The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-11-05
MUSIC FOR A NICKEL.
How an old Song Touched n Saioou
Lounger's Heart.

Loungcr's Heart.
He had been seen in the saloon before
mot every day, but when it was rain
ing or when the policeman jostled him
off the corner He never had much
money, probably not more than $40 all
told in half year. The fellow may
have been in better condition at one
time in his life. But there was nobody
who could swear to that For years
he had been only lounger in a long,
rusty coat, which he kept well buttoned
to cloak still more aged raiment. Yet
this young fellow (for he was not old)
had good face, and this had served
him well on more than one occasion.
He came shuffling into the saloon the
other day just as he had done many
times before. AS a rule he was not a
welcome visitor, but this time the we'll
groomed and perfumed bartender sim
ply scowled at him and continued mix
ing and spooning. A score of men
stood at the bar with their faces buried
in mint which hung temptingly over
the sides of as many glasses. The
lounger hesitated about mingling with
the merrymakers, and while he waited
| for the time to come to spend his only
| nickel for beer he shuffled up to one of
those musical slot machines one sees on
every hand. A card above the merce-
nary contrivance announced that the
musical programme for the day en-
braced three popular songs These
| were:
THE Nightingale"
"Read the Answer in the Stars"
| my Nellie's Blue Eyes"
The lounger read the list with inter
est. No doubt he wanted to hear one
of the melodies, for it had been many q
long day since he had been entertained.
He crossed his legs as loungers always
do and leaned upon the machine with
an elbow. What could he do with one
nicltel-his last coin on earth, or in the
sea below, or, as we may suppose, in
the heavens above. 1t would cost five
cents to hear each of these melodies
and what did he care for THE Nightin.
gale" or Read the Answer in the
Stars?"
One of the merrymal1ers, with an ex
ira flourish of his handkerchief to his
mouth, inserted a nickel and the ma
chine played the first tune But that
was all. The bartender, in spirit OF
hospitality, dropped another coin in
the slot, and a gutteral rendition OF
Marie Jansen's famous song rolled out
of the machine. The loungcr was
silent, but not unusually interested in
the melodies He stood close to the
wall where he would not be in the way
for bartenders are coarse and rough tc
loungers when they intrude.
There was still one more piece foi
that machine to play. 1t was an ole
song, to be true, and it seemed to be
waiting in an apologetic way for coin
to set it's familiar chords to tinkling
But the merrymakers had had enough
They went one way and the bartender
another. The lounger stood alone. He
clasped his only nickel, fumbled il
awhile as if in doubt to spend it fol
beer or music and then softly dropped
it into the slot.
There was a momentary grinding O
the wheels and then sweetly and clear
ly came the familiar strains of the ole
song. The lounger leaned affection
ately upon the box, his head almos
resting upon the rusty sleeve of hi
coat. The bartender arranged the car
nations in his white jacket and spok,
harshly of the extravaganza of tn
patron. The lounger neither saw no
heard anything but the brass wheels a
they turned in the machine and the old
fashioned melody as rolled out into th
} gilded succeed room. Suddenly th
wheels stopped. The last chord hat
been struck.
"Now, get out of here; you've hear'
all there is" yelled the bartender
Strengthening his jacket in an impatien
way. The lounger still clung to tn
machine as if expecting repetition o
: his song.
"Do you hear, or will have to Civ
you the seltzer bottle?" exclaimed tn
bartender in more threatening voice
) The lounger was awakened. IL
Strengthened up, wiped something fror
: his eyes on his rough coat sleeve an
: shutfied toward the door.
Its all right, Bill" he said, "but
used to have girl when l was q hea
better off than am now. Her nam
was Nell, Bill, l mean Nellie, and sh
had eyes bluer'n the sky. l jus
, wanted to hear that song once more
Bill It's done me good, you've got m
last nickel and the whole thing hahn
done you no harm. Yes, Bill, her eye
We're bluer'n yours, q heap bluer.
7 ain going; don't hurry me."-Chicag