The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-08-13
From Chambers JOurna,

MUSIC NEAT DOOR.
Our pursuits are sedentary, and we live
in a semi detached west end suburban ''vil-
la,' whose walls are not thick enough to
keep out the sounds Of piano and vocal
accompaniment next door, which has more
or less been the bane of our existence for
nearly two years-that is, ever since the
present occupant took possession of the DOM
icil, and by degrees reused our curiosity as
to what she could possibly be.
The mystery is solved, however, which
puzzled US for so long time; the denoue-
ment has taken place and that in so slngu
lar and unexpected manner. as to keep up
the old axiom of truth being stranger than
fiction"
Nearly two years ago, as said, the next
house was vacated, and speedily re-let and
though, of course. as metropolltans, We did
not interest ourselves in our ncghbors, al
WAYS boastfully asserting that we did not
know even their namcs-for we have been
teased with village gossi p in our time-yet
for all our pleasant vaunted independence,
and freedom and privacy, we earnestly hop
ed the new corners next door had no children
to squall, or practice on the piano, or run
wild in the garden, where we deiigh hted to
pledsalnce. book in hand, in dreamy reposo.
50 we were thankful when our dcmure Sal
" informed US that she had seen the vans
arrive, q" packed beautiful-full of the best
of things clean and handsome ) and that
the new tenant was u lady attlred in Wild
ow's dress-with one elderly maid servant
as her sole " establishments" This lnfor-
nation Sally had cleaned from the baker.
who supplied all the villas IN our road with
bread.
We were well aware that our worthy land
lord was extremely particular as to the per-
feet responsibility of the parties to whom he
let his houses, ours and others; therei ore
our minds were at rest on that point. We
congratulated ourselves on the charming
quietness in prospect-for even II the Wid-
ow-lady did play on the nice piano which
Sally said had been carried in next door,
doubtless the music would not be of any
10 ng continuance, and must differ essentially
in character from the distressing dscord
made by young beginners. Besides, one
pair of hands could not do as much as six
and a widow lady, who had her own troub-
les, was not likely tie play on the piano by
the hour together. We did not ask Sally il
our new nei ghbor was old or young, nor did
we inquire her name for We felt no interest
in her, further than in our purely selfish de-
sire of not being SO disagreeably disturbed
as we had been by the six little Misses
Brownrigg., the late occupants Of the
house.
But alas we were doomed to disappoint-
ment. Well it is for US that we do not fore
see coming events. And yet coming events
do cast their shadows before; for we de.
clare, when Sally said that a 'orizontel pi-
amer had gone in next 'ouse,' our hearts
misgave US; though the indubitabie and
pleasant fact of there being but one pair of
hands to touch it, was duly impressed on
our minds, by way Of comfort and rcassur-
ance.
The very next morning, before we sat
down to breakfasts reasonably early hour
the slow tones of Scots whd hde rp Wal
lDcc blcd, and Annie Laurie, set for musical
asarants who had but just learned their
gamut (the dog and cat, which follows
the first acquisition of knowledge, surprised
and alarmed us, so determinate and contin-
ued was the practicing-lke regular " set
in rain ''-and so patient the pauses between
each note, as if the performer was carefully
coming and studying the page, before com
mitting herself to produce wrong sound.
owe thought there was no children next
door, Sally" cried we. as Sally entered with
eggs and toast. "You certainly gave US to
understand so but you hear there are D
and we pointed significantly over our shoul-
der in the direction of the lath and plaster
division of the houses.
"No more there be'ant-there be'ant no
Children" replied Sally sententiously ;
"that must bo the widder lady herself a
practiziDg."
Sally is not sensitive, and has no ear
"Practisng" we exclaimed in derision :;
"why she is spelling the music; she has only
lust learned the meaning of B fat and c nat
ural; and how careful and particular she is!'
and go she was, hour after hour continuing
to repeat her lesson with the most careful
industry.
We could detect that the instrument she
touched was rich and brilliant, and also that
the widow lady was not slow to learn ; but
by degrees the fact became painfully certain
that this everlasting, monotonous, clear soft
thum-th was not to be the event of one
dav, but Of every day and there were times
when we felt as if we must rush into the
next house, and entreat her to cease. 10
cease for, from that early morning time,
till late hour at night, the practising con-
tinued without intermssoin. What period
the interchangeable performer allowed herself
for partaking of necessary refreshment, we
could not discover; but judging from the
short respite ue had, it was very short
time indeed. We rarely saw the widow in
L.. ...1on oor onnld 1vo dianern har feat.