THE CITUHS. FRIDAY, JULY1 IB, 1010.
TALE OF THl
A Sheepman's Quest For Music.
With Odd Results.
By O. HENRY.
ICopyrlght, 1007, by tho SIcCluro company.!
I stopped overnight at the sheep
ranch of Rush Kinney, on the Sandy
fork of the Nueces. Mr. Kinney and
I had been strangers up to the time
when I called "II0II0!" nt his hitching
rack, but from that moment until my
departure on the next morning vi
were, according to tho Texas code, un
deniable friends.
After supper tho ranchman and I
lugged oair chairs outside tho two room
house to Its lloorless gallery roofed
with chaparral and snculsta grass.
With tho rear legs of our chairs sink-
"oomo to get maiulim. a tiano, i heiii."1
ins deep into the hard packed loam,
each of us reposed against an elm
pillar of tho structure and smoked El
Toro tobacco, while we wrangled ami
cably concerning the affairs of the rest
of the world.
As for conveying adequate concep
tion of the engaging charm of that
prairie evening, despair waits upon It.
It Is a bold chronicler who will under
take the description of a Texas night
in. the early spring. An Inventory
must suffice.
The ranch rested upon tho summit of
a lenient slope. The ambient prairie,
diversified by arroyos and murky
patches of brush and pear, lay around
us like a darkened bowl at the bottom
of which we reposed ns dregs. Like
a turquoise cover the sky pinned us
there. The miraculous air, heady with
ozone and made memorably sweet by
leagues of wild flowerets, gave tang
and savor to the breath.
Mr. Kinney's wife, a young and
capable woman, wo had left in the
bouse. She remained to busy herself
Vitli the domestic jound of duties, 1b
which I hadfobscrved that she seemed
to take a buoyant and contented prida
In one room we had supped. Pres
ntl from. the other as, Kinney and 1
'sat without there burst a Volume "of
sudden and brilliant music. If I could
Justly estimate the art of piano play
ing, the construer of that rollicking
1fa"ntas'la had creditably mastered the
secrets of the keyboard. A piano, and
one so well ployed, seemed to me to be
an unusual thing to find in that small
and unpromising ranch house. I must
have looked my surprise nt Rush Kin
ney, for ho luughed In his soft south
ern way and nodded at me through the
moonlit haze of our cigarettes.
"You don't often hear as agreeable
a noise ajj that on a sheep ranch," he
remarked. "But I never see any rea
son for not playing up to the arts and
graces Just because we happen to live
out in the brush. It's a lonesome life
for a woman, and If a little music can
make it any better why not have It?
That's the way I look at it."
"A wise and generous theory," 1
assented. "And Mrs. Kinney plays
well. I am not learned in tho science
of music, but I should call her an un
commonly good performer. She has
technic and more than ordinary pow
er." Tho moon was very bright, you will
understand, and I saw upon Kinney's
fnco a sort of amused and pregnant
expression, ns though there wero things
behind it that might be expounded.
"You camo up tho trail from the
Double Elm fork," said Kinney prom
isingly. "As you crossed It you must
havo seen an old deserted Jacal to
your left under n comma inott."
"I did," said I. "There was n flrovo
of Javalls rooting around it. I could
seo by the broken corrals that no one
lived' there."
"That's where this music proposi
tion started," said Kinney. "I don't
mind telling you about it while wo
smoke. That's where old Cal Adams
lived. Ho had about S0O graded Meri
nos and a daughter that was solid silk
and as handsomo as a now stake rope
on a thirty dollar pony. And I don't
mind tellipff you that I was guilty In
tho socoihJ degree of hanging around
old Cat's ranch all tho time I could
sparo away from lambing and shear
ing. Miss Marllla was her name, and
I had figured it out by tho rulo of two
thnt -sho was destined to becomo tho
chatelaino and lady superior of Ran-
cho Lomlto, belonging to R. Kinney.
Esq., where you uru now a welcomo
slid honored guest.
"I will say that old Cal wasn't dis
tlDgulshed as a sheepman. lie was a
little, old, stoop shouldered hombro
about ns big as a gun senbbard, with
scraggy white whiskers, nnd condemn
ed to the continuous uso of language.
