A PIANO IN ARKANSAS. 151 
the machinery grated harshly, and seemed to clamor for 
something to be put in its maw. 
“ What delicious sounds!” said Cash. 
‘“ Beautiful!” observed the complacent Mercer, at 
the same time seizing Cash’s arm, and asking him to 
desist, for fear of breaking the instrument, or getting it 
out of tune. 
The simple caution was sufficient ; and Cash, in the 
joy of the moment, at what he had done and seen, look- 
ed as conceited as Mo Mercer himself. 
Busy, indeed, was Cash, from this time forward, in 
explaining to gaping crowds the exact appearance of the 
piano, how he had actually taken hold of it, and, as 
his friend Mo Mercer observed, “pulled music out 
of it.” 
The curiosity of the village was thus allayed, and 
consequently died comparatively away; Cash, however, 
having risen to almost as much importance as Mo Mer- 
cer, for having seen and handled the thing. 
Our “ Northern family ” knew little or nothing of all 
this excitement; they received meanwhile the visits and 
congratulations of the hospitable villagers, and resolved 
to give a grand party to return some of the kindness 
they had received, and the piano was, for the first time, 
moved into the parlor. No invitation on this occasion 
was neglected; early at the post was every visitor, for it 
was rumored that Miss Patience Doolittle would, in the 
course of the evening, “ perform on the piano.” 
