The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1861-08-01
Ole BuIr- Fiddle and what Became of it.

wag in the Sacramento Be- thus writes
=" will sell you a fiddle, gentleman. \ fiddle
a. l. q fiddle i fiddle that would II cheap at five
hundred dollars "a distinguished fiddle, i fiddle
which has taken the degrees Fiddle ID. D.
These words arrested our attention and foot
steps one evening, while passing an auction store
on j street.
This instrument. gentlemen. continued the
auctiOneer, " was once the property OF Ole Bull
and | viii tell yuu how 1t came into nv posses
son You all Of course. remembe when Mr..
Bull wa travelling in California. one day he
called on me-. and say, he. John. ON the boat
coming from >an Francisco last night. | got into
a nice litde game Of poker with some Jolly fellows.
and they cleaned me out completely. And now
/ want YOU 10 stake me with hundred. that |
may get even again With the greatest pleas
ure, Ole, saws /. Well next day he comes back,
and with a FACE as long - his fiddle says, John,
these Sacramento chaps are a heap sharper than
the San Francisco boys. That's 80, says /.
That hundred You gave me l. gone, and | am
Fat broke. SAYS he. Poker. saws |. . No: seven
up says he. Ha, ha. ha A, says /. john,
says he. Well says /. i wish you would
loan me two hundred more u enable me 70 reach
the mines, where hope to be able 10 make a luc-
Ky strike, says he. Certainly. SAYS |. L will
give You my note, says he. Don't mention it,
Mr.. Bull, says /.
IA | would not take his note. he insisted on
my taking hs violin. that ! might draw there
4A'l4 note, u suit uN se4i . - ne >IbuLtu IIe l4ll"
and 4 bOw-a sort Of bow OF promise. lie LETT
-he State without reueeming them. or without -
much d. 4 simple thank you John Feeling
under no obligation TO keep them longer, | now
offer them for sale. 1t was Ole Bulls fayOrite in
strument-i genuine Straduarius.
- Shall | have five hundred dollars for the
fiddle? Will anybody bid four hundred. Just to
start the thing? Three hundred and fifty Re
member. gentlemen, it may be a long, long time
before You have another opportunity to buy .
five hundred dollar fiddle at 80 low = figure. |
will take three hundred dOllars-barely the sum
advanced. What, No taker yet? You may
take il for two hundred and fifty. Two hundred
d-O-l-l-a-r-si Gentlemen, the fiddle must be sold.
Going for one hundred and fifty. Well. well,
you must Ice turned 10 a very low key One
hundred and twenty-five. One hundred dollars.
Is there no music in your souls? You may take
it for sew;
Here one of Johns clerks. with well-feigned
earnestncss. demonstrated with him on the enor-
nous sacrifice he was about To make, and many
open mouths aud staring eyes in the audience. be-
trayed the wonder of their owners that u violin
worth FIVE hundred dollars should be offered for
30 low a sum. What Il rare opportunity for 4
fiddler 10 invest
- Didn't | say" said John, turning to his
clerk with the air Of determined man driven TO
desperation-.' Didn't | say that the fiddle must
be- sold ,"
:. But me no butts. Did you ever know me to
20 back of my word?
Then Ill be dogoned if the fiddle isn't sold
and on the heads of those present be- the ruinous
sacrifice. May they dream all night long of
being like Ole Bulls celebrated piece-executed
on u single string.
" Gentlemen. | will sell the fiddle for seventy
five dollars. Who takes it? Please examine the
instrument. 1t is a good fiddle, and no scollops
and although so long in soak, is not in the least
injured by moisture. Shall | have fifty ? twenty
five fifteen? ten ? five? When one gets to run
ming down it's mighty hard to stop. Three?
You may take the fiddle for one dollar and a half.
I'll have no more, and never take u cent less
buy it who will"
\ person here stepped from the crowd, paid
the specified sum, and took the instrument.
And DOW, p" said John, holding aloft the bow.
- W hat am | offered for this?
The new owner Of the fiddle claimed that his
purchase included that article also.
My dear SIR replied John. " that is a mis-
taken idea of yourS-a bow ideal. What shall |
have for the bow p
After some further banter. the bow was deliv-
cred over to the purchaser of the fiddle. thus con-
sunmating, as John declared, with most touching
and pathetic look, and tone. and gesthrc-the
while brushing away AN imaginary tear with his
coat sleeve-the sacrifice OF two hundred and
ninety-eight dollars and fifty cents hard cash-to
say nothing of interest-to Il misplaced friend
shin