The Yazoo Democrat., 1852-09-15

If you were there few years ago, you might have
remarked. near the steamboat pier, the hero oi
this narrative. He was then pale, slight youth
of sixteen, good looking, but with the peculiar
expression of conference.-the resignation,
half anxiety-which belongs to the blind. He
was quite blind stone, blind, and had been so
from his birth. He had for about two years
played the fiddle daily at the corner of certain
street. Every morning he was brought to his
post by an old woman with whom he lodged or
sometimes by little girl. her grandchild, who
also brought his dinner at one o'clock, and fetch
ed him home to tea at six. He never asked for
money; but at his feet lay small basket, into
WHICH half-pence poured pretty freely. There
was quiet, accomplishing manner about him !;
he was so neat and clean that in the neighborhood
he was favorite, and all strangers admired him.
But what was curious and pleasant to see was
the respect shown by all the sailors, waterman,
and old college men. Though he could not see,
they always touched their hats to him, and said
g Sir when they wished him good morning or
good evening. But then Walter was the son of
captain in the royal navy, who had left him
without father at six years old. He had mo-
ther, but she was what is rarely found in this
world as / dare say you ali know-a bad moth
er; and that is the worst thing that can fall to
the lot of child. She was not what the world
calls wicked but she was so really. She neg
lected her blind boy she let him pick up his
education how he could and but for the kind
ness of an old musician, who took fancy to
him, and when his mother was out fetched him
to his house, he would have known nothing.
The musician was a poor old Italian, gentle
man in habits and feelings; and be taught the
boy to speak Italian, to be tidy, clean, and to
play the violin. Walter became passionately
fond of music. which, when his mother made
the discovery, rather warmed her feelings to-
wards her child. She had him more neatly dress
ed than before. and took him wherever she went
as prodigy. Walter, who was an intelligent
and pleasing lad, was universally liked. He was
petted and taken notice of, and soon acquired
the manners of the society to which he was now
introduced. The importance of early training
and education, which perhaps just now may not
be pleasing to some of you, was demonstrated
in the case of Blind Walter. When he fell in
to other circumstances he never lost his graceful
manners, his soft tone of voice-the surest
marks of good breeding and good company and
he gained largely by it. But his fall was sud
den and unexpected; his mother the portionless
daughter of poor, proud people of good family,
whom Walters father had married for her beau
ty, died deeply IN debt; and the poor boz found
himself alone in the world with nothing but his
violin, saved from The creditors with much diff
Guilty. They lad been two years IN Greenwich,
when this happened and the father ha ing been
much liked b. his cFew-some Of whom We're
now in Greenwich Hospital-these old priso-
ners held council. They would have liked to
send the boy, now their child, to sea. but his
blindness was serious drawback; they then
advised him to try his fortune with the violin,
and Walter, who had no other friends-his ia
ther having been an orphan, protected by one
now dead-followed their kind advice. His first
days trial was wondrous in its results; all the
college men came by quietly without saying
word, and threw in their half f-pence, and Walter
Arnott thanked God in his heart, while he
thought gratefully of the poor Italian musician,
some time dead, who had been the instrument of
Providence in giving him the means of earning
his livelihood. He took neat, clean, but cheap
room in the house of an aged widow with an
orphan grandchild, girl of thirteen years old;
and after paying his way, giving little presents
to Alice; and keeping himself in decent clothes
and clean linen, put the rest in the Savings
Bank in the name of clerk in Hospital, who
regularly gave him two-pence every week out Of
affection to the memory of his father. Scarcely
any of those who had been friends of Mrs: Ar
motifs ever noticed Walter, except to give him
six-pence in patronizing way, but Walter wan
ted not their aid. He was independent-he was
happy.
He seldom went out in the evening He
would get Alice to fead him books which friend
purchased for him--chieiy naval histories and
tales, and lives of celebrated musicians and en-
perors. He aiii5 not, however, forget what was
useful to her, and their education went on to-
gether with wonderful success. Alice was soon
passionatelv fond of reading; and as no occupa-
ton is at the same time so pleasing and useful,
II you avoid bad books--the worst poison on
earth-their evenings were delightful. Neither
did Walter neglect his Italian, he pronounced
and spoke it well. He bought grammar, die
tionary and some Italian books, and by dint of
soon trained Alice to study with
him. The old grandmother left them to their
own course she was willing that Walter should
become the husband of her child, though he sol
ennly and firmly declared that he would never
be burden to any woman, If one ecould be found
enough to marry the blind fiddler.
- ..1a,~ t,.d ,,.reod ard Waller ~.