Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1856-01-22

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lady must have been spprized OF this,
she would, hardly take so much trouble
for nothing. But to return.
Miss Crump was inexorsble. She de-.
clsred that she was entirely out Of prac.
.ice. "She scarcely ever touched the
piano." "Msmma wss always scolding
her for giving so much Of her time 10
French and Italian, and neglec,ing her
music and pointing; but she told mann
ma the other day, that il really was 80
irksome 10 her to qui. Racine and Dante,
and go to drumming upon the piano,
that. but for the obligations Of flial ODE.
dience, she did not think she should ever
touch it again."
Here Mrs. Crump was kind enough.
by the merest accident in tho world, to
interpose, and 10 relieve the company
from farther anxiety. t.
augusta, my DEAR" said she, "go and
play tune or two; the company will
excuse your hoarseness."
Miss Crump rose Immediately at her
mothers bidding, and moved to the
piano. accompanied by large group Of
smiling faces. s..1'
Poor child" said Mrs. Crump as she
went forward, "she is frightened TO death.
wish Augusta could overcome her dif.
fdence."
Miss Crump was educated at PhiIs.
delphia; she had been taught to sing by
Madam Piggsqusaki, who was a pupil
Of Ma'm'selle Crokifroggiet,a, who had
who had sung with Madam Catalani;
and she had taken lessons on the piano
from Seignor Buzzifussi, who had play.
ed with Paganini. f.,-,
She seated herself at the piano, rocked
to the right, then 10 the left, leaned for.
ward, then backward, and began. She
placed her right hand about midway the
keys, and her left about two octaves be.
low it. She now put off to the right in
brisk csnter up the treble notes, and
the left after it. The left then led the
way back, and the right pursued it in like
manner. The right turned, and repeat.
cd its first movement; but the left outran
it this time. hoped over it, and flung it
entirely off the track. II came in again,
however, behind the left on its return,
md passed it in the same style. They
now became highly incensed at each
other, and me, furiously on the middle
ground. Here most awful conflict en-
sued for about the space Of ten seconds,
when the right whipped off all Of a sud.
den, as thought, fairly vanquished.--
But was in the error against which
Jack Randolph cautions us: "lt had
only fallen back to a stronger position"
|, mounted upon two black keys, and
commenced the note Of q rattlesnake.
This had a wonderful effect upon the
left, and placed the doctrine Of "snake
charming" beyond dispute. The left
rushed furiously towards it repeatedly,
but seemed invariably panic struck when
it came within six keys Of it, and as in.
variably retired with tremendous roar.
ing down the bass keys. 1t continued
its assaults, sometimes by way Of the
naturals, sometimes by the way Of the
sbatps. and sometimes by ziszag lhro'
both; but all its attempts 10 dislodge the
rish. from its stronghold proving inef.
fec.uaI, II camo close up 10 its adversary
and expired. .fdS -a...
Any one, or rather, no one can imag.
inc what kind Of noises the piano gave
forth during the conflict. Certain it is,
no one can describe them, and, there.
fore, | shall not attempt it.
! The battle ended, Miss Augusta mo.
we'd as though she would have arisen
but this was protested against by a mum.
ber Of voices at once: "One song, my
dear Aurelia," said Miss Small; "you
must sing that sweet little French air you
used to sing 10 Philadelphia, and which
Madame Piygisqueaki was so fond Of"
Miss Augusta looked pitifully at her
mamma, and her mamma looked "sing"
at Miss Augusta: accordingly, she squar.
ed herself for song. ...{
She brought her hands to The campus
this time in fine style, and they seemed
now 10 be perfectly reconciled TO each
other. They commenced kind Of col.
loquy; the right whispering treble very
softly, and the left responding bass very
loudly. The conference had been kept
up until | began TO desire change Of
The subject, when my ear caught, indis'
tinc,ly, some very curious sounds. which
appeared to proceed from the lips Of
Miss Augusta: they seemed to be com.
pounded Of a dry cough, grunt. a hic.
cough, and a whisper; and they were in
troduced, it appeared 10 me, as interpre.
,srs between the right and left. Things
in this way for about the space
Of fifteen seconds, when | happened 10
direct my attention to Mr.. Jenkins, from
P Philadelphia. His eyes were closed
ais head rolled gracefully from side to
side; beam Of heavenly complacency
rested upon his coun,enance; and his
whole man gave irresistible demonstra.
lion that Miss Crump's music made him
feel good all over. | had Just turned !
from tho contemplation Of Mr. Jenkins
transports, to see lwhetherI could extract
rom the performa nee anything intelligi.
bic, when Miss Crump made a .ay,catch.
Iag gfab al half~a dozen keys in row,
md at the Same instant she fetched q |
|ong. dnnfhill.cock crow, At the conciu-
,ion Of which she grabbed ss many keys
Al IL II l. A~t