"Dut that Marilla girl was n benefit
to tho eye. And she was the most elo
V'ant kind of a housekeeper. 1 wns tho
nearest neighbor, and I used to rldo
over to tho Double Elm anywhero
from nine to sixteen times a week
with fresh butter or a quarter of veni
son or a samplo of new sheep dip Just
ns a frivolous excuse to see Marilla.
Marllla and mo got to bo extensively
inveigled with each other, and I was
pretty sure I was going to get my rope
nround her neck nnd lead her over to
tho Lomlto.
"Ono day Just after the fall shear
ing I rides over to tho Double Elm
with a lady's magazine about fashions
for Marllla and n scientific paper for
old Cal.
"While I was tying my pony to a
mosquito out runs Marllla, tickled to
death with some news that couldn't
wait.
" Oh, Rush, she snys, all flushed up
with esteem nnd gratification, 'what
do you think? Dad's going to buy
mo n plnno. Ain't it graud? I never
dreamed I'd ever havo one.'
" 'It's sure Joyful, snys I. 'I always
ndmlred tho agreeable uproar of n
piano. It'll bo lots of company for
you. That's mighty good of Uncle
Cal to do that.'
"Old Cal was Inside, lying on a cot.
no had a pretty bad cold and cough.
I stayed to supper.
"'Going to get Marilla a piano, I
hear,' says I to him.
" 'Why, yes, something of that kind,
Rush,' says he. 'She's been hnnkcrlng
for music for a long spell, and I allow
to fix her up with something in that
lino right away. Tho sheep sheared
Bis pounds nil around this fall, and
I'm going to get Marllla an Instru
ment if it takes the price of the whole
clip to do it.'
"'Star wayno," says I. 'The little
girl deserves It.'
"'I'm going to San Antono on the
last load of wool, says Uncle Cal, 'and
select an instrument for her myself.'
'"Wouldn't it be better.' I suggests,
'to take Marllla along nnd let her pick
out one that she likes?'
" 'No, sir; it wouldn't,' says he, pull
ing nt his white whiskers. 'There
ain't" a better Judge of musical Instru
ments in the whole world than what I
am. I had an uncle,' snys he, 'that was
a partner in n piano factory, and I've
seen thousands of 'em put together. I
know all about musical Instruments,
from a pipe organ to a cornstalk
fiddle.'
'"Tou get me what you like, dad,'
says Marilla, who couldn't keep her
feet on the floor from Joy. 'Of course
you know what to select. I'd Just as
lief it was a piano or a organ or what'
"Along about Tuesday Uncle Cal
put out for San Antono on tho last
wagon load of wool. Marilla's uncle
Ben, who lived in Birdstail, come over
and stayed at the ranch while Uncle
Cal was gone.
"It was ninety miles to San Antonc
and forty to tho nearest railroad sta
tlou, so Uncle Cal was gone about four
days. I was over at tho Double Elm
when ho come rolling back one even
ing about sundown. And up there In
the wagon, sure enough, was a piano
or a organ we couldn't tell which all
wrapped up in woolsacks, with a wag
on sheet tied over It In case of rain.
And out skips Marllla, hollering, 'Oh,
oh!' with her eyes shining and her hair
n-flyiug. 'Dad dad,' she sings out.
'have you brought It have you
broughtjtt?' and Jt right there before
her eyes, as women wTll do.
" 'Finest piano In San Antone.' says
Uncle Cal, waving his hand, proud.
'Genuine rosewood and tho finest, loud
est tone you ever listened to, I heard
tho storekeeper play It. and 1 took It
on tho spot nnd paid cash down.'
"Mo and Ben and Uncle Cal and n
Mexican lifted It out of the wagon
and carried it In the house and set It
In a corner. It was one of them up
rlght Instruments nnd not very heavy
or very big.
"And then all of a sudden Uncle Cal
flops over nnd snys he's mighty sick.
He's got n high fever, and ho com
plains of his lungs. lie gets Into bed,
while me nnd Ben goes out to unhitch
and put tho horses In the pasture, and
Marllla flies around to get Uncle Cal
something hot to drink.
