A PIANO IN ARKANSAS. 147 



unfamiliar, sometimes reached the street, it was j.re- 

 sumed that the piano made them, and the excitement 

 rose higher than ever — in the midst of it, one or two 

 old ladies, presuming upon their age and respectability, 

 called upon the strangers and inquired after tlioir 

 health, and offered their services and friendship ; mean- 

 time every thing in the house was eyed with the great- 

 est intensity, but seeing nothing strange, a hint was 

 given about the piano. One of the new family observed 

 carelessly, " that it had been much injured by bringing 

 out, that the damp had affected its tones, and that one 

 of its legs was so injured that it would not stand up, 

 and for the present it would not ornament the parlor.'' 



Here was an explanation, indeed : injured in bring- 

 ing out — damp affecting its tones — leg broken. " Poor 

 thing ! " ejaculated the old ladies with real sympathy, 

 as they proceeded homeward ; " travelling has evidently 

 fatigued it ; the Mass-is-sip fogs have given it a cold, 

 poor thing ! " and they wished to sec it with increased 

 curiosity. 



The " village" agreed, that if Moses Mercer, fami- 

 liarly called Mo Mercer," was in town, they would have 

 a description of the piano, and the uses to which it was 

 put ; and fortunately, in the midst of the excitement, 

 " Mo" arrived, he having been temporarily absent on a 

 hunting expedition. 



Moses Mercer was the only son of '' old Mercer," 

 who was. and had been, in the State Senate ever since 



