Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-11-04
::::THE::::
PETERSONS' PIANO


busted
Il understand" replied Mrs. Peter
son. THE rooms and arrangement
suit me perfectly" she went on. as
they started downstairs again, "and
l shall begin to move tomorrow. 1t
will be so nice to step round and not
always be running into somebody. And
now Mr.. Peterson's sister is living with
us. Well, good day. The things will
begin to come after tomorrow. Good
day" Theodore Foster stood looking
after her moment, then he went into
the empty sitting-room and took the
large Apartments to Lett notice from
the front window. He carried it I'D
to his own room. 81 hope it will be
long time before 1 have to see you
again." he told it as he put it in his
desk.
1t was the first time for a month
that he had felt really happy. Dur
ing that time he had tried to get a.
tenant for his house, but had been un-
able to find a suitable one. 1t had
been horribly lonely coming home at
night to a cold, echoing house. But
now he would have the Petersons
there, and he looked forward to the
day after tomorrow with Joy. He
used to know Joe Peterson, but he
supposed he wouldn't see much of
him, as Joe was away from the house
all the week. There were the chill
dren, too. He was fond of children.
even if he was an old bachelor. Then
he remembered that the children must
be nearly grown up by this time. Well,
young people were almost as good as
children.
1t was the next day, while he was out
taking his constitutional, that his
friend Everson saw him and crossed
the street to talk to him. $50 you.
have got the Petersons?" he said. af-
ter they had walked some distance to-
gether. 'Well. there's only one thing
| about them that you won't like"
What's thatY questioned Mr.. Fos-
| ter.
Their piano."
"Oh, don't mind piano practice as
some do" said Theodore easily. In
fact, I rather like it,
''You haven't lived with the Peter
sons yet" said Everson sententiously.
you wait little It's terrible old
piano. / could get more music out of
brass kettle and tin pans. It's all
out Of tune, too; and. worst Of all,
they keep banging away on it all the
time. It's something awful! There
are three girls who take lessons, and
they keep the old thing going about
nine hours a day" Theodore's face
had heightened during this descrip-s
ton. what makes them keep such
an antiquity" was asked.
"Well, you see, they are rather poor,
and they can't afford new one"
Theodore walked moodily along af-
ter his friend left him. Then sudden
~ his face frightened. II can arrange
matters all right" he said, and went
on more briskly.
The next morning there was consid-
cradle grumbling from the two men
who moved the Petersons' belongings.
because MI. Theodore Foster insisted
on helping them.
He was especially troublesome about
the placing Of the piano. He insisted
on having it on the very end of the
load, and tied 1t with his own hands.
When the horses started he trotted
along beside it, and they reached the
house at the same time 1t was a raw
morning, and the men were putting
blankets on the horses, when sudden
~ there came a jangling crash. They
hurried to the back of the van and
found Theodore looking in horror and
dismay at the very badly smashed pi-
ano.
TITS all my fault" was all he man.
aged to say before a torrent of abuse
and oaths loud and deep overwhelmed
| him.
/ Theodore went and told Mrs. Peter
son about the accident, and after he
had gone a loud wall rose from the
three girls, but when the household eff
fects were moved in and the Petersons
themselves went to their new home,
there, in the drawing was a
beautiful brand new piano awaiting
/ them.
They all stood in the doorway and
stared in amazement.
'Mr. Foster had it sent" Aunt Sarah
Peterson explained. She had been
there attending to that end of the
moving. HE said that as it was due
to his carelessness that the other was
wrecked, he should take the liberty
of replacing it by this one" Maud,
the eldest girl. went and tried the in
4 strument. isn't 1t beautiful?' she
cried rapturously.
Time went on and the girls practiced
diligently. Their aunt also took adj
vantage of the chance to play, so that
Theodore had all the music he want
ed.
One day Theodore asked Maud to
go with him to the piano shop.
Il want you to try them ALL" he said
land see If there is one you. like bet
ter than the one at home"
Maud tried them. no" she de
clared, "there isn't one so NICE"
by the way, won't you play thai
new waltz for me?"
4 She seated herself at the nearest IN
strument and began to play. WheT
she had finished she looked around, but
Theodore was not beside her. as she
had supposed. Instead she saw hin
at the far end of the room coming to
ward her with a piece of paper in biz
hand. When he reached her he passed
her the paper. "A birthday present
my dear; believe 1t is your birthday
to-day
+. Maud Looked at the paper blankly