The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-22
The Ten Dollar Piano.


The Ten Dollar Piano.
A beautiful child of seven summers, with
the golden light of youth streaming NIL over
her bright curls, childhood's fresh lustre in
her dark eyes, ald Junc's reddest roses on
her dimpled checks. came rushing up to me.
"Oh !" she cried, tossing the stray curls
from her brow, "we'vc got the splendi,lest
new piano over home and mother wants
you to come and try it. She says you shall
play on it first" Now am = child among
children; my heart bounds, my pulses leap
in unison with their sportivo natures, when
they are by. And when tho locks are sill
vered on my temples and my step grows slow
upon the staircase. when tho voices Of my
loved are only like remembered music, when
my hands grasp becomes tremulous like the
looscning tendrils Of the dying vine, still
may the dear Lord grant to me tho trusting
tenderness OF childhood; still may the feet
Of infancy patter around my knee, and its
red lips breathe perfume on my withcred
check. - ..t -rs.
Away went ink and pen, and up bounded
| to catch tho hand Of little Nellie, and of
we ran, to the beautiful maLsion, into
room softly lighted, where Nellie'S mother,
who was an invalid, laid upon her accus-
TONED couch; and up to the new piano to
soothe the weary sick ones with strains of
music. Tho instrument was one after my
own heart, itch toned, full and melodious,
and the soft strains answered limpidly to my
touch. Now tie sweet verso Of Burns
"Ili. .hland Mary,"-and now the swccter
music Of Tappan's There is On hour Of
Peaceful Rest occurred to my memory,
and thus played and sung till Nellie's
father came. lie was q handsome man, in
the full vigor Of manhood, and from him his
little daughter inherited her goldcn.tinted
hair and hazel eyes. Ho took seat near
his wife, and drew her thin hand into his,
US he spoke to her. Then when l praised
the new piano, he turned to me laughingly
.Ycs, and the best part Of it is, it OILY cost
me ten dollars"
Icxprossed my astonishmcnt and my look
of wonder drew another laugh from him.
"Iet Inc tell the story" he said, drawing
little Nellie toward him, and cncircling her
little form with his arm, while she looked
with as much astonishmont us myself, and
he began: t .'e'.
"a few years ago l went to Chicago. l
had been there but few days, when, in one
of my morning walks, encountered a girl
some twelve years old, very Intelligent,
brisht.eycd child, whose face wore such q
sorrowful expression that almost stopped
to speak with her as she passed. The morn
ing air wos raw and chilly, the ground wet
from light fall OF early snow, and l noticed
that, Us the wind blew her thin garments
about her form, she shivercd with tho cold
As she went by, she half turned, and l had
6 nc but little way before I heard quick
footsteps behind me, and stopping, the girl
lifted her hand, as IL to place il on my arm !;
drawing back, she said: ... .-s .arl
"Ple.sc sir. IL you would give mo little
money to buy bread" r ..a .-..
"Arc you hungry9' ! asked. r.,-.
"Ycs sir-rcal hungry" aud her lips
quivcrcd. as a gg.. 'a
"Docsn't your father work and bring
home bread ?'' -...f..... ,rr
"Father is sick" shc said, "and mother
sprained her arm, and my brother. who
used to help us, was drowned not long
ago" r. .-rs-. -.-s
Something in my heart, and IN her iace'
told me that her story was true. ltook her
into bakers shop, bide her hold her tat
tered apron, and filed it with loavcs. Then
putting Ave dollars Ia tho. sbopman's hand,
Istipulated I that the poor family was to
have bread every morning till tho money
was used up, Then slipped another five
dollars into tho girls band, and turned
hastily From her tear.6llcd eyes. aiJsiao
Well. ten dollars. werc g0nc. and L was
BY no means rich enough .oirae, Il but I
felt US IL. no doubt, the Lord would make il
up, and d. any rate, ten dollars was cheap
enough for the rare pleasure Of giving to
Gods poor children. I went back to my
hotel just as the gong sounded for breakfast
and took my scat with hundred strangers.
No sooner had commenced eating than I
Gels . hand Laid upoa my elbow, and looking