Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-05-03
WONDERFUL WHISTLER
How His Accomplishment Won a
Valuable Customer.

ing ocean lines seemed poised between
two ornaments, SO truthfully were the
stars reflected in the placid sea. The
hour was late and gradually the pas
sengers drifted away into the bril-
liantly lighted salons, or sought their
staterooms for few hours straying
upon the invisible Islands of Dreams;
and only few were still haunting the
decks moon-hecked promenade.
Suddenly the scholarly looking and
specialized young man from Chicago,
who had been sitting quietly among a
group of friends. with his eyes turned
somewhat wistfully toward the not
now distant homelands, began to
whistle softly street song that had
fingered in his mind since he heard it
on the wharf the day he sailed. His
com panions listened in delighted sur
prise. Never from mortal lips had is
sued more dulcet sounds; the voices OF
q hundred nightingales were all con-
densed to form the liquid sweetness of
his notes. The struggling groups of
1oungers all about the deck drew near
and listened in entranced delight.
"Bravo!" ''Encorer' "Encorel' came
from every side; and warbling the
changes of various melodies. he finally
thrilled his hearers with the measures
of dear Home, Sweet Home"
Silence, deeper than all uttered
praise, settled on every soul Only the
music fioated upon the listening air.
Bright eyes smiled out across the sea
through mlsts Of homesick tears, and
Helen Harper, who was standing near
the flag, furled for the night close
round its lofty staff, reached up to
loosen starry fold and draw it down
across her lovely lips
WELL" said her mother, her brisk
voice broken by a sudden closing in
her throat ~ remember of reading,
years ago. a poem entitled 'Whistling
In Heaven The idea seemed strange
almost irreverent-to me then. but l
am now fully prepared to think that
the angels songs may well have such
accomplishment
How did you acquire such an un-
usual accomplishment, Mr.. KP' asked
the younger woman. Ibid you, like
Hiawatha, learn Of every bird its Ian
Guage?"
II think Whittier's description of the
barefoot boy with cheeks of tan
echoing all the voices of the fields
ter" he answered. And then, turning
to Mrs. Harper, he said:
Your remark reminded me of an ex-
perience had number of years ago
although 1 guess it's pretty late for
story telling"
DO let us have It'll" they all ex.
claimed.
Mr.. K. looked out over the star.
gemmed waters rehectively. 1T was
more years ago than 1 realized when ]
recalled the incident" he said. II was
little more than a boy and had just
started in, with a capital Of hopes, to
make my own way in the world. Twas
travelling for wholesale house in
Chicago and covered small inland
towns within a radius of q few hun
dred miles of that center While rea
sonably successful everywhere else,
was kept dissatisfied by tue fact that
the largest dealer in Michigan village
in my circuit would have nothing to dc
with me. The home firm observeC
with displeased surprise that Mr.
Gray's name was never on my order
sheet, and time after time 1 renewed
my solicitations for his patronage, only
to be gruf1y and unceremoniously dis
missed.
One rainy day in early spring wa.
in the town, and as my way led pas
his door l gathered my courage for
last attack. There was the usual tiers,
dialogue, and then the proprietor
turned abruptly away and went int
his little private Office, which was bull
up like huge box in the center of tn,
store-something after the fashion O
Tim Linkinwater's den in the office O
the Cheeryble Brothers.
Outside the rain poured furiously
and sat down on an empty cracker
box to wait for it to slacken. l begar
whistiing in an undertone, as much t,
rally my spirits as anything, l guess
and presently the door of the office un
closed the width of a couple of inches
and the rasping voice of the obdurat.
storekeeper called:
- John, who's that?'
{" The young man from Chicago, sir.
answered the lanky youth, respect
fully.
IL finished the air.
John came the voice again, tel
him he might give US another tune
Il complied, and at its close IL
dealer was sitting beside me on tn
cracker box.
"'Give me your book, young man
he said; when you want an order TO
your house here you can-just whistl
for it
HE slapped his hand down on hi
knee and laughed at his own joke an,
astonished me by giving me at once
large and important order. That wa
the beginning of it He became one O
our best customers, always insisting
however, upon the fulfillE.ent of IN
part of the contract little insigh
into his character proved that tn
somewhat harsh exterior covered
heart as big and tender as a frien
could possibly desire, and the years O
our acquaintance resolved our relation
into those of remarkable confidenc
and eomradeship"
Dir. X. paused, the serious look deep
enlng on his face.