage of your very kind complimentary
invitation without forewarning you of the
consequence. If. after what L have told
YOU, you, are still DESTROYS Of hearing me
l will eudeavor to give you :" Old Hun.
dred," which is the only song know,
and to which. for reasons already given,
feel uncommUnIy attached. ..
After that s.ory, he was unanimously
excused. .r...