The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-06-12

Critic could no longer remain quiet in his
corner; he strove to express by the mo-
tion of his limbs the spirit of music;
noiselessly he moved, that he might not
by an unlucky step interrupt the sweet
toned stream of enchanting melody. As
the aria was concluded, and Critic stood
painting, wiping the perspiration from his
forehead, the singer stepped up to him
with smile and said:
Chow is it, Signor Grifo2 will you
loan me the ducats; or viii you at least
listen to my explanations, and not inter-
rupt me with your cursesg
"Curse, / curse?-no, heaven forbid
the money l will count out directly, my
son. You are magician, and have be-
witched me. Upon your honest face or
your golden voice, l loan it without in
terest, if it must be so.
"No, no, that is more than I ask, my
worthy sir. Be assured you do me a
great favor, which I shall not forget after
the carnival, when | am happy bride
groom and rich man"
Fillippo quickly gathered up the mon
ey and vanished through the street door,
and Critic awoke as if from heavy
dream, to consciousness of what he had
done. At first he seemed to repent his
generosity, then, shaking his gray locks
he inyoluntarily exclaimed,
"He has voice! He can sing and be-
witch with his songs. lie shall teach my
Elisstta."
The carnival was brilliant and magnif-
icent, but passed far too quickly for Fill
lippo. He had not, as formerly celebrated
it with his gay companions. He was
seeking his unknown loved one amid the
crowd of masks, and too often found HIM
self sadly disappointed. Hisgold at last
engaged an old woman to bring informa-
ton of her, and also deceived all watch
ing eyes which guarded the beautiful un-
known; through her he received few
lines from the lady, containing, however,
nothing but promise to meet him on the
coming Sunday. True, he had seen and
spoken with her on the evening Of the last
day of the carnival, and confessed his
love; but while he listened to hear the
sweet words Of life that tremb.ed unex-
pressed upon her lips, the dense crowd
separated HIM from the fair one, and, in
stead, the bravos Of hundred mocking
voices greeted as. they looked on and
boisterously applauded the farce.
Fillippo sat in his lonely room in sor-
row and silence, when the door suddenly
opened and Critic stood before him, the
sight Of whose face recalled his uncancel-
led obligation, and struck new terror to
the unhappy lover. The object of his
visit, however, was by no means such as
Fillippo had anticipated: he came to as
sure his young friend that the sweet
strains of his golden song were yet float
ing in his brain, and to request that he
would give his daughter lessons, with
which she might gladden. and solace his
old age. Palma was not more surprised
at this request than at the news that he
had daughter, whom he had never seen
or heard of, though he had a long time
been regular customer of the cid man.
Fheu Critic told him how, long years ago,
the persuasions of his friends had induced
him to marry, and how in a years time
his young wife had died, leaving him a
daughter, whom the tender care of pru-
dent aunt had reared. II have had no
tice,'' he added, "that many fatterers and
idlers, attracted by her beauty seek to en-
snare the girl; SO that it is doubly neces-
sary that she be suitably employed, that
evil may not take root in the soil of her
heart
The next morning, in compliance with
Critics request, Fillippo was on the spot
at the appointed hour, and followed him
with no little curiosity into the upper
apartments of his lodgings.
Who shall describe his astonishment;
when from side door entered the long
sought, unknown object of his love. For
getting all else, he threw himself at her
feet, kissing her beautiful hand, and COW
ering it with kisses, which she very gra-
c;ously received, believing the approba-
tion and consent of her father had been
gained.
But it was far otherwise. While the
young pair abandoned themselves to joy
and delight, the old man foamed with an
ger and rage, and storm of imprecations
soon convinced the lovers Of the true state
of the case.
All seemed lost. Critic seized the girl
and led her into the adjoining room, and
was about to kick Fillippo out Of the
door, when suddenly the remembrance
came to him, how, on former occasion,
he had, by the mysterious might of mu-
sic, subdued and conquered the terrible
anger of the old churl. He quickly seat.
ed himself at the open piano, and if be-
fore he had been singing in joke, this time
he sang with the earnestness of despera-
ton, and not in vain.
Orpheus wrung from the miser his Eu-
rydice, and became his son-in-law. No
son of song, since Fillippo Palma, has
won from miser gold, far less Elisetta,
"GoEs FOR HIM. The editor of the
Van Vert Bulletin, Republican paper,
"goes for" A. johnson, in the following
l