Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-03-28
M | S c L L L A N Y.
THE TEN DOLLAR PIANO.

A beautiful child OF seven summers, with the |
golden light of youth streaming all over her
bright curls, childhood's fresh lus,re in her
dark eyes, and June's reddest roses on her dim
pied cheeks, came rushing up TO me.
"O!' she cried, tossing the stray curls from
her brow, 'we've got the splendidest new p-
'ano over home, and mother wants you TO come
and try ii. . She says you shall play On il first"
Now | am child with children; my heart
bounds, my pulses leap in unison with their
sportive natures, when they are BY And when
the locks are silvered on my temples and my
step grows slow upon the staircase, when the
voices of my loved are only like remembered
music, when my hands grasp becomes tremu
lous like the loosening tendrils Of the dying
vine, still may the dear Lord grant 10 me the
trusting tenderness of childhood still may the
feet of infancy patter around my knee, and lis
red lips breathe perfume on my wiihered cheek.
Away went ink and pen, and up bounded |
to catch the hand of little Nellie, and off we
ran, in at the beautiful mansion, into room
softly lighted, where Nellie's mother, who was
an invalid, laid upon her accustomed couch
and up to the new piano TO soolhe the weary
sick one with strains of music. The instru-
full and melodlous, aud the soft strains answer
ed hnuidlv TO my touch. Now the swee, verse
sweeter music Of Tappan's There is an Hour
of Peaceful Rest" occurred to my memory,
and thus played and sang till Nelles father
came. lie was handsome man, in the full
vigor of manhood and from him his little daugh-
ter inherited her golden-tinted hair and hazel
eyes. lie took a seat near his wife, and drew
her thin hand into his, as he spoke 10 her.
Then when praised the new piano, he turned
10 me, laughngly, "Yes, and the best part of
1t is, it only cost me ten dollars.''
| expressed my establishment, and my look
of wonder drew another laugh from him.
'Let me tell you the story" he said, draw
ing little Nellie towards him, and encrcling
her little form with his arm, while she looked
with as much establishment as myself, and he
began
"a few years ago went to Chicago. Ihad
been there but few days, when, in one of my
morning walks, encountered girl some twelve
years old, very intelligent, bright eyed child,
whose face wore such a sorrowful expression
that almost s,opped to speak with her as she
passed. Tie morning air was raw and chilly,
the ground wet from light fall of early snow,
and noticed that, as the wind blew her thin
garments about her FORM she shivered with the
cold. As she went by, she half turned, and |
had gone but little way before heard quick
footsteps behind me- and STOPPING the girl lifted
her hand, as if to place it on my arm; draw.
ing back, she said:
'Pease, sir, if you could give me little
money to buy bread"
care you hungry !" asked.
"Yes, sir-real hungry - and her lips quiv
cred.
doesn't your father work, and bring home
bread!"
'Father is sick," she said, "and mother
sprained her arm, and my brother, who used t.
help us, was drowned not long ago."
Something in my heart, and in her face, tolc
me that her story was true. i took her into
bakers shop, bade her hold out her talteret
apron, and filled it with oaves. Then putting
five dollars in the shopmans hand, stipulated
that the poor family was to have bread ever,
morning till the money was used up. Then i
slipped another five dollars into the girls hand
and turned hastily from her iear-flled eyes.
We'll, ten dollars were gone, and was b,
no means rich enough 10 spare il but fel, al
If, no doubt, the Lord would make il up, anc
at any rate, ten dollars was cheap enough 70
the rare pleasure of giving TO Coils poor chill
dren. went back to my hotel just as the gonl
sounded for breakfast, and took my seat with ;
hundred strangers. No sooner had cannon
ced eating than felt hard laid on nv elbow
and looking up, there sat an old friend ba,
not met for fourteen years. When last saw
MN, he was young man just starting in III,
world, with little means and few friends
~ have not grown ich," he said, after tn,
hrst surprise of recognition was over; "but
am able to pay my debts. Do yon remembe
one day, fourteen years ago, you lent me lei
doiiars IN my extremity and told me never 4
pay u unless was able! How have trie
to Ind your address many times since. but couI
not. Here is ten dollar gold niece and
am only sorry that cannot double il far Won
kindness to me when was in ,ronhle n,
come and see me on your way throuob lou,
and my wife and children will thank Won y,;,
me-"
81 was very much astonished and aflso,e,
for had totally forgotten his obligation. I'M,
could not refuse the just return. Truly
thought, giving to the Lord does not improve
ish even in worldly means, and said to m
self will see what this ten dollars will bril-