The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1866-11-12

to dspel the cloud which habitually dark
encd the brows of paginni.
One morning Nicette presented herself
with a sad and dropping countcnance,
and served breakfast without uttcring a
word. The musician who was amusing
himself with carving a piece of ivory for
the handle of a dagger noticed the change
in the young girl, and questioned her
upon it.
"What's the matter, my child ? You
look sad your cvcs are red; some mis-
!U.tn h'. h.i l.n YOU, NIcclicl -
"Uh, yes! sr'
"Would it be indiscrect to ask you
what it is p
"No sir, not precisely; but"
PaEanini fixed his great black eyes on
the girls troubled countenncc.
"Comc," he said, Il see how it is.
After having made you Il thousand prom
ises he has quilted you, and you no long
cr have any tidires Of him"
"Ah =! poor fellow ! lie has qnittcd
me certainly, bat it vas not his fault -
GLOW is that ?"
"Becausc in the conscription he drew
bad number, and he has been sent
away with Il great long gun on his shoul-
der, and | shall never sec him again" "
sobbcd poor Ncctte, and she burici her
face in her white apron.
"lInt, Nicette, could you not purchase
a substitute for him?'
The girl, Withdrawing her apron. smiled
sadly through he" tears.
''Monsicur is jesting," she sail, chow
could / ever buy Il substitute ?"
'Docs ii cost very dear %
"Ths year men are so tremendously
dear on account of the report that there
was going to be n war. l'i.tceh'hundrcd
francs is the lowest price"
The musician pressed Nicettcs little
plump hand between his long sallow fin
gers, as he said.
II that's all, my girl, don't cry; we Il
see what can be done"
Then, taking out his pocket book, he
wrote on blank leaf;
"Alem To sec about giving Il concert
Ior the benefit of Nicctte."
A month passed on winter arrived,
ana iaganlni physician SAID to him:
My dear SIR. you must not venture
out OF doors again until after the month
OF March.
''lo hear Is TO obey" replied the mu-
slclan'
During the winter a comparative deg
rec OF health and strength returned TO
iaginni. Having no longer the pleasant,
Shauy aroors OF the garden as IA refuge,
he began gradually to lingcr little in
The drawlng'room. After dinner he used
10 'hrow himself on sofa OF crimson
VclVcf ana pass halt an hour in turning
over volume OF enSravln2S, or in snpplng
glass OF Sn@areI water favored with
ORANGE hoWcrS' lhe old ladies OF the
society goS.ippcd about him and lis odd
ways, nu' ne affected not to hear, and
ccrtaeiy did not heed them
ChF''tmaS eve approached. On the
anniversary OF the birth OF Our Lord, /
custom exists IN Franco, very dear to it,
JlVehiic inhabitants. n wooden shoe is
placed at the corner OF the hearth, and t
D'hehc'ent ialry Is supposed to come down
the chimney ladcned with various presents
ana d"lnilcs with which he fills it. 1t i
calculated that one year with another
the Christmas wooden shoe cnrichcs th'
trade oi FarlS with two million francs.
oh the morning OF the 18th Dcccmbc
tour CT Iaganln'S female critics were il
consultation togcthor.
~ III "lIl be l!r tins evening, sail one
rS' Tor iils evening; that's settled,
r'P'cu another
Nlior dlhher IhE1mn was, accordin!
10 ms custom seated on the drawing
room SOFA s'Pplag his eau &9c'c', when Al
unusual noise was heard in the corridor
PRESENTLY Nicettc entered, and announce,
That a porter had arrived with case
directed to Signor Paganini
Il don't expect any case" said he
"Ont l'suppose he had better bring it in.
Accordingly, Il stout porter entered
bearing good sized deal box, on which
besides the address, were the words
''fidJife, trfh care" paganini examine,
1t with some curiosity, and having pal,
the messenger, proceeded TO open the iii
, Ills long, thin, hut extremely muScula
! fingers aCcOmpli Slp1 fLis to.l- V,itnnu