Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-16
yt9isfellauepns &eadiug.
THE PIANO IN THE MINING CAMP.

InE flANV IN 1nL mANhNU O'AhA'
1t was Christmas eve in California mining
town in 1858, and Goskin, according to his
custom, had decorated his gambling house
with sprigs of mountain cedar, and shrub
whose crimson berries did not seem bad i'm
itaton of English holly. The piano was COW
cred with evergreens, and all that was wanting
to completely fill the cup of Goskin's content
ment was man to play that piano.
''Christmas night and no piano pounder," !"
he said. "This is a nice country for Chris
tian to live in."
Getting a piece of paper he scrawled the
words: "S100 Reward To compliant Pianer
Player" This he stuck up on the music rack,
and, though the inscription glared at the fire.
quenters of the room until midnight, it failed
to draw any musician from the shell. So the
merry making went on; the hilarity grew apace.
Men danced and sang to the music OF the
squeaky fiddle and worn out guitar, as the
Jolly crowd within tried to drown the howl
ing of the storm without. Suddenly they be-
came aware Of the presence Of white haired
man crouching near the Fireplace. His gar
ments, such as were left, were wet with melt
ing snow and he had a half-starved, half
crazed expression. He held his thin, tremb-
ling hands towards the fire, and the light OF
the blazing wood made them almost transpa-
rent. He looked about him once in while,
as if in search of something, and his presence
cast such chill over the place that gradually
the sound of revelry was hushed, and it SEEM
ed that this waif of the storm had brought in
with it all the gloom and coldness Of the war
ring elements. Goskin, mixing up cup OF
hot egg-nog, advanced and remarked, cheerily
ssHere, stranger, brace up! This is the
real stuff
The man drained the cup, smacked his lips,
and seemed more at home.
ssBeen prospecting, ell ? Out in the noun
caught in the storm? Lively night,
this ~
s'Pretty bad" said the man.
"Must feel pretty dry ~
The man looked at his streaming clothes and
laughed, as if Goskin's remark was sarcasm.
''How long out?"
s'Four days." ..--.
''Hungry ?"
The man rose up, and walking over to the
lunch counter, fell to work on roast bear, de-
vouring it like any wild animal would have
done. As meat and drink and warmth began
to permeate the stranger, he seemed to expand
and brighten up. His features lost their pal
lor, and he grew more and more content with
the idea that he was not in the grave. AS ne
underwent these changes the people about him
YOU u6IElcl dllu udpplCA3 olu oLiS" VA sAS
Temporary feeling of depression which had
laid upon them Presently his eye fell upon
the piano. ..
'sWhere's the player ?' he asked:
ssNever had any," said Goskin, blushing at
the confession.
II used to play when was young"
Goskin almost tainted at the admission.
STRANGER, do tackle it, and give us tune.
Marry man in this camp ever had the nerve to
wrestle with that music box" His pulse
beat faster, for he feared that the man would
refuse.
There was no stool, but seizing candle
box, he drew it up and seated himself before
the instrument. 1t only required few seconds
for hush to come over the room.
"That old coon is going to give the thing
rattle" '...
The sight of man at the piano was some
thing so unusual that even the faro-dealer,
who was about to take in $50 bet on the tray,
paused and did not reach for the money. Men
stopped drinking with the glasses at their lips.
Conversation appeared to have been struck
with sort of paralysis, and cards were no
longer shufaed. ..
The old man brushed back his long, white
locks, looked up to the ceiling, half closed MS
eyes, and in mystic sort of reverie passed MS
fingers over the keys. He touched but single
note. vet the sound thrilled the room. 1t was
the key to his improvisation, and as he woVe
his chords together the music laid its spell
upon every ear and heart. He felt his way
along the keys, like man treading uncertain
paths: but he gained confidence as he pro-
crossed and presently bent to his work like
master. The instrument was not in exact tune,
but the ears of his audience, through long dis
use, did not detect anything radically wrong.
They heard succession OF grand chords, q
suggestion of paradise, melodies here and
there and it was enough.
'See him counter with his lett ~ sald an
old rough, enraptured.
ssHe calls the turn every time on the upper
end of the board" responded man with
stack of chips in his hand.
The player wandered in the old ballads ne
had heard at home. All the sad and me!an-
choly and touching songs, that came up, ike
dreams of childhood, this unknown player
drew from the keys. His hands kneaded their
hearts like dough, and squeezed out 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 Wisconsin NAPLES ana tne
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 they had sung IN tne
church thirty years before; the subtle music
that brings up the glimmer of the wax taper,
the solemn shrines, the evergreen, holly, mis-
tletoe, and surpliced choirs. Then the re-
morseless performer planted his stab IN every
heart with 'suome, Sweet Home" When the
PLAYER ceased, the crowd skunk away from him
There was no more revelry left in his audience
Each man wanted to sneak off to his caDl1
and write the old folks letter. The day was
breaking as the last man left the place, ane
the player, laying his head down on the piano
fell asleep.
81 say, pard, " said Goskin, ''don't you want
a little rest ?'
ssI feel tired" the old man said. "Perhap
you'll let Inc rest here for the matter of da!
or so.''
He walked behind the bar, where some olt
blankets were lying, and stretched hi1nsel
upon them.
's'I feel pretty sick. 1 guess won't las
long. I've got brother down the ravine-hl
names Driscoll He don't know Pm here
Can you get him before morning I'd like
see his face once more before I die"
GOskin started up at the mention OF tn
name He knew Driscoll well.