The Afro-American advance., 1899-12-30
D. ~. 40, 81, ~, -, ~. ~, ~, ~. ~. 81. -,
A STREET BAND.
By Kennott r. Harris
.s1IySs.E9IS SlS n ~ ~ az ~ a,

A pPARENTLY something was hap
~ pening or was about to happen
Just around the corner in Green street,
for the children were gathering there
from every direction. The fact that
Officer O'IIara WIS standing with his
back to the wall ON the corner opro-
slte to the little crowd altogether pre-
cludcd the possibility Of u fight. II
there had been fight Officer O'iInFa
would not have been standing there
lnnguidly swinging his club. He would
have been In the thick OF II with joy
ous promptneAe, n party of the third
part of first Importance. In view Of
this circumstance the adults of Arbor
street who saw anything of the rush
were inclined 10 he conservative in
their curiosity and To await develop
mcntM
They did not have 10 wait long.
There was sudden blare Of sound
full Of metallic vibrations. with an
''omph, omph," accompaniment that 80.
tabhshed It's musical individuality be-
yond The shadow Of doubt.
ITS n German band, !" shouted Stub
McAlister 60 Pearl Diekcy. "Come
along!'
An the children ran their flying feet
kept involuntary time to the mir and
some of the people who were passing
by were constrained io lcngthcn or
shorten their stride or 20 hnstru or
slacken their speed TO accommodate
themselves to the measure Of the mar
tinl music The girls who had been
walking demurely along slipped their
arms around each others waists and
laughing loudly glided into dance
step over the rough plank sidewalk.
Even Officer o'llara tapped his thick
soled shoe on the pavement aud swung
HE club in rhythmical swcepA
Mr. Drewrcy. who was transferring
turnips from sack to one Of the
trays outside bis store, paused mo
mcnt Co listen. They do Hrst.rnte.
them fellers." he remarked To the po-
licrman NJ he Strengthened himself
and wiped his hands on the back Of
his trousers.
"rhey do that" asserted O'ltan
"'rhem Dutch Is natural born must
cians. My sister married a nuichman.
and he can pick up anything you've
q mind ta mention. from jews harp
Ia q cathedral organ an play you your
ch'ice of music"
II had young brother who was
the same way" said Mr.. DreWrcy. Its
gift. that's what II is-a gift"
The musicians stopped aud held a
brief consultation, Possibly they
werc drliheratine on the adylsabllity
Of chnuCing another tune nj that spot
Somebody threw nickel down from
an upper window aud very small
child, encouraged hy stout aud
ehecrfnl-looking woman who had just
come out uf the meat market. tbddicd
up 10 the leader 81 the band aud pat
a eoln IN his hand The leader smiled
until the tiny wrinkles NJ the corners
OF bis eyes dcepencd and spread all
over his rosy checks aud his Tanks"
down in his ehcst. sounded Ike a note
from his big brass ophicIeide. lie
pulled oil his cap aml bowed with
quite an air. too. and the woman
smiled and nodded back "a him.
There were four Of them In the band.
the leader. with his ophlcleidc, "a stout
redtaced little man with heayA mns.
tachr and graz hair what there was OF
It and a military cap aud coat which
was sadly out Of tune with pair Of
plaid trousers badly haggcd at the
knees The leader seemed TO be the
onl, cheerful member ot the band The
man who played the clarinet was quite
despondvnt about something. though u
be had looked happy he would have
been entitled to n great dea of credit,
for his pale, suneen checks and halloW
eyes must have bren oc, asionca either
by famine or sickness. Il MAS a gositlse
relief 80 the ohlaoker when he began Ia
blow and inflated his face into seme
srmblance Of health and prosperity.
Then, too, his shoes we're gaping al the
joints and the turned.up eollar ~ bis
coat nss plyiful evidence that she coat
WAS Insufficient to keep it's wrarer
warIa- When a man il III clad ami IN
fed Il is hard fer him to appear con
tented niiu his lot. The corpet PLAYER
Was also pale aud gioomS HE was as
tail AZ the leadrr MAS short. aud his
coarse. black hair siraRgled down In
uneven lengths over his shoulders
The fourth aud lasi Of them Was mere
bo, "a growing boy too. judging h1
the interval ot blue yarn sock apparent
between his boot top ane trouser hot.
tom. Ne blew horn and Ia all appear,
anees wishcd that he was doing some
thing sise lnKtead.
The quartet ranged themselves in as
much Of circle a. iheg eould compass
and struck ~ popular rag time air.
whereupen the barber eamr ont Of his
shop. Two doors down the street ard
stood With hiss hands under his White