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THE VIOLIN.
127

ties, Platt would draw his bow, and sitting astride his mule, perhaps, discourse musically to a crowd of delighted children, gathered around him in the street.

Alas! had it not been for my beloved violin, I scarce-ly can conceive how I would have endured the long years of bondage. It introduced me to great houses — relieved me of many days' labor in the field — sup-plied me with conveniences for my cabin — with pipes and tobacco, and extra pairs of shoes, and often-times led me away from the presence of a hard mas-ter, to witness scenes of jollity and mirth. It was my companion — the friend of my bosom —triumph-ing loudly when I was joyful, ad uttering its soft, melodious consolations when I was sad. Often, at midnight, when sleep had fled affrighted from the cabin, and my soul was disturbed and troubled with the contemplation of my fate, it would sing me a song of peace. On holy Sabbath says, when an hour or two of leisure was allowed, it would accompany me to some quiet place on the bayou bank, and, lifting up its voice, discourse kindly and pleasantly indeed. It heralded my name round the country — made me friends, who, otherwise would not have noticed me — gave me honored seat at the yearly feasts, and se-cured the loudest and heartiest welcome of them all at the Christmas dance. The Christmas dance! Oh, ye pleasure-seeking sons and daughters of idleness, who move with measured step, listless and snail-like, through the slow-winding cotillon, if ye wish to look.