Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-03-28
7PIIE PoWIRoF MUSIC

We were seated in the cabin Of river
steamboat. There was a large number
ofpassengers who seemed desirous Of be.
quilting away the tedium of the trip by
contributing something tothe amusement.
Among the passengers was one long.
lank specimen, whom no one could fail Ia
recognise as Yankee. He sat apart
from the rest. notwithstanding, while the
singularity of his appearance did not fail
to draw many 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. ~
"Yes, sir, you sing. do you not?'' .
II did once,'' replied he, ?" and may l
add. it saved my life" f,..l. .....,.. -,
"Saved your life !" ..
All eager to hear how this could be,
and after some little urging. the stranger
consented to gratify them.
"You must know" said he. "that vas
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, Il perfect waste, in fact,
with hardly mark of civilization, where
now you see hourishing towns, numbering
their thousands Of inhabitants. .....
Being fond of adventure, separated
from my company, and determined to
find my way to the diggings myself One
night found myself lying on the grass,
with my pack for a pillow, just on the edge
of large forest. 1t did not, enter my head
ae. "a L.
dark. and heard with fearful distinct.
ness the cry of the prairie wolf. Islisten,
ed again. and was alarmed to find the
cry coming nearer. Evidently they scent
ed me. .r =. s aasE
eat length 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. -aE 80 rs.- l.e:.
''My hair rose on end. was terribly
alarmed; l endeavored to think of some
possible way of soaring them. Having
heard that they were Terrified by fire,
lighted a match. They drew of little
but Immediately ratraced their steps
This movement was repeated on both
sides, l found this would never do
must think of something more decisive
But what? -aas sa-f ,s-a -a.5 wi
'' reelected having in my youth at.
tended singing schoolsior the space oftwo
evenings. during which. received indis'
tinct notions of the manner of singing
"Old Hundred" That recollection saw,
ed me. r.-l rsa. --at ~ r,EB.
"Without more ado. began and did
as we'll as could. By thc time had
got through with the first line. l observed
the wolves began to look little.,wild and
uneasy, and will you believe its
said the narrator arnestly-"before ]
finished, every individual wolf, putting
his fore paws up to his ears. scampered
away as if old Jack was after him. -a
A shout Of laughter. both loud and
long followed this narrative, at the end O
which. the speaker who had not stirred 6
muscle, grAveIy continued: Er. -.
"YOu sec, gentlemen, have been frank
with you did not wish to take advan-
tage of your very kind mplimcntary
invitation without forewarning you of the
consequence. If. after what 1 have tolC
YOU. you are still desirous Of hearing me
will eudeavOr to give you "Old Hun
dred." which is the only song l know
and to which. for reasons already given,
feel uucOmmonly attached. -r.r. a..
After that s,ory, he was unanimously
excused .-.f r..-'