Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1881-01-27
TIVE STRANGE PIANIST.

=" iooo There Was a little camp about
ten miles from Phoebe, occupied bv up-
ward of about 300 miners, every one Of
whom might have packed his prospect
ing implements and left for more invit.
ing fields any time before sunset. When
the day was over these men did not rest
from their labors, ike the honest New
England agriculturist, but sang, danced
gambled and shot each other. as the
mool seized them.
One evening the report spread along
the main street (Which was the only
street, that three men had been killed at
Silver Reef, and that the bodies were
coming IN. Presently o numbering old
conveyance labored up the hill, drawn
by couple OF horses well worn out with
their pull. The cart contained a good
sized box, and no sooner did its outlines
become visible through the glimmer Of
a stray light here and there than it be-
gan to affect the oilers. Death always
enforces respect. aud even though no one
had caught sight of the remains the
crowd gradually became subdued, and
when the horses came to a tand-still the
cart was Immediately surrounded. The
driver, however, was not in the least
impressed with the solemnity of his COM
mission.
He began to pry up the lid, got
board off, and then pulled off some old
rags. A strip of something dark, like
rosewood, presented itself
eastern collins, by thunder Z" said
several. and the crowd looked quite as
tonished.
Presently the whole Of the box cover
was of, and the teamster, clearing away
the packing, revealed to the astonished
group the top of something which puz.
lied all alike
Had dozen dead men been in the
box, their presence in the camp could
not have oecasioned half the excitement
that the arrival of that lovely piano
caused. BY the next morning it was
known that the instrument was to grace
a hurdy-gurdy saloon owned by Tom
Goskin, tho leading gambler in the
place. 1t took nearly q week to get this
wonder on its legs, and the owner was
the proudest individual in the State.
1t rose gradually from recumbent to
am upright position, amid confusion of
tongues, after the manner of the Tower
of Babel.
OF course everybody knew Just how
such ON instrument should be PIT up.
One knew where the "off hind leg !"
should SO, and another was posted on
the "front piece.
Scores OF men came to the place every
day TO assist, and all took the liveliest
interest in it. 1t was at last In condi-
ton for business.
'sIt's been showing its teeth all the
week. Wa'd like to have it spit out
something"
Alas there wasn't man to be found
who could play upon the instrument.
Goskin began to realize that he had a.
losing speculation on his hands. lie
had fiddler, and Mexican who
thrummed a guitar. A pianist would
have made his orchestra complete. One
lay q three-card monte player told
friendconiidentially that he could KNOCK
any amount Of music out Of piano, ii
he only had it alone few minutes to
get his Land in" The report spread
about the camp, but on being ques-
toned he vowed that he didn't know
note OF music. 1t was noted, however,
as q suspicious circumstance, that he
often hung about the instrument, and
looked upon it longingly, like o hungry
man gloating over beefsteak in o res
taurant window. There was no doubt
out that this man had music IN his
soul, perhaps in his fingers ends, but
dill not dare to make trlal OF his
strength after the rules OF harmony had
,aiIered so many years OF neglect. 30
the fiddler kept on with his ligs, and the
greasy Mexican paved his discordant
guitar. but no man lad the nerve to
touch that piano. There were doubt
less scores of men in the camp who
would have given ten ounces of gold
dust TO have been half an hour alone
with il. but every mans nerve shrank
from the ieers which the crowd would
shower upon him should his first at
tempt prove a failure. &C got to be gem
orally understood that the hand which
irst essayed to draw music from the
keys must not SLOUGH its work.
Tt was Christmas eve, and Goskin, nc
eording to his custom, had decorated
l,is rambling he'll with sprigs Of mount
I'm cedar aud u shrub whose crimson
herr. as did not seem o bad imitation OF
Eaglish holly. The piano was covered
WITH everereens, and all that was want
mo to completely fill the cup Of Goskln' 8
nontentment was man to play that
piano. :.a
"Christmas night and 10 piano
FOUNDER" he said. "Ihis IS nice
country for a Christian 70 live IN.
Getting a piece of paper, he scrawled
the words:
$50 Reward
Tc compliant PiAner Player.
This he stuck up on the music-rack,
and. though the inscription glared az
the freauenters Of the room until mid