Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-06-04

with cruel, nara grey eyes; aud she sang.
I knew it, I detected tremble and gra-
titude in the notes. felt she was to suf-
fer as I bad suffered; not that sang. /
had no voice. A harsh, gutteral sound
was all could give utterance to. I could
whistle like a bird, and often and often
have I lain for hours in the shade of a
tree and joined the concerts of the woods.
One day was whistling as was my
wont as I went through the street, when
I was tapped on the shoulder by an old
man. the cobbler of the next parish.
knew him by his coming to my father for
leather occasionally.
"Sam, where did you learn that?"
LEARN what?''
''That tune"
Sat church."
you've good ear, Sam"
''Tve nothing else good, but l can
whistle anything"
"Can you whistle the Morning Hymn
for me?"
I did so.
Good, very good. Know anything
of music, Sam :"
Nothing"
Like to p
''rd give all I had in the world to play
My SOULS full of music. I
can't sing note, but I could play any
thing if I we're taught"
$50 you shall, Sam, my boy. Come
home with me. Garry these skins, and
you shall begin at once"
I went home with him. I found that
he was one of the players in the choir of
his parish, his instrument being the vio-
I took my first lesson, and from
that time commenced a new life. Even
ing after evening, and sometimes during
the day, I wandered over to his little shop,
and while be sat. stitch. stitch, at the
boots and shoes, l played over and over
again all the music I could get from the
church.
you've beautiful lingering, Sam, my
boy; beautiful, and though it does look a
little awkward to sec you bowling away
with your left, it makes no difference to
you. You ought to be a fine player,
Sam"
I was enthusiastic, but was poor. I
wanted an instrument of my own, but [
had no money, and earned none-I could
earn none. My parents thought-and
perhaps rightly-that if they found me
food aud clothing, [ was we'll provided
for; and SO for some twelve months, I used
the cobbler's instrument, improving daily.
1t was strange that the limbs and fingers,
so rigid and stiff for every other impulse,
should, under the influence of sound,
move with such precision, ease and exact
ness.
''Sam. my boy" saidIbe cobbler, one
day, "you shall have an instrument, and
your father shall buy it for you, or the
whole parish shall cry shame upon him. p"
.sBut he don't know a word of this"
said.
"Never mind, Sam. my boy, he shall
be glad to know of it,
He told me his plans. At certain times
it was customary for the choirs of neigh
boring churches to help each other, and
it was arranged that the choir of our par
ish should play and sing on the next Sun
day morning at his parish church, and
that he and his choir should come over to
our parish for the evening service.
''And you, Sam,'' said he, "shall take
my place in your own church, and please
God, if you do as we'll there as you've
done here, it will be the proudest day |
shall know, Sam, my boy. and your faith
er and mother shall say so, too"
How I practiced, morning noon and
night, for the great day; how the OLD man
darkly hinted alta prodigy that was to be
forthcoming at the festival; and then the
day itself, with its events-all is as vivid
before me as if it were but yesterday.
The evening came; and there, in the
dimly-lit gallery, sat waiting. with my
master beside me.
"Sam, my boy" said my master, cts
agreat risk; it's getting very full Theirs
the Squire and my lady just come in
Keep your eyes on your book and fee
what you are playing, and think you're in
the little shop. I've brought bit O.
leather to help you;' and he put piece
of that black leather that has a peculiar
acid scent in front of me. The scent o.