Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-05-03
MIGC,EILA NY.
TPAvEJ LING STOW: CP. THE
UNEDUCATED MUSICIAN.


the f,llowing entertaining history Of the Scrip
turai Panorama:
There was fellow travelling around in that
country, lsaid Mr.. Nickerson) with mora! re-
hgious show \ sort of scriptural panorama
and he hired wooden headed old slab to play
the piano for him. After the first nights per-
formance. the Snowman says:
my friend, You seem to know pretty much
all the tunes there are, and you worry along
frs,-rate. But then, didn't you notice that
sometimes. last night, the piece you happened
to be playing was little rough on the ptoprie-
ties, so to speak-didn't seem to iibe with the
general gait of the picture that was passing at
the time. as it wcre-was n little foreign TO the
subject YOU krow--as if YOU didn't either
trump or follow suit you understand 2
"Well, no." the fellow said he hadn't no.
ticcd, but it might be; he had played along
Just as it came handy.
So they put it up that the simple Old dunn
my was to keep his eye on the panorama after
that, and as soon as stunning picture was
reeled out he was TO fit it to dot with piece
of urasic that would help the audience get the
idea of the subject, and warm them up like a
camp-meetng revival. That sort of thing
would corral their sympathics, the Snowman
said.
There was big audience that night--mostly
mddle-aged and old people who belonged to
the church, and who took strong interest III
Bible matters, and the balance were pretty
much young bucks and heferS-hey always
come out strong on panoramas, you know, be-
cause it gives them chance to taste oneanoth-
crs mugs in the dark.
WELL the Snowman began to swell himself
up for his lecture, and the old mud-dobber
tackled the piano and run his fingers mp and
down once or twice to sec that she was right
and the fellows behind the curtain commenced
n Grind ont the panorama The Snowman
balanced his weight on his right foot, and prop
ped his hands on his hips, and flung his eyes
over his shoulder at the scenery, and said
Ladies and gentlemen, the painting now
before YOU illustrates the beautiful and touch
inc parabIe of the Prodigal Son. Observe the
happy expression just breaking over tie fca-
lures Of tn poor, suffering youh-so worn and
weary with his long march note also the &C.
stacy bcaming from the uplitted countcnanc'
Of the aged father, and the joy that sparkles u
the eyes of the excited groun Of youths aud
maidens, and seems ready TO burst in welcome
horous from thcirlips Thelesson, uyfird'
is as emn and instructive as the story is teii-
der and beautiful"
The mud-dobber was ready, and when the
second sneech as finished, he struck up;
"oh. we'll all get blind drunk
When Johnny comes marching home
Some of tie people giggied, ald ome gron-
ed a little. Tie Snowman cou'dnt say word.
He Looked at the piano sharp, but he was all
lovely and screne--he didn't know there was
anything ont of gear.
The panorama moved on, and the Snowman
drummcd up his grit, and started in fresh
"Lajies and gentlemen, the fine picture now
unfolding itselfto your gaze exhibits one 81 Tie
most notable events in Bible history-our Sd-
viour and his disciples o. the Sea Of GaIilee--
How grand. how awe-inspiring are the refiec-
tions which the subject invokeS What sub
Unity of faith is revealed to us in the lesson
from the sacred writings! The Savi' urrehuke'
tic angry waves and walks securely upon the
bosom OF the deepH
All around the house they were whispering:
Oh. hca lovely, how heautifull and the or
cbestra let himself out again:
uoh. life on the ocean wave, =.
And a home on the rolling deep =
There was good deal of honest sni'kerIng
turned on this time, and considerable groaning,
and one or two old deacons got up and went
ont. The Snowman grated his teethand cursed
tho niano man TO himself, but the fellow sat
there like knot on log, and seemed TO think
be was doing frst-rate.
After things got quiet, the Snowman thought
Ia wo,la make one nlore s:agger at il. anyhow