_Organ_

The references to the organ are both numerous and interesting,
and it is pretty evident that this instrument had a great
attraction for Dickens. The gentle Tom Pinch (_M.C._), whom
Gissing calls 'a gentleman who derives his patent of gentility
direct from God Almighty,' first claims our attention. He used
to play the organ at the village church 'for nothing.' It was a
simple instrument, 'the sweetest little organ you ever heard,'
provided with wind by the action of the musician's feet,
and thus Tom was independent of a blower, though he was so
beloved that

there was not a man or boy in all the village and
away to the turnpike (tollman included) but would have
blown away for him till he was black in the face.

What a delight it must have been to him to avail himself of
the opportunity to play the organ in the cathedral when he
went to meet Martin!

As the grand tones resounded through the church they
seemed, to Tom, to find an echo in the depth of every
ancient tomb, no less than in the deep mystery of his
own heart.

And he would have gone on playing till midnight 'but for a
very earthy verger,' who insisted on locking up the cathedral