The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1881-05-10

sarcasm.
How long out?''
-Four days"
Hungry?'
The man rose up, and, walking over to
the lunch-counter, fell to work on some
roast bear, devouring 1t like any wild ami
NAL would have done. As meat and
drink and warmth began to permeate the
stranger, he seemed to expand and tighten
| up. His features lost their pallor and he
grew more and more content with the
| idea that he was not in the grave AS he
underwent these changes the people about
him got merrier and happier, and threw
off the temporary feeling Of depression
which had laid upon them
" Do YOU always have yo1r place deco
rated ike this :" he finally asked of Cos
kin
This is Christmas eve' was the re-
ply.
: December 9th, sure cloagh."
That's the way put /; up, parl."
When was in Eng and / always
kept Christmas. But lad forgotten
that this was the night. I've been wan
dering about the mountains until I've
lost all track Of the feasts of the church"
Presently his eye fell upon the piano
." Where the player" he asked.
Never had any, said G4skin, blush
ing at the confession.
| used to play when was Young
Goskin almost tainted at the admis-
sion.
Stranger, do tackle it, and give us a
tune. Nary man in this camp ever had
the nerve to wrestle with that musc-box.'
His pulse beat faster, for he feared that
the man would refuse
"Tll DO the best I can" he said.
There was no stool, but seizing can
die box, he drew it up and seated him
SELF before the instrument. 1t required
only few seconds for a hush to come
over the room.
That old coon is soirg to give the
thing a rattle
The sight of man at the piano was
something SO unusual that even the faro
dealer, who was about to take in a $50
bet on the tray, paused and did not reach
With Pr 'hs tae @GRs gGassSs at fRR tRRair lips Converse
tion appeared to have been struck with
sort OF paralysis, and cards were no
longer shuffied.
The old man brushed back his long
white locks, looked mp at the ceiling, half
closed his eyes, and in mystic sort of
reverie, passed his fingers over the keys.
He touched but single note, vet the
sound thrilled the room 1t was the key
10 his improvisation, and as he wove his
chord, together the music laid its spell
upon every ear and heart. He felt his
way along the keys, Ike man treading
uncertain llaths; but be gained confidence
as lie PROGRESSED, and presently bent to
his work like a master The instrument
was not in exact tune, but the ear of his
audience. through long disnse, did not
detect anything radically wrong. They
heard 4 Succession Of paradise, melodies
here and there and it was enough"
"See him counter with his left said
an old rough, enrapt ured.
g He calls the turn every time on the
upper end Of the board" responded q
man with q stack of chips in his hand
The player wandered off into the old
ballads they had heard at home. All the
sad and melancholy and touching songs,
that came up like dreams of childhood, this
unknown player drew from the keys. His
hands kneaded their hearts like dough,
and squeezed out the tears as from wet
sponge. As the strains flowed one upon
the other, they saw their homes of the
long ago reared again; they were playing
once more where the apple blossoms sank
through the soft air to join the violets on
the green turf of the old New England
States they saw the glories of the Wis
consin NAPLES and the haze Of the Indian
Summer blending their hues together
they saw the heather of the Scottish hills,
the white cliffs of Briton, and heard the
sullen roar of the sea, as it beat upon
their memories vaguely. Then came all
the old Christmas carols, such as they
had sung in church thirty years before !;
the subtle music that brings up the glim-
mer of wax tapers, the solemn shrines,
the evergreen, holly, mistleto and sur
pliced choirs. Then the remorseless per-
former planted his final stab in every
heart with g Home, Sweet Home"
When the player ceased the crowd
skunk from him. There was no more rev.
elry and devilment left in his audience.
Each man wanted to sneak off to his
cabin and write the old folks letter
The day was breaking when the last man
left the place, and the player laid his
head upon the piano and fell asleep.
$ l say, pard," said Goskin, " don't you
want some rest
| +" / teel tired" the old man said Per
haps you will let me rest here for day
| or two?'
He walked behind the bar, where some
old blankets were lying, and stretched
himself upon them.
f" l feel pretty sick. | guess ] won't
last long I've got brother down in
the ravine-his name is Driscoll He
doesn't know that am here. Can you
get him before morning? I'd ike to see
his face before die"
Goskin started up at the mention OF
the name. He knew Driscoll well.
g He your brother? I'll have him here
in half an hour"
As he dashed out into the storm the
musician pressed his hand to his side and
! groaned. Goskin heard the word !. Hur-
ryF' and sped down the ravine to Dris-
coils cabin.
It.was quite light in the room when the