News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-04-10

| ''AJ NOtlt HSS' :,
"That's l.! That's what l expected
to hear! WHAT'S the matter with my
age? l am neither blind. specchiess o..
crippled. Pliny went at it and learned
six language after he was seventy
years old"
"Wcll, 1 suppose you brought home
the harp?"
Eyes. It's beauty, and l got it
cheap. It's n real Givoni, and bought
it of a man who was hard up. Got it
for $50 and it's worth So"
"And you will try to learn to play
it?r
"Certainly. 1 had ono lesson this
afternoon, and i'll less than month
I'll astonish YOU"
"You will practice in the garnet, !
suppose"
mot By jugfull I shall practice
right here! That is, there won't be
much practice about it, as shall be
PLAYING tunes by Saturday,.
lie uncovered and brought in q
greasy, ill-shapcd harp, which locke"
as if it had been carried around the
country since the days of Columbus,
and when he saw me looking at it he
| said:
This harp was made by Givoni him
self over 100 years ago."
"Who was Givoni?"
"Who was Givoni? Why don't you
ask who George Washington was"
"Well, it's my opinion that you have
been swindled on the instrument, and
l fear you arc too old to take up such
music"
edo you? That's nice way to en-
courage husband! l sec now why so
many men run out nights. not only
saved $40 in buying this harp,
but I'll make your heart ache with
jealousy before The month is ovcrw
lie sat down and began TO thrum.
He held his head on enc side, run out
tongue, and picked away at the scale,
and he had been going about five min
utes when the cook opened the door,
beckoned me out, and whispered:
% l give you notice that shall leave
after supper Tomorrow
"Why; what is it?' asked.
"IIin-Mr. Bowser! He'll bring
spooks and ghosts about! I have
already been taken with palpitation of
the heart. Mcrcyl but listen to those
voices of tic dead calling out to each
other across their graves! Mrs. Bow
ser, it's the wonder of the people that
You .on't commit suicidc"
Mr.. Bowscr thrummcd until had
to carry baby upstairs to quiet his
howls. and until the ends of his fingers
were sore. and he wouldn't have quit
when lac did, had not u voice In front
of the house shouted:
"Why don't some one throw a rock
through the window or ring for the
patrol wagon?"
Next day dark-skinned man who
said he was grandson of the late
Givoni, came mp and gave Mr.. Bowser
q lesson, and the cook, who had almost |
consented to stay, suddenly rose up
and :ushcd after her bundle. When |
ready to go she whispered to me:
"Im sorry, mum; sorry for vou
that left! If the child dies, send me
word and Ill come and do all in my
power"
Mr.. Bowscr took four lessons in all
and tfen tpld his teacher that his SER
vices would be no ling required. He
took the last two lessons in the barn in
order, as he said, to surprise me. On
the evening of the last lesson lie
brought in the harp just rs a couple of
the neighbors came in. He responded
10 an invitation 10 show off, but had
not labored two minutes when one of
the gentlemen asked:
"Have you any particu or object in
that, Mr.. Dowser.
.'Of course he has," replied the
other. alt is an imitation of calam-
ity in Japan-building shaken down
by an earthquake-fames devouring
the ruins-husbands shouting-wives
PRAYING - children sobbing - dogs
barking, etc. Is it your own compo-
sition. Mr.. Bowser?"
''Why-why don't 1 play al right?
The teacher said l was making won
derful progress"
They bcckoned him out into the al
ley AID held q conference. What was
said do not know, but when Mr..
Bowser came in he looked very pale,
and the first thing he did was to give
the harp a sharp kick which opened all
the joints and prepared it for the crash
which came when he flung it out
doors.
"NIr. Bow or, have you gone crazy"
| demanded
''No, ma'am, but Pvc got few
words TO say 10 yon!"
"What have l donc?"
"Donel Done! Who coaxcd me
into buying harp?"
"Thc grandson of Givoni. He hal
IN old harp he wanted to get rid of.
and he struck you for fiat and got
twice its worth"
"Struck me for flat!" he shouted ;;
IS he walked around on the cat. s.And d,
why? Because l was willing to be !
'windled TO keep peace in the family. /,
on had your mind set On harp and Il,
larp you must have" >
''Mr. Bowscr! What did want of
/ harp" u
'lieavcn only knows. But for YOU
should never have thought of trying }
o play OH it. What do YOU suppose
hat Greene and Davis said ?"
"That You were q Ounce"
"That if their wives led them around =
~ the nose as you do me that they'd
' |
ulcluc! L must have looked sweet =
lawdiing over that old harp!"
"1ou did. l told YOU that il WINS
lonscnse your trying TO learn music at
our age"
"My age! There you gol AmIa
thousand years old? Am / five buu-
lrcd? Am cvcu one hundred. ot Z
gu keep ninging it at mel Musi.l !,
' ny I've more music in my big toe y
nan You have III your whole body. =
lrs' 7owser, this is the limit. You y
ave gone far enough. Now beware :.
he worm is ready TO Iurn!' II
But next morning the worm was as 7
lcasant as juno, and when a crowd of Il
dozen boys paradcd up and down, 9
ach har ing OH piece of that harm
IT. Bowscr never let on that bo saw o