TheRedMahoganyPiano
乔伊·爱德华 / JoeEdwards
Manyyearsago, whenIwasayoungmaninmytwenties, .
Wesoldourpianosalloverthestatebyadvertisinginsmalltownnewspapersandthen, whenwehadreceivedsufficientreplies, wewouldloadourlittletrucks, driveintotheareaandsellthepianostothosewhohadreplied.
EverytimeweadvertisedinthecottoncountryofSoutheastMissouri, wewouldreceiveareplyonapostcardwhichsaid, ineffect, “ $10amonthwithmyeggmoney.” Theoldladyscrawledonandonandonthatpostcarduntilshefilleditup, thenturneditoverandevenwroteonthefront—aroundandaroundtheedgesuntiltherewasbarelyroomfortheaddress.
Ofcourse, wecouldnotsellanewpianofor $, soweignoredherpostcards.
Oneday, however, Ihappenedtobeinthatareacallingonotherreplies, : Theoldladylivedinaoneroomshare-cropperscabininthemiddleofacottonfield.
, theoldladycouldnothavequalifiedtopurchaseanythingoncredit—nocar, nophone, norealjob, .Herlittlegranddaughterwasabout10, barefootandwearingafeed-sackdress.
Iexplainedtotheoldladythatwecouldnotsellanewpianofor $, butmyadvicehadnoeffect—, redmahogany, please, andswearingshewouldnevermissa $.
Acoupleofyearslater, Iownedmyownpianocompany, andwhenIadvertisedinthatarea, , Iignoredthem—whatelsecouldIdo?
Butthen, , IdeliveredthepianotoherandtoldherIwouldcarrythecontractmyselfat $10amonthwithnointerest, , andIleft—sureIhadjustthrownawayanewpiano.
Butthepaymentscamein, all52ofthemasagreed —sometimeswithcoinstapedtoa3×!
So, Iputtheincidentoutofmymindfor20years.
ThenonedayIwasinMemphisonotherbusiness, andafterdinnerattheHolidayInnontheLevee, -dinnerdrink, , andtherewasalovelyyoungwomanplayingaverynicegrandpiano.
Beingapianistofsomeabilitymyself, Iwasstunnedbyhervirtuosity, , askedforrequests, andwhenshetookabreakshesatdownatmytable.
“Aren’tyouthemanwhosoldmygrandmaapianoalongtimeago?”
Itdidn’tringabell, soIaskedhertoexplain.
Shestartedtotellme, , itwasher! Itwasthelittlebarefootgirlinthefeedsackdress!
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