Hugh Pendexter

Name: Whittaker Burnham's Musicale
Author: Hugh Pendexter

Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

Summary

“Whittaker Burnham's Musicale”, published in 1907, is a work by Hugh Pendexter. It explores elements such as selectman, veteran and clerk.

Quotes from Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (Hugh Pendexter)

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ Then, as the true import flashed home to all three, they became galvanized into an intensity of motion and danced madly around the machine, calling encouragement into the horn, with the clerk trumpeting through his hands to make the singer hear; but the old man kneeling beside the prostrate woman heeded none of it.
"Hello, Bob! Hello! This is me! Don't ye know me?" implored the clerk, standing on one leg.
"And sweet Alice lies under the stone," the liquid voice replied.
"Bob! Bobbie! I say, Bob! Come out!" hoarsely begged the veteran, stumping his stiff leg to command attention. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ She blamed him and always would. Had the boy died, she would have remained the same loving helpmate. But now she was changed. He loved the boy, he told himself, and only God could know the washings his soul had received from useless tears, as in moments of privacy he gave way to his grief. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ Ever since their boy Bob ran away, ten years ago, she's been gloomy an' depressed like. Whittaker, close as he is, would buy anything ter rouse her up. But dang a talkin'-machine!"
"Yas," observed the stiff-legged veteran, who reveled in a local reputation of having supplied the brains behind every campaign in the Civil War; "they're mighty peculiar. I guess no one knows what they really be. I remember when Grant was askin' my advice about th' Wilderness——"
"A talkin'-machine is peculiar only in its disposition ter be cussed," amended the town clerk heavily. "They work simple enough. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ Who knows what this one has been taught?"
"By Judas!" cried the selectman, his dull eyes bulging. "I know now what old Burnham is up ter. His wife is failin' every day because nothin' is ever heard of Bob. Whittaker 'd rather lose all his money than his wife. He's goin' ter talk into this thing an' teach it ter cry out that a reward will be paid ter anybody furnishin' him with a clue ter Bob's whereabouts. Machines in every city will be rippin' it off, an' somebody is sure ter hear th' offer." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ When th' machine starts goin' it kind of expands, meller like, an' ta-ta-fra-la-la, an' there ye have it!"
The veteran ruffled his sparse locks dubiously and tried closing one eye in a futile essay to get the proper perspective, while the selectman frowned at the stove and shifted the conversation by reminding the others of the original question. "But ye ain't give no answer ter th' invitation. I was asked by Whittaker ter call here an' invite ye up ter th' house ter-night ter hear th' contraption play for th' first time. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ The veteran's jaw flapped loosely as he listened to this simple exposition, but the clerk received the interruption coldly. "As I was sayin'," he continued, "it's like condensin' milk. Ter say music is canned ain't ter th' p'int. It's more'n that. It's condensed." And he surveyed the selectman defiantly. Then, swinging his chair to face the open-mouthed veteran and ignoring the selectman, he gravely elucidated. "Ye see, they squeeze th' music inter th' smallest compass an' trim off th' edges. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ The selectman and the G. A. R. veteran, as they filled pipes from his plug, took no positive stand, but readily united with him in asking, Why had Whittaker Burnham bought it?
The selectman for the tenth time repeated, "How came a man so sot an' stern in his natur' as Whittaker ter go in for talkin'-machines? I always s'posed he lived only ter double th' dollars."
"While I don't approve of his buyin' it," drawled the town clerk, "I guess I've found th' reason. He wants ter chirk up his wife. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ If dead, bring his body back." Then meeting his gaze openly, with her face seamed and white, she moaned: "He is to be found somewhere, dead or alive. Bring him back."
"Ye blame me for all," he muttered. "An' mebbe I was too harsh. But I've tried my best ter find him. I'll begin again ter-morrer. I'll go ter town an' hire more detectives."
"Give me my boy, Whittaker," she whimpered, again bowing her head in her hands. "I guess I'm all unstrung, but I want him. Oh, how I want him!" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Hugh Pendexter, Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (1907)

“ Then awakening to her husband's wistful gaze, a wave of pity swept over her and she sought to shake herself into a show of enjoyment throughout several selections.
"Give us that comic song again," begged the clerk, his eyes swimming in tears of laughter. "What was it the feller said? 'Oh, I never, never——' Ha, ha! Wal, if he ain't a funny cuss!"
"There's only one more left," said the selectman regretfully. "Let's have that, an' then I vote we try 'em all over again."
"Jest as ye say," agreed Mr. Burnham wearily.
"Hope it's a war tune," gasped the veteran. "Gee whiz! ”

Hugh Pendexter

Summary

Quotes from Whittaker Burnham's Musicale (Hugh Pendexter)

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