The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1889-02-13
- RAEzrf
For a cenpesent fiznacT Payer

- RAzzrd
For a Cs-npsiezt EznlcT Player.
This he stuck up ON the music rack,
aad though the inscription glared at the
frequenters Of the room until midnight,
it failed to draw any musician from his
shell.
30 the merry making went on; the hi
larify grew apaee Men danced and sang
to the music Of the sqreaky fiddle and
worn out guitar, and the jolly crowd with
in tried 10 dro sn the howllng storm with
out Suddenly they became aware Of the
presence Of whiie-haired man er0ach-
ing near the fireplace.
His garments, such a. were Ieil, were
wet with snow, and be had halfsiarv-
ed. half-erazed expression. He held his
thin, trembling hands toward the IRE,
and the light Of the blazing wood made
them almost transparent He looked
about him once in awhile as though in
sesrch Of something, and bis. presence
cast such chill oves the place that grad
ualiy the sound Of the reyeIry xas hush
ed, and It seemed that this waif Of the
storm lad brought IN with il all of the
gloom and coldness Of the xarring eie-
menis- Goskin, making up cup Of hot
eggnog, advanced and remarked cheeri-
~
Here. stranger, brace up This is the
real stuff
The man drained the cup, smacked his
Hp-, and seemed more at home.
Been prospecting. hey2 Oat in the
mouniaius-ca1ght il the storm. Lively
Eight, this -
Pretty bad, said the man.
Must feel pretty dry
The man booked at gsis streaming clothes
and laughed, as If Goskins remark was
sarcasm.
How long out -
-Four days
Hungry
The nan rose up, and, walking over 70
the lunch counter, fell to work upon some
roast bear, devouring it ike any wild an
imal would have done. As the meat and
drink and warmth began to pernea;e
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 vas not in the grave As
be underwent these changes the people
about him got merrier and happier, and
threw of the feeling Of depression which
he had laid upon them.
DO you always have yoar place deco
rated Ike this - he finally asked Of
Goskin.
This i Christmas eve was the reply.
The stranger was startled
December 2ish, sure enough
That's the way put Il up, pari-r
~When I w4s in England l always
kept Christmas, but had forgotten that
this is the night. I've been wandering
about IN the mountains until ] have lost
track Of all the fessts Of the church.
Presently his eve fell upon the piano.
Where's the plAysrsH he asked
Never had any, said Guskin, blush
Ing.
q used to play when I was young
Goskin almost tainted at the admis-
sion.
Stranger, tackle it and give u.s. tune
Nary man in this camp ever had the
nerve to wrestle zith that music box
His pulse beat faster for ne feared that
the man would. Ike all others, refuse
him
a. III do the best / can, ke said.
There vas no stool, but seizing candle
box, he drew it upand seated himself be-
fore the instrument. It only required 4
few seconds TO send a hush over the
room.
That old coon is going TO give the
thing a rattle
The sight Of a man sitting at the piano
was something 50 unusual that even the
faro dealer. who was about to take in a
fifty dollar bet on the tray. paused, and
did nos reach for the money. Men stop
ped drinking. with their glasses at their
H.s. Conversation seemed to have been
struck sish a sort Of paralysis, and cards
were no longer shuffied-
The old ulau brushed back his long
white locks. looked up To the ceiling.
half closed his eyes, and Ia mystic sort
Of reverie passed his fingers over the keys
He touched but single note, yet the
sound thrilled the room Il was the key
to his improvisation. and az be we've his
cords together the music laid ~ spell
upon every ear and heart. He felt his
way along the KEYS Ike man tseadiBg
uncertain paths, but he gained confidence
as ne progressed, ard presently bent to
his work ike master. The instrument
was not in exact tone. but the ears Of bis
audience, through long disuse, did not
detect anything radically wrong
They heard a succession Of grand
chords, and that was enough.
Ses him counter with his len sad
an old rougb.-
He calls the turn every siIae or the
upper end Of the board Responded
man With = stack Of chips in his hand
The player wandered OF 10 the old
ballads they had heard at home Al 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 ike
dough and squeezed cut the tears as from
a vet sponge. As the strains flowed one
upon the other, they saw their homes Of
long ago reared again they were playing
ouce more where the apple blossoms