"When I came In from tho pasture
Marllla was in the room where tho
piano was. 1 could see by the strings
and woolsacks on the floor that she
hud had It unwrapped. But now she
was tying tho wagon sheet over It
again, nnd there wns a kind of solemn,
whitish look on her face.
" 'Ain't wrapping tip the music
again, are you, Marllla?' I asks.
'What's tho matter with Just a couple
of tunes for to see how sho goes under
tho saddle?'
"'Not tonight. Rush,' snys she. 'I
don't want to play any tonight. Dad's
too sick. Just think. Rush, he paid
$300 for it, nearly a third of what the
wool clip brought!'
'"Well, It ain't anyways in tho
neighborhood of a third of what you
aro worth.' I told her. 'And I don't
think Uncle Cal Is too sick to hear a
llttlo agitation of the piano keys Just
to christen tho machine.'
" 'Not tonight, Rush,' says Marllla in
a way that sho had when sho wnnted
to settlo things.
"But it seems that Undo Cal was
plenty sick, after nil. no got so bad
that Ben saddled up and rode over to
Birdstail for Doc Simpson. I stayed
around to seo if I'd bo needed for any
thing. "When Uncle Cal's pain let up on
him a llttlo ho called Marllla and says
to her: 'Did you look ut ,m-.i ...r.i
mcnt. honey? And do you li It?'
'"It's lovely, dnil." Fays sho. IcuMng
down by his pillow. 'I never saw one
so pretty. How dear nnd good it was
of you to buy It for me!'
M 'I haven't board you play on It any
yet says Undo Cal, 'and I've been
listening. My side don't hurt quite
so bad now. Won't you piny a piece,
Marllla?'
"But, no; she puts Uncle Cal off and
Boothes him down like you've seen
women do with n kid.
"When Doc Simpson comes over ho
tells us that Undo Cal has pneumonia
the worst kind, nnd, as tho old mnn
was pnst sixty nnd nearly on tho lift
anyhow, tho odds wns against his
walking on grass any more.
"On tho fourth day of his sickness
he calls for Marilla agnln nnd wants to
talk piano. Doc Simpson wns there,
and so wns Ben nnd Mrs. Ben, trying
to do nil they could.
" 'I'd havo made a wonderful success
In anything connected with music,
snys Uncle Cnl. I got tho finest in
strument for tho money in San An
tone. Ain't that piano nil right In ev
ery respect, Mnrllla?'
'"It's Just perfect, dad,' says she.
'It's got the finest tone I ever heard.
But don't you think you could sleep a
llttlo whllo now, dad?
"'No. I don't, snys Undo Cal. 'I
want to hear that piano. I don't be
lieve you've even tried It yet. 1 wont
all tho way to San Antono and pick
ed It out for you myself. It took a
third of the fall clip to buy It, but 1
don't mind thnt If It makes my good
girl happier. Won't you play a little
bit for dad, Marllla?'
"Doc Simpson beckoned Marllla to
ono side nnd recommended her to do
what Uncle Cal wanted, so it would
get htm quieted. And her Uncle Ben
nnd his wife asked her too.
"'Why not lilt out a tuno or two
with tho soft pedal on?' I asks Marilla.
'Uncle Cnl has begged you so often. It
would please hltn a good deal to hear
you touch up tho piano he's bought
for you. Don't you think you might?'
"But Marllla stands there, with big
tears rolling down from her eyes, and
says nothing. And then she runs over
and slips her arm under Uncle Cal's
neck nnd hugs him tight.
"'Why, last night, dad,' we heard
her say, 'I played ever so much. Hon
est, I have been playing It. And It's
such a splendid Instrument; you don't
know how I love It. Last night I
played "Bonnie Dundee" nnd the "An
vil Polka" and the "Blue Danube" nnd
lots of pieces. You must surely have
heard mo playing a little, didn't you,
dad? I didn't like to play loud when
you was so sick.'
" 'Well, well,' says Uncle Cal, 'may
be I did. Maybe I did and forgot
about It. My head is a little cranky at
times. I heard the man In the store
play It fine. I'm mighty glad you like
It, Marilla. Yes, I believe I could go to
sleep awhile If you'll 'stay right beside
me till I do.'
