Article: Wafted home by John's trumpet.(THE HOME FORUM)

Byline: David Anable

John sits on an upturned bucket at the corner of Washington's H and 17th streets. Fingers stiff with cold and cheeks bulging, he blows his battered trumpet in resonant rebuttal of passing office workers' early morning blues. Beside him is another bucket, the right and hopeful way up, gathering dollars and cents as commuters shuffle by.

At first, I would throw in a buck - a note for his notes - and go on my way. Morning by morning, we progressed. First, an effusive "Thank you, bless you, sir" that interrupted the music; then handshakes, an exchange of names, occasional chats. An introduction to my wife led to invariable good wishes to "Isobel" ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!