Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-22

like garden, where each patient could
ramble at will, and enjoy either solitude
or society at his choice. A great charm
of this house was that every one lived
Ijust as he or she pleased; In the even
ing either retiring to the solitude Of
his apartment, or joining in the games,
music and conversation held in the
drawing-room. Paganini naturally be-
; longed to those who preferred passing
the evenings in quietness and retire.
ment. There was plenty of gossip about
him in the drawing room three or four
censorious old maids fell on him tooth
and nail.
"Ladies,' began one, "bavs you seen
this great musician? He salutes no one
and never speaks word. He takes
his bowl of soup in an arbor in the
garden, and hastens away if any one
approaches. What an oddity he must
be ="
"That's part of his malady," said an
other "people say that there is some
terrible mystery about his life; some
love story imagine"
"Not at all" added third; "Paga-
mini is a miser there's no mystery
about that. Do you remember that con-
cert which was organized in favor of the
families who had suffered from the in.
undation at St. Etienne? The great vi
olinist refused to take part in it because
he would have to play gratuitously. De-
pend upon it he feared that were he to
mix in our society he might be asked
for similar favors.'
Paganini guessed pretty we'll how he
was regarded by his fellow -boarders but
like Gallo of old, he cared for none of
these things. His health became grad
ually better, yet in the whole house be
never exchanged word with any one
except Nicette. This was the house
maid who attended on him; cheerful,
innocent country girl, whose gay prattle
when she served his meals often availed
to dispel the cloud which habitually
darkened the brows of Paganini.
One morning Nicette presented her
self with sad, dropping countenance,
and served breakfast without uttering a
word. The musician, who was amusing
himself by carving piece of ivory for
the handle of dagger, noticed the
change in the young girl, and question
ed her upon it.
"What is the matter my child? You
look sad; your eyes are red some mis-
fortune has befallen you, Nicette?''
"Oh yes, SIR"
"Would it be indiscreet to ask you
what it is ?"
"No sir, not precisely; but
Paganini fixed his great black eyes
on the girls troubled countenance.
"Come," he said; 81 see how it is.
After having made you a thousan
promises, he has quilted you, and you
no longer have any tidings of him.
"Ah, poor fellow! He has quilted me
certainly, but it is not his fault"
GLOW is that 2''
"Because in the conscription he drew
a bad number, and he has been sent
away with great long gun on his shoul-
der, and l shall never see him again."
sobbed poor Nicette, as she buried her
face in her white apron.
''But, Nicette, could you not purchase
substitute for him?"
The girl Withdrawing her apron smil-
ed sadly through her tears.
"Monsieur is jesting' she said chow
could ever buy a substituted? ?'
'Do they cost very dear ?''
'This year men are tremendously dear
on account of the report that there is
going to be war. Fifteen hundred
francs is the lowest price"
The musician pressed Nicette's little
plump hand between his long; sallow
fingers, as he said
"If that's all, my girl, don't cry !;
we'll see what can be DONE"
Then, taking out his pocket-book, he
wrote on blank leaf:
"Mem. To see about giving a con-
cert for the benefit of Nicette.
A month passed on; Winter arrived,
and Paganini's physician said to him !:
"My dear sir, you must not venture
out doors again until after the month of
March -
"To hear is to obey" replied the mu-
sician.
During the Winter a comparative de-
gree of health and strength returned to
Paganini. Having no longer the pleas
ant, shady arbors of the garden as a
refuge, he began gradually to- linger a
little in the drawing-room. After din
ner he used to throw himself on a sofa
of crimson velvet and pass half an hour
in turning over volume of engravings,
or in slipping glass of sugared water
favored with orange flowers The older
ladies of the society gossiped on about
him and his odd ways, but he affected
not to hear, and certainly did not heed
them
Christmas eve approached. On the
anniversary of the birth of our Lord, a
custom exists in France very dear to its
Juvenile inhabitants. A wooden shoe is
placed at the corner of the hearth, and
a bene6cent fairy is supposed to come
down the chimney laden with various
presents and dainties with which she fills
it. 1t is calculated that one year with
another the Christmas wooden shoe en-
riches the trade of Paris with two mil
lion francs.
4
On the morning of the 9th Decem-