"There was where Marilla had me
guessing. Much ns she thought of that
old man she wouldn't strike a note on
that piano that he'd bought her. 1
couldn't imagine why she told him
she'd been playing It, for the wagon
sheet hadn't ever been off of It since
sho put It back on the same day it
come. I knew she could play a little
anyhow, for I'd once heard her snatch
some pretty fair dance music out of an
old piano nt tho Chnrco Largo ranch.
"Well. In about a week the pneu
monia got the best of Uncle Cal. They
had the funeral over nt Birdstail, and
all of us went over. I brought Marllla
IT WAS ONE OP THEM MACHINES."
back home in my buckbonrd. Her Un
do Ben nud his wife wero going to
stay there a few days with her.
"That night Marllla takes mo In the
room where thu piano was while tho
others wero out on the gallery.
" 'Como here, Rush,' says sho. '1
want you to seo this now.'
"Sho unties tho ropo and drags off tho
wagon sheet.
"Instead of a piano It was ono of
them machines they'vo invented to
play tho piano with. By itself it was
about as musical as tho holes of flute
without tho (lute.
"And .that wns the piano that Uncle
Cal had selected, and standing by it
wns tho good, fine, nil wool girl that
nover let him know it.
"And what you heard playing awhile
ngo," concluded Mr. Kinney, "was thnt
sumo deputy piano machine, only Just
ar present it's shoved up against a
$0d0 piano that r bought for Marllla
as soon as we was married."
(atuFday Qight
By Rot. F. E. DAVISON
Rutland, Vt
THE KING, THE ROCK OF AGES.
International Bible Lesson for July
17, MO (Matt. 16: 13-28).
Diogenes, the Greek philosopher, In
order that he might rebuke tho degen
erate Inhabitants of Athens, took a
lighted lantern In his hnnd nnd went
through the streets of the city, peering
Into faces about him Inquiringly, nnd
when asked what he was searching so
dlllgontly for replied, that ho was
seeking for a man.
There were men enough In Athens,
men for tho schools and for the forum,
men for official positions nt homo and
abroad, men thnt would compare fav
orably with those of other nations,
but, In tho estimation of the philoso
pher of the tub, they were all lacking
In the cssentlnl qualities of manhood.
It wns not a question of sox, nor of
age, nor of stature, nor of parentage,
nor of attainments. Ho wns looking
for an Ideal man, and he could not
find him. Ho never did find him. Ho
was looking In the wrong place for
him. Athens could not produce that
kind of a man.
The philosophers and poets could
dream of and describe him. The
prophets could foretell his coming.
The artists could carve In immortal
mnrble his physical perfections. Tho
gymnasium could cultivate the phy
sique appropriate for him. But tho
man the world was looking for was to
appear In another quarter of the earth,
and In a most unexpected way.
Located In Palestine.
If Diogenes had lived in Palestine
1900 years ago, and going up to Jeru
salem with certain other Greeks, had
made the same request that they did
of one called Philip, "Sir, we would
see Jesus," he could have extinguished
his lantern then and there, for among
all the sons of men that ever existed
on this planet, Jesus of Nazareth, Is
the only being entitled to bear that
name the Man. Peter, the apostle,
who knew him Intimately, voiced the
sentiment of the whole apostolic col
lege when ho made his glorious con
fession: "Thou art the Christ, the
Son of the living God." That confes
sion Is the rock on which the church
Is founded, "and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against It." Christ
Is emphatically the rock of ages. He
1b rock, first, last and all the time;
rock, in his center, and his circumfer
ence, outside and inside, rock. The
philosophers and scientists, believers
and unbelievers, have been driving
their drills Into his character for wo
millenniums but they have never dis
covered anything but rock. They
havo found a good deal of rubblsL In
his church, they have located areas of
wood, hoy and stubble In his follow
ers, they have discovered hypocrlcles
and hidden defects In his professed
friends, but no one, of the innumer
able company of investigators of The
Man has ever so much as hinted at a
suspicion of n fault in Him.
Has Met Every Test.
