Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1893-06-02
UNLY a TRAMP.
But His Soul Was the Home OF Conquer
Ing Gcnlus.

suN MS Soul " OI conquer
Ing Genius.
The household goods Of ruined
millionaire were being sold at -uc-
tlOn and fashionable aSsembl, Of
bidders were present. The auctioneer
came to a handsome grand square
piano, and as he opened it, he OBJ
served that the makers catalogue
price for the instrument was 81, 400.
Then he Invited anyone present to
try the instrument, SO all might hear
its tone.
please come forward aud play
something, someone - anyone" he
urged, noticing nobody seemed in-
clined TO accept the invitation.
At this second call there was a stir
near the door, and then man ad-
vanced-a man who seemed strangely
out OF place among the elegantly at
tired people assembled in that grand
parlor 1t was ragged. soiled tramp
on whose face hardship and dlSsipa.
tion had left their imprints.
A murmur OF astonishmenJ and
disgust ran around the room. How
came such a creature there? What
right had he in that room with decent
people? How did he gain admit
. tance!
The faultlessly attired men fell
back as the tramp approached, and
the women drew aside their skirts, as
II the touch of such a being were
contamination. Some looked around
for the auctioneer's assistants, and
one man half-lifted his cane az II to
strike the vagabOnd.
"Put him outm
The words were uttered by more
than one pair OF lips
Needless OF the looks or words OF
those around, the tramp walked-or
rather staggered toward the piano.
His step was that Of drunken man,
but his cheeks were sunkcn and
! pallid, as il hunger gnawed at his
vitals, and his eyes CLEANED with a
wild unnatural light-a light that
caused the auCtiOneer to Shivcr and
fall back with hand half upraiscd
"'lht OilC Ntb dlll SCdlNu
himself at the piano, and his
fingers touched the ivory keys For
a Sipgle moment he seemed TO hcSi-
tate, his fingers wandering aimlessly,
yet producing few soft and harmo-
nous notes. Then, OF sudden, a
burst Of melody came from the piano
"a food OF music that thrilled the
souls OF all who heard. 1t was
Beethoven's grandest march, and it
was rendered by master musician.
Never before in that magnificent
parlor was such music heard. Could
1t be the ragged tramp who was play
| ing?
Amazed, stricken dumb and mo-
tiOnless by what they saw and heard,
the people who had gathered there
stared and listened. holding their
breath while their ears drank in the
soul-intoXicating strains Conjured
from the faultless instrument by the
wizard musician in rags The march
, ended, but the flood Of music still
poured from the piano. Beethoven,
Mozart, Wagner, Liszt-the strange
man knew them all, and their best
work he rendered with masters
touch.
"Wonderful Amazing"
The enthralled listeners looked into
each others faces and whispered the
words;
"Who Is he?'
No one could answer, but one
thought he must be some great muSi.
clan masauerading
Listen! He is improvising now.
How sweet Is the strain! Soft and
low, yet full OF JOY and sunshine, il
flows on and on like a laughing,
dancing brook. Slowly touch OF
sadness creeps into the melody. tits
! like the gentle fall Of summer ram or
a new-made grave-it is like the
faintly-heard sobbing OF mother as
she bends above the dead face OF bel
tlrst.torn. 1t moves the heart Of
many a woman as she listens, and
more than one pair OF eyes are din
with unbdden tears
At length comes the sweetest, sad
deSt grandest tune ever composed
Home, Sweet Home" All else /:
forgotten now. One OF the women Is
sobbing softly in the depths of her
handkerchief Softer and softer
slower and slower the strain is sink
ing-dying. 1t Is like the last effort
OF a soul passing from earth. Finally
1t ceases, and then the tramp musi
clan sinks forward on the instrunent
and remains motiOnless
A sigh runs round the room. Th'
acutioneer touches the tramp on thu
shoulder. The vagabond does no
STIR They lift his nerveless body anc
look into his face.
He has gone home. Free Press.