Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-12-02
.Y 1CHOLAS GATH had no bust
VI ness going to the war. The
\ neighbors We're all Of mind

VI IL TIcu mAA ny SOou QuitltleS, HOt
the least of which, in her eye, were his
fine face and figure and his wonderful
gift. He had taught school winters
and labored over summer in the fields
and, by money that came hard and
went quickly, had been able to get a
small training in music. 1t set his feet
in the right way, however, and at TWEEN 1
ty he could express his wild passion I'D /
mirably on the old Guarnerius that
was the only thing Of value his father
had left him.
1t was my good fortune to be passing
the home of Bessie Hammerton the
night before he left. had but lately
come to that neighbo-llood and had
never met the young man, of whom
every one had something good to say.
Having been to prayer meeting Mt the
red school house that summer evening,
was on my way home. In the dis
lance could hear the strains Of the
violin coming from the open window
of the Hammerton house. The music
halted me Mt the gate-an old love song
that went to my heart and filled
luC WILL SduuSSS uAu cWlOCI hANAAAOASs
leaned on the wall quite alone In the
darkness and listened. I had always n
mighty love of music. Now l was back
again in the gardens of my youth, and
the music that came to me was like
water poured upon their withered flow
ers The player was putting his whole
heart in those tender old ballads. At
the last, as came away, could al
most hear the words, "An' for bonnie
Annie Laurie I'd lay me doun an dee"
Well, the boy went of to the war
the next day, with his gun on his
shoulder. did not see him until years
had gone. and a singular bit Of history
led up to our meeting.
Separated from his command in one
Of the charges at Chickamauga, he was
picked up inside the lines OF the en-
envy north Of Snodgrass hill. The only
Union soldier in that part of the field,
1t was a mystery how he got there. He.
must have crawled aimlessly through
the smoke and ruin half mile or more
from where he fell. The men who
found him said he was in q pitiable
condition, with his skull fractured by
piece Of shell. He had lost his coat
and hat and was cursing, rs soldiers
do when their blood is hot with the
bnttle fever The sight of him must
have touched their hearts, for they
took him up.
After n few weeks he was able to
leave his bed. But he could not tell
them Ills name or where he came from
or the smallest bit of his history, and
there was nothing on him that gave
lsany ciew 10 1t. He was like man
whose mind has given all Its energy to
some one Thing until 1t has neither eyes
nor ears for any other. and its feet are
mired iii the way of habit. Such a
man gets kind of mental astiglnatism
In Which, coming TO, the rays of
thought focus imperfectly.
In the mind of Nicholas Gath there
was q confusion of memory and per-
ception that made fool of him. He
would sit dazed and quiet for time
and then go of in a rage Of curses, the
more strange as profanity had been no
part of his old habit of speech. He
could express only one thought-a fixed
formula-repeated frequently in low
voice. It was. II love you"
After a little he was sent back to the
Union army in a trade of prisoners,
and there nobody was able to place
him. They gave him free foot, hop
Ing he would run into recognition some
where. In week or two he seemed
to get some understanding Of what was
said to him and Of his own perceptions.
He would say that he was hungry or
thirsty and express pleasure and dis
pleasure, but his sentences were mostly
unintelllgible or half completed. But
for the brief legend Of his love he had
no command of words save those that
lent themselves to reckless and violent
profanity.
One day n big crowd of soldiers had
gathered about the band tent of an
Ohio regiment in Chattanooga. They
were all on tiptoes at the outer edge of
the crowd, and some of them were
pushing to get nearer. All stood 81
lent. their faces lifted and lit with a
common feeling. Nick Gath had got
his hands on violin and was playing
with all the masterful power God had
given him. It was as II his thought
had found one avenue that was clear
of wreckage and had come out Of its
ruined castle to look up at the sum
light.
He began with Home, Sweet Home"
and one of the crowd told me years
after how some of those old troopers
sobbcd at the sound of 1t. There was
no break or hesltancy us the tide Of
his emotion flooded those inlets Of In
spired song that for centuries have
down out of the north into the great
ocean of melody. The strains of "Rob-
in Adair," "Annie Laurie" "Comin'
Thro' the Rye" the Blanks and Braes
o Bonnie Doom" rang out upon the still
air of that autumn afternoon, thrilling
the homesick heart of the soldier.
The sun sank low, and the call for
supper sounded, but not one of them
lifted foot until the player, handing
the violin to its owner, made OF, NUT
tering curses and unmindful Of any
word addressed to him.
Its the fool, and who'd have thought
it?" the men whispered MS they watch
ed him walking slowly across the field,
his head down, as IL he were in deep
thought and as often saw him In his
darkened way Of life long afterward.