He has stood for 2,000 years the ob
served of all observers, all the micro
scopes focused on him, all the crow
bars prying at him, all the critics pick
ing upon him, dogging his steps, trac
ing his lineage, Interrogating his dis
ciples, considering his claims, tearing
his book to pieces, estimating him over
against others, and he stands to-day
calmly facing the world of investiga
tors and saying, "Who of you con
vlnceth me of sin!"
The world has produced many
great men. They havo been born In
every age and In erery nation. They
havo been respected, revered, even
worshipped. But every one of them
has been defective. At some point
they have broken down. At some
time they havo fallen short. In
some places they have been a disap
pointment. There are some things
about them that their most ardent de
votees have to explain away and find
excuse for. But not the flock Man.
Thero are spots on the sun, but the
Son of Righteousness Is spotless. It
will take tho world thousands of years
yet to move up to the sublime heights
of his teaching, nnd he who comes tho
nearest to following his example Is
the most ellgiblo to the kingdom of
heaven. Statesmen, philosophers, sci
entists, humanitarians, moralists, re
ligionists of every creed under heaven
unite In putting tho crown of eternnl
distinction and supremacy upon tho
head of Christ.
It has been demonstrated In his per
son that a man can live on this earth,
In tho midst of most unfavorable con
ditions and be right In his youth nnd
right In his mnnhood, right In his
habits nnd right In his friendships,
right In his training and right in his
teachings, right in his business nnd
right in his politics, right In his lifo
and right In his death. Put out your
lantern, DIogones, Tho Man has been
found.
The Pattern Man.
But the founder of tho Christian re
ligion Is not to bo tho ouly man of
rock-like qualities. Ho was tho sam
plo, the pattern man, and his disci
plos nro to bo of tho same material.
Founded on the rock of ngos, his
church Is to bo built up af the same
ondurlng grado of character, and
ovory Individual moniber Is n neces
sary Wook in the superstructure.
What thnt church needs la not more
men, but more man. Tho church must
put on exhibition manhood patterned
nfter the ideal man. Men blasted out
of tho same quarry, built on tho same
foundation of the apostles nnd
prophoU. Jesus Christ, Himself, bolnt:
tho chlo! corner stone.
CHAMPIONS IN.
Sheridan and Flanagan Enter Celtic
Park Meet.
New York, July 12. A largo entry
j list Is promised for tho Brooklyn Clan
I Nn-Gacl games on July 17 nt Celtic
park. John Flonngan Is to throw tho
, hammer nnd fifty-six pound weight
i and vows he will set a new record.
Martin Sheridan will hurl tho discus
J nnd, whllo not promising anything, Is
determined to uphold his title ngalnst
j nil comers. The nrrnngeracnt commlt
teo has Invited Joo Bromllow, Frank
Riley, Dick Egnn, Melvln Sheppard
nnd others to cotnpeto In tho 100 yard
idash, 300 yard and 1,000 yard handl-
caps nnd the threo nillo run.
RECOUNTING DALZEII VOTE.
Supporter! of Dr. Black Claim Result
Will Give Him Election.
Pittsburg, July 12. After weeks of
wrangling over tho primary election In
tho thirtieth congressional district, tho
first count of which gave a majority
of 107 In favor of tho renoralnntlon of
Congressman John Dalzcll, n full re
count of nil tho 172 ballot boxes has
been commenced.
Supporters of Dr. Robert J. Black
have claimed that n full recount will
show him to havo a majority of nearly
1,000 over Dalzcll.
Reptiles That Walk Erect.
Lizards of several sorts can walk
and run easily on their hind legs. Tho
Australian water lizard, which Is threo
or four feet In length, keeps quite
erect when traversing long distances
oil land. It Is found In the neighbor
hood of river banks ami passes much
of Its time In shallow water.
The frilled lizard of Queensland nlso
travels on Its hind legs on level ground,
keeping the frill folded when running.
When attacked It expands this fold of
skin, which stands out like a ruff at
right angles round the neck, giving it
a most formidable aspect, so that dogs
that attack and kill larger lizards will
often retreat before n frilled lizard nt
bay.
