The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1875-05-21
OLD MEMORIES.
The Man with the Game Leg and
the Organ Grinder - Play that
Tune Again.
from the Detroit Free Press.l

From the Detroit Free Press.l
Yesterday a hand organist sat down
before house on Congress street and
began to turn out sweet melodies. bnt
the first tune hadn't been finished
when an odd-looking man about fifty
years old, having a game leg and a
general forlorn look, come along and
halted in front of the Italian.
+" Now, that is sweet" he said after
| a moment: carries me right back to
the days when me and Hammer sat on
the hind stoop and squoze hands and
told our love-
"Op-era mu-zeek, replied the Ital-
ian, smiling at the enthusiasm of his
audience.
Wall now it touches me right
here continued the man with the
game leg. laying his hand on his heart.
" haven't felt so much like cryin'
for fourteen years before. Seems zif
heard angels buzzing around In the
air."
He raised his game leg on horse
block, folded his arms, and his look
and attitude were that of man whose
heart was filled with sad thoughts and
painful memories. Just as tears were
starting to his eyes the organist moved
the stop, increased the speed, and
Captain Jinks'' was merrily ratified
off.
/" Some odder kind of mu-zeek, he
exclaimed, and the handle hadn't
made four revolutions when the man
with the game leg began to smile.
Then he pushed his hat over on the
side of his head. Then he hitched up
his trousers, smiled some more, and
exclaimed:
By gum if that ere tune don't just
make me hop all Overt"
"Good mu-zeek, replied the Italian.
"Good! why the darned tune is
heavenly! believe if l was dyin' it
would stand me on end! I'd give bill
lion dollars if Hammer was alive and
could hear that''
He stepped out, spit Oh his hands,
and then waltzed up and down the flags,
his game leg Topping around like a
loose weather board, and his hoarse
voice bawling:
Ham Cabding Jinks
Her 'oSs marines.
While he was doing his level best the
musician touched the stop again, and
the tune changed off to " Birdie, I Am
Tired Now"
"Ah! that soothes me, that does!'
said the old man as he sat down on the
horse block. That's sunthin' more
to touch the heart and make me think
of my poor Hanner!"
I" Vary sweet mu-zeek," remarked
the Italian.
"Sweet! Great skies, but it's melt
ing! I've known that tune for long
time, but / never could sing it without
weeping. If I had a million of dollars
I'd buy hand organ and play that
tune straight along for six months
without stopping the crank"
He put his hands over his face and
appeared agitated, and the Italian
didn't seem to care whether he collect
ed cent or not. He ground the tune
out, touched the stop, and remarked:
Vary gran-de mu-zeek dis time
hal"
And "Yankee Doodle" rolled from
the little square box like sheet light
ming sliding down the side of hay
stack
Great Concord!" yelled the man
with game leg as the tune reached
Doodle dandy" "hold on minute
till I get this leg under me! Thar-let
her come now"
Whoodle, poodle. doodle-doo,
Hi, sky, doodle dandyv'
And he leaped around, slapped the
Italian on the back, threw his hat on
the walk, and continued:
" Snaix and reptiles! but don't that
tune make glory stand right out like
mud on white house! 'Rah, for US. !"
The Italian saw that crowd was
gathering, and he broke the tune short
off and sailed away on the "Suwanee
River"
The frst strains of the dear old
melody had scarcely left the box when
the man with the game leg leaned up
against box. wiped the sweat from his
brow. and said:
There's something more to remind
me of my lost Hammer! Isn't that per-
vision for the hungry soul, though!
What strains! What tears! What q
bullying of the hearth"
Every soft mu-zeek," remarked the
Italian.
"Soft! my heavens! Man, if you'll
pay my board I'll travel the whole
country over and carry that organ, jist
to hear you play that tuner'
He reached out his arms, made mo-
tons as if drawing the tune to his
breast, and whispered: