The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-08-09
ment she will crown and kiss.n

menu Sne Will crown ana KISS"
With smile anda rosy blush, tn
sweet little maiden seated herself on
low crimson divan, and I saw that sh
held wreath of flowers. 1t struck M
as truly excellent idea, this repre-
senting popular applause by o young
innocent, upsophiscated girl, who's
heart, in its fresh naturalness, nigh
well be the reservoir of the pure i'm
pulses, the unshapen but soaring aspi
rations of humanity all intertwinet
with tender loves and holy hopes
Her delicately attuned nerves, and he
unbiased sensibilities might well re
present the great sensitive heart of tn,
world.
"Wah the blessed little mink E
ever could jest trot her on my kne,
and play with that gold hair! Sweet
sweet, oh, but amt she sweet 1t wal
the voice of the shaggy fellow behind
me.
"Sbe is beautiful,"I whispered as il
in reply.
"Roarin' nice, he responded, broad
smile breaking all over his face "a wet
little mouse ola thing, captain; jest
sech a fixen' as makes fellow GLAD
he's man. She's jest like I'd bet on
angel bein' eff ye could see sech az
scripter tells Of"
A song now rose clear and delicious.
ly tender, from the stage, and saw
a pale youth lingering tho great harp
His voice was slender tenor, but il
expression was passionate, and he held
til instrument under fine control
Ever and anon his dreamy eyes wan
dered to the girls fair face and faint
flush would mantle his sallow check.
I do not recollect, I cannot say how
many persons sang, for fame that
night, but a great many, and some OF
tho songs were magnifcently rendered.
At length there came a pause, thu
stage was waiting for a musician. No
one offered.
"Are you all done9 Will no one else
try for fameq" said DR.. Knabb, rising
with smile, and glancing over the
crowd.
The room was silent.
"Darn good notion ter try it licl
or two jest for green's" muttered the
shaggy estray.
"Try what 2" asked.
"For the crown and kiss. I've got
my baby in here" he replied, tapping
the roll under his arm.
''Your baby!"
eyes, an she's sweet, too. I'm nc
musicianer though"
81 don't understand you," said I
looking into the mans flushed face.
eff no one else wishes to sing, then
we will let the successful one be
crowned and receive the kiss of fame
added the good old doctor, putting his
broad hand on the shining little head
OF his daughter.
"Hold on bit thar, eff ye please,
I'll try it if it sours ON me-" at this
moment cried out the stranger, and
with his budget under his arm he press.
ed forward and mounted the stage.
DR.. Knabb stood aghast, and the
fine guests Uttered. But the grey
eyed stranger unrolled the nondescript
cloth and took therefrom rudely
constructed banjo. He swept h is
fingers over the strings, turned one OF
two of the clumsy keys, and Their
glanced quickly over his audience and
down into the upturned face of the
little girl who held the crown.
! saw great tremor sweep through
his stout frame, and then peculiar
light settled ON his face and beamed
from his deep-set eyes. 1t was the
compound light of sturdy humor and
rare pathos combined. After hum.
ming and oddly halting prelude on the
instrument, he began strong throb.
bling accompaniment and song,
ooh jest how long ago it was
What matters it to you
That fust seed my leetle Moll
A wading in the sl0ughq
jest did fall so deep in love,
didn't know what to do,
When fust seed her wee white feet
A paddlin' in the slough.
IT hustled off my boots an socks,
An tuck to water too,
An side by side went Moll anti
A wadin' in the slough.
1.-THE clouds they ris, the thunder growled
The stormy winds they blew,
An a food from off the mountain side
Come roarin' down the slough.
"Moll wasn't strong. struggled hard (
To make way for two,
But luck said mo- an wee Moll lies
Deep buried in the slough.
Sometimes hope it's all dream,
An try to struggle through
This mist, an find wee Mol again
A padd9lin' in the slough.
But it's no go, the door it's locked,
Bad news is always true,
An all alone with aching heart
pm wadin' in the sloughr'
The song was rude as the rudest
and SO was the air; but the voice
I shall never hear its like again. Full
rich and. exultant at first, it 500