St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-11
MUSIC FOR "A NICKEL,
Yet 1t Brought Tears to a Saloon
Lounger's Eyes.

Lounger's Eyes.
He had been seen in the saloon before
not every day, but when it was rain
ing or when the policemen jostied him
off the corner, says the New York Re
corder He never had much money,
probably not more than $40 all told in a
half year. The fellow may have been
in better condition at one time III his
life. But there was nobody who could
swear to that. For years he had been
only a lounger i'll long, rusty coat.
which he kept we'll 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.
lie came shutting into the saloo 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 SEQ Wled at him and continued his
mixing 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 mer-
rymakers. and while he waited for the
time to come to spend his only nickel
Tor beer, he shufiled up to one of those
musical slot machines one sees OH every
stand. A card above the mercenary
contrivance announced that the MT ST.
cal programme for the day embrat ed
three popular songs. These were:
1.-The Nightingale"
Read the Answer in the Stars"
only Nellie's Blue Eyes"
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 spirit of
hospitality, dropped another coin in the
slot and cultural rendition Of Marie
Jensen's famous song rolled out of the
machine. The lounger, was silent, but
not unusually interested in the melO-
dies. He stood close to the wall, where
he would not be in the way, for bar
tenders are coarse and rough to lOung-
erS when they iDtrude. 7-
There was still one more piece for
that machine to play. 1t was the old
song, and it seemed to be waiting IN an
apologize way for coin to set its IA
miliar cords to tinkiing. But the mer-
rymakers had mad enough. They went
one way and the bartender another.
The lounger 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 clearly
came the familiar strains OF the old
song. The lounger leaned atfectiOnate-
ly upon the box, his head almost resting
upon the rusty sleeve OF his coat. The
bartender arranged the carnations in
his white jacket and spoke harshly of
the extravaganza of the patron. The
lounger neither saw nor heard any
thing but brass wheels as they turned
in the machine and the old-faShlOned
melody as 1t rolled out into the gilded
succeed room. Suddenly the wheels
stopped. The last cord had been
struck.
Nov, get out of here: you've heard
all there u.s." yelled the bartender,
Strengthening his jacket in an impatient
way. The lounger still chung to the
machine as if expecting a repetition OF
the song.
do you hear, or will l have to give
you the settler bottle" exclaimed the
bartender in more threatening voice.
The lOunger was awakened. He
Strengthened up, wiped something from
his eyes on his rough coat sleeve and
shuffied toward the door.
'It's all right, Bill,n he said, "but l
used to have a girl when | was heap
better off than l am now. Her name
was Nell, Bill, mean Nellie, and she
had eyes bluer'n the sky. ust wanted
to hear that song once more, Bill. It's
done me good, you've got my last nickel,
anc the whole thing hain't done you no
harm. Yes. Bill, her eyes were bluer'n
yours. heap bluer. am going don't
hurry me.''