Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-03-03
ALPENA WEEKLY ARGUS.
MISCELLANEOUS.
WHEN plPERs PLAY.

A piper started out to play
The tunes that he had le0rned;
Fov II had been long. long day
Since money he had earned.
"And now" said he, I'm mako amends,
And NIL my purse with cash,
And win the favor of my friends
BY doing nothing RASH
And so tho piper wandered down
Until no came 10 the nearest town,
Where loom and spindle. shuttle and wheel,
Where all of them dancing IA lively reel;
Now back and forth, now dOs-d-dOs,
Turn your partners, then heel and toei
And tho cheerful rhythm went out and out
To tho hills and tho valleys round about;
And the piper heard. as he strolled that way,
And wondered what tune he had better play
Andanto accompaniment.
His heart was sad for his purse was low,
And he was weary and worn, and so
He tuned his pipes TO solemn whinc, .
And woke the echoes of AUD Lang Syno."
He played so slowly, and, oh! so sad.
Was the tune, that every lassie and lad
Forgot the shuttle and beam TO ply,
And stopped their work TO have good CRY.
The tailors sat as IL I'm a dream,
And could not see how to sew mp seam
And with fine garments played the deuce
BY lingering with red.hot goose.
Tho cobblers likewise pliod their trade
In time with tunes the piper played;
And back and forth the wax ends passed,
As though each stitch would be their last
The miller stopped TO wipe the dust
From out of his eyes-since weep he must.
The very dogs, with ears hung down,
Whined piteously through the town
And cats, by way of interludc,
In agonzing concert mewed.
At every window there were seen
Young men and maidons of every mien;
And all, from servants unto chief
Assumed an attitude of grief,
And those who had been "dry" for years
Wept few sympathetic tears.
The wheels went slowly round and round
ASH by hindering letters bound;
And folks that were not fond of work
Found here good excuse TO shirk.
The piper said: "Why this is ine.
Since they enjoy these tunes or mine.
I'll play them through and All my purse,
Lest going further, fare worse"
But though the people freely cried,
Tho piper's wants were not supplied,
Though all around mis- eyes he rolled
In hopes to sec shower Of gold;
For soon the masters who were chief
In the surrender unto grief
Began TO look around and see
That so much dun solcmnity
Their business interests would dcpress
And I'LL them with uneasincss.
SO cobblcr, carpenter, miller, too,
And tailor, without more ado,
Came down to where the piper played
And sad: Good SIR, you hurt our. trade!
Be on! Move on" they cried; and so
The sorrowing piper had to go.
Again the piper started out
a lesson he had learned, no doubt
And wandered chccrfully adown
The road that led to this same town.
He thought, ere yet he entered I'm,
brave good tune he would begin,
And so'his pipes began TO NIL
While yet he stood upon the hill.
Allegro accompaniment,
Then "Roy's wife of AldavnllOch!
Roy's wife of Aldavnllock!
Wot yc how she treated me
AS we camo DER the braes o. Ballochv
So loud and clear, so gay and sweet,
Brought all tho children TO the street;
And as the piper made advance
Young men and MAIDS began to dance,
While all the shuttles nil the wheels,
Kept time to Highland jigs and reels.
The miller had hearty laugh:
With lively motions few the chat,
And all the cobblers buckled to
And hummod as merry Crispins do.
The tailors quick their needles sped,
Yet, though in haste, ne'er broke tho thread;
Because of the tunes the piper played.
So Fishers Hornpipc," money Musk"
The piper played from dawn till dusk,
And many another cheerful tune
That had an ending all too soon.
And from the windows, here and there;
The people learned to catch the air
The piper played from door to door,
Nor dreamed they'd seen his face before.
When night came on his breath was spcnt,
Yet with his gains he was content;
For all his pockets round about
With solid wealth were sticking out.
"Hol Hol' no laughed. These pipes of minc
That once were sad and saturnine,
Have served me well to-day, and |
Am not at all disposed to cry.
Hal Ha! I'd rather laugh instead;
For now shall not lack for bread
And light of heart my pipe III play,
Increase my fortunes day by day;
And let whoever will be rash
And draw the tcars-Ill draw the cash."
The boon they covct they will lose
And fnture trade, and pipe in vain,
If they keep up dismal strain
Josephine Pollard in " Y. Independent.