s, certain.
I could see the boy just the same as I see you. Then the moonlight
came, without any sunset, and shone on the graveyards, over the wall,
and between the black, sharp-top trees splendid marble houses rose
up, with fine ladies in the lift-up windows, and men that loved 'em,
but never got a-nigh 'em, and played on guitars under the trees, and
made me that miserable I could a-cried, because I wanted to love
somebody, I don't know who, better than the men with guitars did.

"Then the sun went down, it got dark, the wind moaned and wept like a
lost child for its dead mother, and I could a-got up and there and
then preached a better sermon than any I ever listened to. There
wasn't a thing in the world left to live for--not a single thing; and
yet I didn't want the music to stop one bit. It was happier to be
miserable than to be happy without being miserable. I couldn't
understand it. I hung my head and pulled out my han'kerchief, and
blowed my nose well to keep from cryin'. My eyes is weak anyway; I
didn't want anybody to be a-gazin' at me a-snivilin', and it's nobody
business what I do with my nose. It's mine. But several glared at me
as mad as mad. Then, all of a sudden, old Rubin changed his tune. He
rip'd and he rar'd, he tip'd and he tar'd, and he charged like the
grand entry at a circus. 'Peared to me that all the gas in the house
was turned on at once, things got so bright, and I hilt up my head
ready to look at any man in the face, and not afear'd of nothin'. It
was a circus, and a brass band, and a big ball, all going on at the
same time. He lit into them keys like a thousand of bricks; he gave
'em no rest, day nor night; he set every livin' joint in me a-goin',
and not bein' able to stand it no longer, I jumpt, sprang on to my
seat, and jest hollered--

"'Go it, my Rube!'

"Every man, woman, and child in the house riz on me, and shouted,
'Put him out! Put him out!'

"'Put your great-grandmother's grizzly gray greenish cat into the
middle of next month,' I says, 'Tech me if you dare! I paid my money,
and you jest come a-nigh me!'

"With that several policemen ran up, and I had to simmer down. But I
would a fit any fool that laid hands on me, for I was bound to hear
Rube out or die.

"He had changed his tune again. He hopt-light ladies, and tip-toed
fine from end to end of the key-bord. He played soft, and low, and
solemn. I heard the church bells over the hills. The candles in
heaven were lit one