Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-25

X.
at home for me And as usual with flau-
lists, felt the embouchure Of my flute
with the tip of my tongue. At last was
tolerably satisfied, aud there remained
now nothing in the world to hinder my
making beginning. o, wasn't there
thought How about the fercely beating
heart, and the unsteady legs, and the
trembling fingers, that would hlrdly obey
me when l tried TO give the chromatic
scaley There l was, with the flute to my
lips It must have been something akin
to mans standing on the scaffold, with
the rope round his neck. Even at the last
moment cowardly demon urged me to
turn and fee. But thought, "My wife,
my children ~ fixed my heart steadily ON
them, and-blewl All, heaving chest and
trembling fingers steady, steady, my
friends, for their dear sake MAY He
who gave me those precious treasures to
watch over and guard, now enable me to
get through this hard, hard trial, for
their daily breadp Yes, l actually
comforted me too. Some prayers are
answered in moment This was,
am sure. For l did get calmer, my
heart ceased palpitating so furiously, and
my hands trembed less, and | sent out
waves and streams of melody-sent them
out on the night air. l was surprised at
myself | fairly wondered how well got
on and thus | reached the roulades at
the end of the air. But here something
apparently like trials came though, in.
deed, after the first shock, they rather in.
spirited me. First few people stopped in
the street below the terrace then, in the
middle house, a drawing-room blind was
pulled aside, and lady looked down at
the player. Presently she returned with
two other ladies; then gentleman joined
them; and finally they opened the win
dow. don't want to flatter myself but
know very well that my performance of
"The Power of Love-" =" Dt Pr0penzd,"
and the First Love Waltzes," must have
had more attraction than the music of the
usual street flautist, playing 30 Susannal"
on his one-keyed, vanished pine flute.
On my right hand noticed windows in
one house after another showing lockers
on behind them. Presently the people
from the street came up and over to me
and l could hear that several others had
taken their vacated stations. l rested
awhile, then began Di ProUensd;" and here
the young ladies from the middle house
fairly turned out, some with their hats on,
some, with handkerchief thrown over
the head turned out this gloomy even
ing, though, however, it wasn't raining
at the time-and promenaded the terrace
with their male companion. Next the
lady and gentleman whom l mentioned
in my first paragraph came out; several
others followed their example, and a few
more listeners were attracted up from the
street.
Nearly in every house at least one WIN
dow showed onlookers. By this time l
had finished "Di Propenzd and another
air, and had concluded with La ma
Letizia" from "I L0m6ardi." stood still
moment, My heart again began to beat
painfully; but comforted myself by re-
flecting that if 1 were going to be offered
any money at least had fairly earned it.
Should l ask for any? o, no, certainly
not; at all events so far as words went;
for in the first place hadn't any idea of
what to say and secondly, even il had,
was so nervous that couldn't articulate.
l stood still, then but it was only for q
moment. The gentleman with the lady on
his arm came gently up to me and gave
me that crossed sixpence. He did it SO
kindly tool There was a world of pity,
thought, in his simple action. really
believe he made me a bow; l know
made him one. Then he and the lady
who had, felt, never ceased scanning me
went away. Most of the other parties one
by one advanced and gave me silver, and
they did it so kindly, was sure! Final
| ly, gentleman, who was sitting alone at
his window, came out hatless and handed
me shilling, Why didn't he cry hal
loo |" and beckon me over to him, or else
throw the money out to me? l cannot
say. only relate things exactly as they
happened.
/ played one more tune to show | wai
grateful, and with bursting and thank
full heart l went away. l had received
four shillings and sixpence for few min
utes' flute playing II il had been nict
summers evening, among crowd of well
dressed people, and had played my gui
tar and sung, how much more might no
my earnings have beenP But l wa
grateful for what had received.
o, my wife my poor children l haC
fought the hard battle for your dear sake
and-won.
1 continuedsa street minstrel for jus
fifteen days - excluding Sundays - an,
earned altogether no less for my evenings
work than six pounds four shillings. Nj.
takings were rapidly increasing, notwith
standing the cold season,-for | was il
fact, becoming rather kind of rage.
was the only man of the species in tn
colony, and after l retired don't thin
any one appeared in my stead, at least
none who aimed higher than the conven
tional negro with his banjo. used +
sing fashionable operate Italian aria'
Spanish ballads, and French chansoni
with now and then a favorite Englis
song. began drawing very well indeed
and soon had no fears about my week.
bills. But just when / least expected
suitable engagement offered, and retire
from my stage. But l went through
, good deal in that iOrtnight,-a lifetime {
adventure indeed CaSselEs Magazine.