The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-08-20
THE TEN DOLLAR PIANO.


her brow, "we've got thss ssplendedost new piano
over home, and mother wants you 10 come ovsr
and try it. She sava you shall play oa il first
Now am child with children; nv heart bounds
my pHlse leaps in unison with their sportiva
natures. when they are by. And when the
hicks are silvery on my temples and my steT
grows slow upon the staircaso-when the voices
of my loved are only like remembered mnsic
when my hands grasp becomes tremulons Ike
the loosening tendrils of the dying vine, still
may the dear Lord grant to me the trusting ten
derness Of childhood still may the feet Of infancy
patter around my knee. and its red lips breathe
perfume on nv withsred cheek.
Away wentink and pen, and up bounded to
catch the hand Of little Nellie, and of we ran, in
at the beautiful mansion, into a room softly
lighted, whore NelIis'S mother. who was an in.
valid laid upon her accustomed couchi and up
to the piano TO soothe the weary sick with strains
Of mnsic, The instrument was one after my
own heart rich.t toned full and melodiors, an1
the soft strain, answered liqliilg to my touch
Now the sweet verse Of Burns "Highland Mary
and now the swee:er music Of Tappan's
"There s al Hour Of Peaceful Rest" occurred
to my memory, and thus played and sang till
! Nellie't father came. He was handsome man,
in the full Vigor of manhood, and from him his
little daughter inherited her golden. tinted hair
and hazel eyes. He took scat near his vile,
and drew her thin hand into his, as he spoke TO
her. Then whes praised the new piano, he
turned 10 me, laughIngly, "Yes, and the best
part of it is, it only cost me ten dollars"
depressed my astOnisbment, and my look of
wonder drew another laugh from him.
LET me tell you the story" he said, drawing
little Nellie towards him, and encrcing her
little form with his arm, while she looked with
as much astOnishment as myself, and he began
"a few years ago went to Chicago. had
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 sorrowful expression
that almost stopped to speak with her as she
passed. The morning air was raw and chilly,
the ground wet from an early snow. and | no.
ticed that. as the wind blew her thin garments
about her form, she shyerei with the cold, As
she went BY, she half turned, and | had gone bat
little way before beard quick footsteps behind
me. and stopping, the girl lifted her hand, as if
to place it upon my arm drawing back she said:
"Please, sir, if you could give me money to
buy bread"
care you hungryt" asked.
''Yes, sir-real hungry" and hsrlips CULVER
cd.
Doesn't yOur father work and bring home
breadF
Father is sick" she said, "and mother
sprained her arm, and my brother, who used to
help US, was drowned not long ago"
Something in my heart, and in her face, told
me that story was true. l took her into
bakers shop, bade her hold ont her tattersd a.
prom, aud filled it with loaves. Then putting
five dollars in the shopman's hand, stipulated
that the poor family was to have bread every
morning till the money was used up. Then I
slipped another five dollars into the girls hand,
and turned hastily from her tear.f!led eyes.
"Well, ten dollars was gone, and was by no
means rich enough to spare it, but | felt as ii no
doubt, the Lord would make it up, and at any
rate ten dollars was cheap enough for the rare
pleasure Of giving to Gods poor children. ]
went back to my hotel just as the gong sounded
for breakfast, and took my seat with hundred
strangers. No sooner had l commenced eating
than felt a.hand laid on my elbow, and looking
up, there sat an old friend / had not met for
fourteen years. When last saw him, he was
young man just starting intheE world, with little
means aud few friends.
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