Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-08-04
".Musie Hath Charms.v

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'iiiusic Hath Charms.v
The following was related to me bv an
eye-witness-an old man now, but with this
scene as vividly fixed on his memory as
though it had occurred yesterday.
In the year 1888, man named Tappan
moved, with his family, from New York 10
the far Western country, said family con-
sisting, besides himself, of a wife and six
daughters. lie. had failed in business was
broken IN spirit, and his children, he thought,
needed fresh air; 50 he accepted, as a gift
from his brother, a large tract Of land, upon
the edge Of a wilderness, and settled thereon.
Very soon, enterprising people began to set
tie beyond him, and there came TO be much
travel past his door, aud, as an act Of
humanity, he frequently entertained way
tarers. As these calls upon his hospitality
became more and more frequent, he enlarged
his house to meet the requirements Of
comfortable inn, and put up the inn-keep-
er's sign.
Not long after this, a party Of Young men.
eight or ten in number, well mounted, were
returning, by q roundabout way, from an
electioneering expedition They had stopped
| at every tavern on their route, and toward
the middle Of the afternoon they reined up
IN front OF Iappan's door, pretty well under
the influence of various kinds Of fiery fluid,
and having dismounted and secured their
! horses, they entered the house. and noisily
demanded whiskey
Now it so happened that Mr. Tappan and
his wife were both awav, and only his
daughters were in charge and it also hap
pened that the host, being a rigid and CON
scientious teetotaler had never kept any
spurious liquors in the house. OF this fact
they were informed by the Oldest daughter,
handsome, intelligent girl of eighteen.
But the riotously yinclined invaders had no
care just then for female beauty, nor were
they moved by the fear and distrust of the
frightened girls; lst they still demanded
whiskey, and when they became assured that
they could not have it, they resolved that
they would cut down the sign before tho
door, and the leader so informed the young
lady
You may do as you please, gentlemen
she said, shrinking, while her little sisters
gathered around her for protection al can
not prevent YOU"
=" a tavern sign, and no whiskey Such
sign is a base fraud"
Aye--down with i'll"
Where is your axe ? ~"
" You will find it somewhere by the wood.
pile, sir"
Three or four Of the party made rush
for the wood-pile, cursing as they went, while
the leader of the gang, young man who
would have been decidedly handsome if he
had been himself with others Of his COM
panions, took notion TO overhaul the house,
insisting that there must be drop of
something" somewhere. And we may here
say that the whole party considered them
and respectfully connected.
In asmall, well-furnished apartment, apart
from the guests room, was found piano
forte.
"Hallo cried the leader, who plays on
this Can you 2"
ait is mine, sir" said the girl thus adj
dressed
"And can you play ?"
AYES, SIR"
"Can you sing y"
sing sometimes, SIR
"Will you sing and play for US :"
With pleasure, SIR"
She opened the piano, and sat down and
played and sang "The Maden's PRAYER"
Her voice was clear, musical and sweetly
rich, and the accompaniment was played
with rare skill and grace. The little sisters
| gathered in a semi-circle around the instru-
ment, and the heretofore riotous men-but
riotous men no more---drew nearer aud
nearer, upon the outside Some of them
had never heard piano before, and not one
of them had ever heard sweeter music. AZ
ter pause, at the conclusion of the piece
the leader spoke again, but in strangely
subdued tone.
"Will you sing for us another song?"
And she played and sang that sweet song,
The Old Home"
The men who had gone in search of the
axe hearing the music, had left the wood
pile and entered the house.
Other songs were sung, in several of which
the younger sisters Joined. The riotous
spirits were all subdued, and half the party
had wet their cheeks. Their sympathies
were aroused, their hearts were opened, and
the best part of their natures brought to the
surface; and when they had taxed the fair
songstress so far that they felt ashamed to
tax her more, they thanked her heartily and
Withdrew with as much decorum as might
have been exhibited had they been retiring
from before the throne of monarch.
A year after this event Mr.. Tappan chanced
TO be in jacksonville on business, where he
was introduced to Philip st. Clair, a rising
young lawyer Of the place.
Is this the Mr.. Tappan. who, one year
ago, kept a public house on the Cloud Hill
road ?" asked St Clair.
The same, SIR"
And !, sir" pursued the lawyer, "was
the leader of that party of riotous men who
so shamefully frightened your daughters. |
suppose they told you of the circumstance"
Yes, sir"
Wen, Mr.. Tappan, from that night have
not touched as a beverage any intoxicating
drink. | would like to see your eldest daugh-
ter, and tell her of the blessing her sweet
music bestowed upon me-"
Mr.. Tappan knew st. Clair well by repu-
tation, and cheerfully invited him TO call
whenever he could make it convenient.
st. Clair once more visited the wayside
inn, the result Of which was that in less than
another month the sweet songstress had be-
come his wife.
"My blessed angel" he said, clasping her
TO his bosom when she was his own TO cherish
and protect, "never can | sufficiently thank
heaven for the providence that led me within
| IL Of