Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-03-19
The Ten Dollar Piano.

the golden light OF youth streaming all over
her bright curls, childhood's fresh lustre in
her dark eyes, and June's reddest roses on
her dimpled cheeks, came rushing up to me.
sop she cried, tossing the stray curls
from her brow, "we've got the splendidest
new piano over hume. and mother wants you
to come and try it. She says you shall play
on if first" NoS am q child with child
ren: my heart bounds, my pulses leap in
unison with their sportive natures, when
they are by. And when the locks are sill
vered onemy temples and my step grows
slow upon the staircase. wheu the voices of
my loved sre only IKE Remembered mnsic,
vixen my h4pd's grasp becomss tremulous
Ike the loosening tendrils Of the dying vine,
stili may the dear Lord grant 10 me the
trusting tenderness of childhood; still may
the feet of infancy patter around my knee,
and its red lips breathe perfume on my with
cred cheek. E
Away went ink 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, where Neilie's mother,
who was an inva lid, laid upon her accustom-
ed couch; and up to the piano to soothe the
weary sick one with strains of music. The
instrument was one after my own heart,
rich toned, full and melo&ious, AMI the soft
strains answered iiquidly 70 my touch
Now the sweet verse of Burns "Highland
Maryland now the sweeter music of Tap
pans ''There is an Hour of Peaceful Rest,
occurred to my memory, and thus played
and sang till Nellie's father came. He was
handsome man, in the full vigor of man
hood, and from him his little daughter in
herited her golden-tinted hair and hazel
eyes. He took seat near his wife, and
drew her thin hand into his, as he spoke to
her. Then when / praised the new piano,
he turned to me, laughingly, "Yes. and the
bes. part of it is, it only cost me ten dol
| lars"
expressed my astonishment, and my
| look of wonder drew another laugh from
him.
"Let me tell you the story" he said,
drawing little Nellie towards him, and en-
circling her little form with his arm, while
she looked witha< much astonishment as
MYSELF. and he began:
"a few years ago went to Chicago. |
had been there but few days. when, in one
o 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 morn
ing air was raw and chilly, the ground wet
from light fall of early Snow, and | noticed
that, as the wind blew her thi1 garments
about her loru,s she shivered with the. cold.
As she went by, she halt turned, and had
gone but a little way before | heard quick
footsteps behind me, and STOPPING, the girl
lifted her hand, as if to place it on my arm;
drawing back, she said: F. .
"Please, sir, if you could give me little
money to buy bread" -a. -
"Are you hungryr'I asked. 81 s', 81
"Yes, sir-reai hungry" and her lips
qulvered. af y9frH grrs- # a
doesn't your father work, and bring home
bread!'' .e
"Father is SICK" she said, sand mother
sprsined her arm, and my brother, who used
to help US, was drowned not long ago."
Something in my heart, and in her face
told nae that her story was true. took her
into bakers shop, bade her hold cut hel
taltered apron, and filled it with loaves.-
Then putting five dollars in the shopman's
hand, stipulated that the poor family was
to have bread every morning ill the money
was used up. hen slipped another five
dollars into the girls hand, and turned has
THY from her teur-aled eyes.
Well, ten dollars were gone, and | was
by no means rich enough to spare it; but |
telt as it, no doubt, the Lord would make j,
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 fof breakfast
and took my seat with hundred strangers
No sooner had commenced eating than
! felt hand laid on my elbow, and looking
| up, there sat an old friend had not met fol
fourteen years. When last saw him, he
was young man just starting In the world
with little means and few friends.
81 have not grown rch," he said, after
the first surprise of recognition was over
"but am able to pay my debts. Do you
remember one day. fourteels years ego, you
lent me ten dollars in my extremity, ant
told me never to pay it unless was able!
How have tried to find your address many
times since, but could not. Here is a ter
dollar gold piece, and | am only sorry that
cannot double it. for your kindness 10 mt
when ! was in trouble. But come and see
me on your way through Iowa, and my wife
and children will thank you with me-"
81 was very much astonished and affected
for | had totally forgotten his OBJ alton, bu
l could not refuse the just RETURN Truly,
thought. giving to The Lord does not i'm
poverish even in worldly means, and salt
to myself, will see what this ten dollar:
will bring me. So, looking about, made
little investment in The new land, ant
went On my way fully satisfied nth mysel
and the world in general. Three weeks ago
had an offer OF five hundred dollars for my
wee bit of land; accepted it, and as my
little wife and little Nellie have long beer
teazing me for piano, bought this 70
them"
at seems like dream,'' said l., gain.
with sort of reverence on the beautiful in
strument; "You ought to commemorate the
F, incident in some manner" | added.
t 81 have thought of inscribing on smal
: silver plate the words, '.Gast thy bread upoI
4 the waters, and thou shak find it after man,
t days. but it does not seem exactly appro
q pirate to the case" .s ..
h "Did you ever see the girl again, papa!'
Y asked Nellie. a. ..ra
e "No, my dear, but have heard from he
n through German missionary. She is
e good scholar, ant. teaches little school her
e self, now in Chicago. She has become
i handsome and refined young woman, an
r is educating her ouly brother younger tia
e herseh. l learned from him that my it'll
e gilt put new life into the sinking heart {
A the nnor sick fatner and the nourishmau