The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-11-03
MUSIC FOR A NICKEL.
How an Old Song Touched Salo on
Lounger's Heart.


Lounger's Heart.
He had been seen in the saloon before
not 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 $50 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 a 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 shutting into the saloon the
other day just as he had done many
times before. AS rule he was not
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 shuffied up to one of
those musical slot machines one sees on
every hand. A card above the merce-
| nary continuance announced that the
musical programme for the day en-
braced three popular songs These
were:
THE Nightingale"
"Read the Answer in the Stars"
| my Nellies 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 a
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
nickel-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 merrymakers, with an ex-
ira flourish of his handkerchief to his
mouth, inserted nickel and the ma
chine played the first tune. But that
was all. The bartender, in a 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 lounger 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 to
loungers when they intrude
There was still one more piece for
that machine to play. 1t was an old
song, to be true, and it seemed to be
waiting in an apologize 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 louRger stood alone. He
clasped his only nickel, fumbled it
awhile as if in doubt to spend it for
beer or music and then softly dropped
it into the SLOT
There was momentary grinding Of
the wheels and then sweetly and clear
ly came the familiar strains of the old
song. The lounger leaned affection
ately upon the box, his head almost
resting upon the rusty sleeve Of his
coat. The bartender arranged the car
nations in his white jacket and spoke
harshly of the extravaganza of the
patron. The lounger neither saw nor
heard anything but the brass wheels as
they turned in the machine and the old
fashioned melody as rolled out into the
gilded succeed room. Suddenly the
wheels stopped. The last chord had
been struck.
Now, get out of here; you've heard
all there is" yelled the bartender,
Strengthening his jacket in an impatient
way. The lounger still chung to the
machine as if expecting a repetition Of
his song.
"Do you hear, or will / have to give
you the Sc liter bottle?' exclaimed the
bartender in a more threatening voice.
The lou niger was awakened. He
Strengthened up, wiped something from
his eyes on his rough coat sleeve and
shutfi ed toward the door.
Its all right, Bill" he said, but I
used to have girl when / was heap
better off than | am now. Her name
was Nell, Bill, mean Nellie, and she
had eyes bluer'n the sky. l just
wanted to hear that song once more,
Bill. It's done me good, you've got my
last nickel and the whole thing hain't
done You no harm. Yes, Bill, her eyes
were bluer'n yours, heap blue-.
am going; don't hurry me"-Chicago
Herald.