Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1880-06-19

and sat down with my face toward the
instrument In this position | distinctly
saw several Of the keys move with a
gentle undulating motion; but no sound
followed. While sat, this was repeated
more than once, and the popularity was,
that when the KEYS moved there was no
sound, and when the sounds were pro-
duced there was no perceptible motion
of the keys. ! felt the eerie feeling steal
over me again, but still sat and watched
for a repetition of the music.
My patience was all but exhausted,
when all at once the mystical perform er
resumed his PLAYING, at first in an unde-
cided hesitating manner, gradually
merging into plaintive irregular kind Of
notes, of which the faulty G was again
the KEY. When the sounds first struck
the ear, they seemed to be weak and
faint, but gradually increased in volume.
The treble movement was now and then
accompanied by a chromatic movement
on the bass notes. which though not in
accordance with the rules of harmony,
was not unpleasant to the ear. At times
run to the highest possible note;
too, the treble made rapid
then after . pause, the irregular notes
were resumed. Selling a moment when
the mysterious performer seemed much
engrossed with his task, l darted to the
instrument, when the sounds again
ceased, without affording q single clew
to their origin. l endeavored to oper
the front; but it resisted my efforts;
and as did not wish to alarm the house
hold, drew the piano forward from the
wall, gave it parting shake, and once
more curled myself up in the bed
clothes, not without fervent prayer
that the player might transfer his enter
tainment to a more appreciative au-
dience.
All. however, was unavailing; for he
shortly began again as brisk as ever; 30
bowling to the inevitable, l endeavored
to convert the disturbing performance
into well.intentioned lullaby AsI
thus lay in half-sleeping half-waking
state, no longer interested in the cause
o. the phenomenon, 1 was conscious Ufa
curious result. The strains seemed to
adapt themselves to snatches mere
snatches, of familiar airs, curiOusly
blended and interviewer. As soon as an
interval occurred that reminded me of
another jingle, it was Immediately taken
up only to give place to another. The
range of the treble seemed to be con.
fined to the third below the faulty note
and the fourth above, which of course
accounted for the plaintive character Of
the music. cannot say how long this
curious phase lasted. have, however,
:. hazy consciousness of dropping off to
sleep, iulled by these unaccouD:abls
note-ramblin9s.
In the morning I learned that none Of
the inmates had heard any thing unusual
during the night. Being, however, de-
termined to solve the puzzle, l lost No
time in returning to the room armed
with a screw-driver. When | had laid
bare the front Of the instrument. I OBJ
served that the wires of the note adjacent
to the faulty one had snapped, and its
perpendicular lever had been disjOinted
from the hammer and fallen forward on
the strings, thus forming an opening be-
tween the back and front, and estab-
fishing q communication between the
wires and the lower or horizontal levers
to which the ivories are attached. Still
no kew 70 :ES riddle presented itself. l
then proceeded to remove the levers one
by Ie, and had partially accomplished
the task when the Gordian knot of the
mystery was severed in q rather prosaic
manner. pushed the instrument back
to its original position, when out scamp
ered-not one mouse-but two, by the
slit in the back which serves for
handle. They ran along the wainscot-
ing, which happened to be on the same
level, and disappeared in press in the
corner of the room. 1t was plain that
my mystic performer had resolved him.
self into the commonplace of q couple of
mice, whose performances had been
prolonged by the cutting of of their re-
treat Still l comforted myself with
the thought that if kept my own coun-
sci there was material enough to prove
me first-class Spiritualistic medium!
An examination of their nodus ope.
rand, explained in very simple manner
the awe-inspiring phenomena of the
previous night. Mouse No. l, on pop
ri e through the opening in the per-
pendicular levers, climbed the broken
one that lay handy. purched upon the
end in contact with the wires, and. in
his efforts to ascend farther, or in the
mere pleasure of the sound, produced
the melody before referred to. Mouse
No. 9. meanwhile condemned to play
second fiddle, amused himself by creep
ing through between the snapped wires
and scampering up and down inside,
where there was barely room for him to
pass, and thus contributing the rumbling
bass and the occasional sharp runs on
the higher notes. A cross-bar for
strengthening the foot gave him a foot
hold, and vestiges of his fur on tho
larger wires rendered the explanation
more than probability. The motion of
the keys without the corresponding
sounds must have been occasioned by
their , altering on the extreme ends of
the horizontal levers, the majority of
which / found to he somewhat worn and
loose in their sockets The contingent
phenomena ! believe to have been
the unconscious prOmptingy of nv own