Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1889-10-26
Dixie Did It,

Near there was a blind man. In
one hand he held a fiddle. With the
other he clung to the ragged shirt of
Il dirty little street gamin.
The whistle Of an engine was
heard.
Here she comes" shouted one of
the negro pOrterS.
Through the darkness and the
drenching rain could be seen the
headlight Of the Memphis & Charles
ton train coming from Memphis.
The heavens seemed to have open
ed and the rain fell in great sheets
a cloudburst, almost.
The train stopped. a few passen-
gers jumped off and hurried under
the shed.
The blind man, clinging to his fid-
die, was led into the second>clasS car
by the ragged negro boy When
seated he searched his pockets and
pulled out an old knife and single
nickel. He gave the nickle to the
boy, who showed it between his thick
lips. and it was lost to view behind
Il heavy row of teeth of pure white.
And then, with a broad grin of con-
tentment in his ebony face, the negro
scurried out into the darkness and
rain and was lost to sight.
On the face of the blind mamie
was a young man-WaS an express
sion which seemed to say: 81 am
blind, but yet l live, and although
there is no light here there is light
ahead"
He was not beggar, still he was
penniless. The last nickel it seemed
his fiddle could earn had gone to pay
the boy who led him to the train.
The train moved off. The blind
man put his fiddle to his shoulder,
and as the rain fell outside, the light
ming flashed in the darkness and the
thunders roared like unto a great bat
tie, the soul-inspiring notes of Dixie
rang through the car.
A brilliant flash Of lightning-we
could see it as it struck great oak
and ran out upon its every branch
until there was tree of living flame
IA peal of thunder-then ten thous-
and other peals that sounded like the
whole world was in battle outside
and through it all the gay and in
spring notes Of Dixie.
Forward, boys! double quick
We must take that battery" yelled
an old veteran, who had been slum-
bering in seat, as he jumped into
the aisle.
"Well, by gosh" he said in aston.
iShment, as he looked around, elf !
didn't think | was in my old brigade
charging that yankee battery. I'll
be darned if didn't think we was
in it sure 'nOugh. Why, gol darn it,
that fellow has got music all through
him-an' that thunder-if it wasn't
Just like the roar of cannon Pm
well, it do beat ALL"
"rckets," cried the conductor as
he entered the car"
81 amt got much, but here's {
quarter" SAID the old veteran, plac,
ing it in the hand of the blind fid
der.
The blind man held his quarter ou
and said he wanted to 90 to Chatta'
noOga.
"But this will only take you to TIT
next station" said the conductor
"FIere we are now" You must pay
your fare or get off,"
"Well, | suppose | must" replied
the blind man. "Tll try to make
enough here to carry me on to-mor
row."
Just then the train stopped. Thu
station was little shanty in which
a dim light burned. There were. NJ
houses in sight. The rain was falling
in torrents, the wind blew almost ;
gale, and the thunders pealed anC
the lightning flashed, but the conduc
tor Caled not"
Come, quick and get off, | say
The blind man gathered up hi
fiddle and arose.
Come, hurry-you must get off,
and the so-called dutiful cOnducto
with his punch of power caught hin
by the arm to throw him out into tn,
darkness and the storm.
"Hold theren' yelled an old con
federate veteran. "What's the fare
to Chattanooga"
1.-TWO dollars and forty>One cents,
replied the conductor, consulting hi
book as he drew back.