There is also a tree lizard In Austra
lia that moves In a similar way. All
these species walk on all fours when
merely moving about or going short
distances.
Settling the Barber.
"Hair's n bit thin on the top, sir."
remarked the barber. "Won't you try
a bottle of our hair restorer?"
The victim squirmed. "You made
the same observation last week." he
said, "and I expressed my desire to
see you try the stuff on the doormat."
"Sorry: 1 didn't know you had been
here before, sir." replied the barber as
he went on shaving. "I didn't recog
nize your face."
"No." was the growling reply; "my
face has healed since then." London
I
Tbo Hind Tou Havo Always
in use for over 30 years,
and
frf-f J, sonal
0 r
All Counterfeits, Imitations and " Just-as-good" nro hut
Experiments that trifle with and endanger tho health oC
Infants and Children Experience against Experiment.
What is CASTORIA
Castoria is a harmless substitute for Castor Oil, Pare
goric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Pleasant. It
contains neither Opium, Morphino nor other Narcotic
substance. Its ngo Is its guarantee. It destroys "Worms
and allays Fevcrishncss. It cures Diarrhoea and Wind
Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation
and Flatulency. It assimilates tho Food, regulates tho
Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy nud natural sleep.
Tho Children's Panacea Tho Mother's Friend.
GENUINE CASTORIA ALWAYS
Bears the
The KM You toe Always BougM
In Use For Over 30 Years.
THI CCHTftUn COU.ANT, TT MUKIUV TUCCT, NCW YORK CITT.
THE FIRST 8UNDAY 8CHOOL.
Humble Beginning In Gloucester One
Hundred Years Ago.
Ono Sunday morning, a hundrod
years ngo, a worklngman, carefully
drossed In his best suit, camo out of
bis house on the mnln street of tho
old English town of Gloucester and
strolled leisurely down the hill. Tho
"Now Inn" wns fronted then, as It la
to-day, by n square garden overhung
by tho carved galleries of tho tavern.
There was a moss-clad well In the cen
ter, and about It were beds of sweet
Binelltng pinks and columbines.
But the calm of that Sunday morn
ing was destroyed by a crowd of street
boys who fought over the flower beds,
making the day hideous with their
noise and coarse talk.
The printer for printing was his
work on weekdays stopped In the
midst of the crowd nnd looked steadily
at tho boys. Presently he said to him
self: "At this rnte those boys will
soon go utterly to the bad. Thnt must
not be! Thore are good possibilities
In them. Here, boys," he called aloud,
"come with me!"
He led them, yelling and pushing,
down tho street Into his own quiet
house, planning as he Went how to
keep them there.
"I am going," ho said presently, "to
start a school for you. Now and here.
It shall bo a free school; I will bo tho
teacher."
Tho boys received the news with
shouts. They wero too ragged and
grimy to go to church on Sundays. No
other decent place was open to Uiem.
Tho next Suuday his house was
crowded with the same class of chil
dren. The Idea of a free school on Sunday
appealed to every Christian as a most
hopeful plan for the rescuo of chit
dren from wickedness. It spread
through the town, through the shire,
through England. It was adopted In
France and Germany; It made Its way
to Australia and to the United States.
Now, In every country In tho world
nnd in every sect there are these
schools, in which every Sunday morn
ing the Bible story Is told, without
money and without price.
In the staid old city of Gloucester
they still show you the New Inn and
the garden where the boys played,
and the old brown house with Its
peaked roof, in which Robert Raikes
that long-ago morning taught the first
Sunday school.
Ranks In Peerage.
The higher nobility, or peerage, ol
England consists of five ranks, viz.,
duke, marquis, earl, viscount and ba
ron. All persons holding these titles
are members of the Upper House oi
Parliament, where they sit as Lords
Temporal. Tho archbishops and
bishops of the Established Church are
termed Lords Spiritual. They are not
peers of the realm, but have seats U
the Upper House.
Bought, and which has been
has homo tho signature of
has been mailo under his per-
supervision sinco its infancy.
Signature of
KRAFT & GONGER
Represent Reliable
Companies IQNLY
INSURANCE
HONESDALE, PA.