A Natural Man: The True Story of John Henry

A Natural Man: The True Story of John Henry — page 5
Of course what John Henry said didn’t make a whole lot of sense to his mother but the way he said it set her to shivering like a cold wet wind would do Even though it was still slavery time John Henry’s folks dreamed of something better for him so they got him a teacher to give him music lessons They started with the banjo but as soon as John Henry grabbed it he snapped the neck like a piece of dry kindling wood They tried the piano next but when John began to play his fingers smashed that poor piano to bits He was already that strong Finally they tried singing but as soon as John Henry raised his voice he raised the roof with it That was the end of his music lessons and that was the last time John Henry ever sang indoors 10