Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-05-18

From the Dubuque Hsrald.]
All About a Melodeon.
A day or two since several ::sFa thers''
were gathered in the Bishops house; in
tho room of Father James. In one
corner was melodeon, which attract
ed the attention of one of the visitors,
and being somewhat Of musician, he
sat down and ran his finger over the
keys. Surprised at tho beauty of its
tones, he expressed his emotions to|
Father james.
'Perhaps,'' said the worthy Father,
eff you knew its history you would be
still more surprised"
Well, the long and short of it is, that
Father James told the ''history." he
has since told it to us, and We give it to
the world, not precisely in his eloquent
manner, but as if he told it:
"During the Summer Of 1857, I was
preparing for visit to Jerusalem and
other portions Of the Orient, but was
laid up by fit of sickness, at my house
in Washington. One day, while con-
valescing, I received call from law
yer named Fitzgerald, of New York,
and IN old acquaintance Of mine. After
the usual remarks about health and the
weather were exhausted, he changed the
conversation by asking if had in my
possession melodeon which had been
purchased some ten years since, of a
Mr.. Davis, music dealer in Washing
ton.
81 think" replied, "that I have,
or at least had, such an instrument
and, if mistake not, it is now lying in
the cellar"
had scarcely concluded my answer,
when Fitzgerald seemed to have become
insane. He danced about the room,
rubbed his hands, and acted as though
some great excess Of Joy had suddenly
turned his head. Finally he ceased his
antics, and grssping me by the arm, he
uttered:
care YOU sure it is the same? Will
you swear to it? Can you swear to
it,"
81 can swear to it," replied, "but
whether l will is another matter. What
in the world is there about that old me-
lodeon that makes you act so, or thai
requires that I should swear to it?
''No matter now! Let me see il
quick"
rang for the servant and directed
her to bring up that old melodeon from
the cellar.
"Indade, yer Riverince, it's no
there at all Misther Bellon, the tach
er, wisht the ould thing, sayin' b
might learn to play, an so tux it vii
him."
Fitzgerald's countenance fell to a re
markable extent IS he listened to thi
reply, but he resumed his look Of ella
ton as, in responce to my question, tn
servant said she could certainly get il
Accordingly despatched her to MI
Bellon's, and soon the dilapidated in
strument stood unsteadily in our pres
ence.
Fitzgerald gazed upon the instrumen
as a parent would gaze upon beloved
child which years ago was torn iron
his grasp, but was suddenly restored il
safety.
"Can you positively swear that thi
is the instrument that you purchased 0
MIR. Davis ?" queried he at length, in
ceherently-almest.
ssMost certainly can, if necessary.
s'What will you take for it? Nam
anv sum-fve, ten, or fifty thousan
dollars-any amount-you shall hav
jtr'
"What for that cid thing! Take
for nothing, and welcome, if it's an
good to you! But what in the worl
makes you attach such value to thu
miserable old wreck :"
"Pll tell you," said he. Ten veal
ago the inventor Of this instrument
Mr.. Cahart-was lying upon his bee
confined there by inAammatory rher
matism. To while away the tedious
ness of his sick bed, during the intel
walls Of his pain, he whitfield out an in
provement with a common jack-knif'
That clumsy instrument is the first b
made after his recovery. The inventio
took Immediately, and orders poure
in. He was in fair way to becom
rich, when his patent was infringe
upon by a rival establishment. e
commenced suit against them, and a
the proof lacking to substantiate the in
fr;ngement was the production Of thi
yery instrument. l conducted the sui
for him, and for five years have ira
ced that instrument from place to plac
how getting faint trace Of it, no,
losing the track entirely. Not lon
since I became satisfied that it hat
been purchased ten gears ago by
Catholic clergyman Of Washington
1 Immediately came here from Me-
York and have visited every priest VIII
resided here at that time, or who ha
been here since. Many have move
away, and have experienced in6nit
trouble in finding their residences an
getting into communication with them
None knew anything about it, and yo'
are the last Of them. I had determin
ed if you knew nothing Of it, to Civ
up the search, and resign the prosecu
ton. But here it is, and strange as i
may seem to you, that miserable
"wreck,' as you term it, is worth mil