The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1875-06-30

4
Yesterday a hand -organist sat down
| began to turn out sweet melodies, but
the frst tune had not been finished
when an odd-looking man, about 5O
years old, having a game leg and a
generally forlorn look, came along
/ and halted in front of the italian.
Nov, that is sweet he said after
| a moment; ''carries me right back to
the days when me and Hannah sat on
the back stoop and squoze hands and
told our love-"
Opera muzeek," replied the Ital-
ian, smiling at the enthusiasm OF his
audience. .
Wall, now, but it touches me right
game leg. laying his hand on his
cryin' for fourteen years before.
Seems zif I heard angels buzzing
block, folded his arms. and his look
and attitude were those of man
whose heart was filed with sad
thoughts and painful memories. just
as the tears were starting to his eyes,
the organist moved the stop, increased
the speed, and captain Jinks' was
merrily ratified off. sN..f. lET
sSome odder kind of mu-zeek, he
explained, 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 trowsers, smiled some more,
exclaimed: by gum! if that ere
! tune don't just make me hop all
overr
Good mu-zeek," replied the Ital-
ian.
"Goodl Why, the darned tune is
heavenly! l believe if was dyin' it
would stand me on end I'd give a
billion dollars il Hannah was alive
and could hear that
He stepped out, spit on his hands.
and then waltzed UP and down on the
ilags, his game leg Topping around
sike loose weather-board and his
hoarse voice bawling:
"Ham Cabding links
Her oss marbles"
While he was doing his level best
the musician touched the stop again,
aud the tune changed off on to
Birdie, 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 Hannah" !"
Vary sweet mu-zeek, remarked
the Italian.
Sweet | Great skies! but it's melt,
ingi I've known that tune for a long
time, but [ never could sing it yet
without weeping. If l had a million
dollars, I'd buy hand-organ and
play that tune straight along for six
mouths without stopping the crank. :"
He put his hands over his face and
appeared agitated, and the Italian
didu't seem to care whether he col
lected cent or not. He ground the
tune out, touched the stop and re-
marked:
vary gran dc mu-zeek dis-a p
Aud Yankee Doodle" rolled from
the little square box like sheet light
ming sliding down the side of hay
stack.
"Great Concord p yelled the man
with the game leg as the tune reached
doodle dandy" Hold on a minute
till [ get this leg under me! Thar
let her come now
"WhoodIe, poodle, doodle-d!
Hi, sky, doodle dandy"
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 a white house? Rah for
usv
The italian saw that a crowd was
gathering. and he broke the tune short
oil and sailed away on the ''Suawanee
River" ~
The first strains of the dear old
melody had scarcely left the box when
the man with the game leg leaned up
against a tree-box, wiped the sweat
from his brow and said ya
"Theres s something more to remind
me of my lost Hannah Isn't that
pervisiops for the hungry soul,
though! What strainsi What tears !
What bulging Of the heart "
"Vary soft muzeek," remarked the
Italian :eaa
'.Soft! My heavens, man! if you'll
pay my board III travel the whole
country over and carry that organ,
list to hear you play that tune -
lie reached out his arms. made mo-
tions as if drawing the tune to his
breast and whispered:
''G-lory! When l die, let me lis
ton to the strains of ''Suawanee
Riverw
The organist shouldered his box
and moved on, and the man with the
game leg leaned up against the fence
and wiped his eyes.-DetrOit Free
Press.