Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-10

He cut and curled and shaved a. IN duty bound.
and then fed away to his violin. From the
roof OF the house his music went forth: And in
this most original concert-rocrl, with tie omen
sky above him, and the pert city sparrog now
used to his melody, hopping b. his side did the
boy gradually acquire the fret secrets OF his
science. IL IL needless tn enumerste the con-
trtvances he resorted to for instruction-hOw he
VA .dered through the streets at ght with his
violin, to gain few cents wherewith to pur-
chase old music: and bow he gradually acquired
skill, SO as to be admitted as a sort of supernu-
merary into wandering band.
One night when this primitive orchestra was
city, the first violin mysteriously disappeared.
In this dilemma young Reuben found courage
to offer himself As substitute. Ii was daring
The other musicians first laughed at him.
then heard him play the part which no one
else would take, and finally suffered him to try.
For the first time in his life the BARRIERS boy
witnessed ball. 1t seemed to him a fairy
scene-he was dazzled, dewildered, excited and
In enthusiasm he played excellently. The night
wore away; the dancers seemed never weary
not so the aching fingers ofthe musicians. Req
b especially, to whom the excitement was new
grew more and more exhausted, and at last
j ,st as he had I'd finished playing waltz, fel
passed OMIT was only poor musician; but one
young girl, in whom the Compassionate and sim.
pie nature of child had not been swept away
glass OF water to his lips.
Cora Dacres is bringing to life fainting
fiddler said q tittering voice 3" oh, what q
The girl turned round Indignantly, SAYING
Cora Dacres is never ashamed of doing what
Il right. Are you better now ?" she added
gently to poor Reuben, who had opened his
The youth recovered, and she disappe AIRED
among the dancers but many q time did the
s e1our m f tns t ana
vision Of Reuben Vandrest; and the young
musician often caught himself repeating over
his sole confdsnt-his violin-the pretty name
he had heard on waking, and dimiy recognized
as hers-Cora Dacres.
Long before he was twenty-one Reuben had
entirely devoted himself to the musical pro-
given By curious incident. One moonlight
night, as he was playing on the roof as usual
he saw head peep out from the uppermost
window of the opposite house.
This head was withdrawn when he ceased
playing, and again put forward as soon as he
recommended. natural feeling Of gratiaed
sp prevented the young man from yielding
TO his first shy impulse Of retiring; and besides
sympathy in anything relating to his art was
new, 20 new to Reuben that it gave him pleasure
70 be st tat listened to, even by an un-
soul into his violin, and played until midnight
Next day, while at his duties in his masters
shop. the apprentice was sent for at the house
opposite Reuben went, bearing the insignia of
his lowly trade; but instead Of . patient Gus.
TONER he only saw gentleman, who smiled AT
his array OF brushes.
t.
the stranger, in English, which was strongly
tinctured with q foreign accent, "but to sneak
about the violin playing which / heard last
night night Am Dnghtly informed that the per-
1T Was, sir" answered Reuben, trembling
With eagerness.
Who taught you?'
81 myself"
s'Then you love music?"
"Whh my whole heart and soul,, said the
young man, enthusiastically.
. SIR Hrau Al
history Of himself and his violin, and talked to
him long and earnestly.
"iou have true feeling for that noble art
to which 1, too, belong" he said. s.. You may
have many difficulties to encounter, but never
be discouraged; you will SURF mount them all.
on have many hindrances; but listen, and
will tell you what went through with at your
age once came, poor boy like you, to the
creates. capital in Europe, nv heart full of
music, but utterly without means. My only
poor chamber, while went to buy a loaf with
my last coin. When came back my violin was
gone; it had been stolen. May God forgive me
for the crime ! contemplated in my mad de-
{ was saved from the death I sought-saved to
1--we for better things. nv friend" continued
the musician, after long silence, during which
take warning"
81 will, will,'' cried Reuben, much moved,
And now, alter having told you this terrible
secret in my life it is well that should not re-
veal my name-and besides, il could do you no
good, az set out for Europe tomorrow. But
sho uld You ever be in Paris come to this address.
leave this writing, and you will hear from me-
The gentleman wrote some line in a foreign
language which Reuben could not make out
though among his musical acq u aintances he had
gained little knowledge Of both French and
italian. He then gave Nandrest the address and
b. d him adieu.
The young man long pondered over this adj
Ienture. and it was the fnal crisis which made
him relinIuish trade so unpleasant to him for
the practice of his beloved art.
l. "a mistake to suppose that the profession
,ne may turn who has a distaste for more solid
pursuits. In DO calling is intellectual activity
md ardurous study more fmperstiveiy required
He who wo aid attain to even moderate emiuence
N 1t mus devote years of daily, patient toll to
dry and uninteTesting branches OF study. A
poet may be one by nature; ii is utterly impos
,ible that musician can be great without as
deep science IS ever puzzled mathematical
brain.
He must woodwork every inch of his way
must dig the foundation and enrich the soil 4
before he can form his garden and plant his
lowers. Thus did our young ex.barber. He
studied scientifically what he had first learned
thu ough the instinct Of genius, and rose slowly
and gradually in his profession. Sometimes his
slight and ordinary appearance which male
him look more boyish than he really was, his
quaint, old world name, and above all, sim
and manner, aroused the ridicuie OF his com
paDOns, who followed music mare for show
tLan through real art. But the story of
bis early perseverance always disarmed them:
and 1t was a common saying, with reference 10
young Nandrest, that he who, untaaght. could
make violin, would surely learn to play it.
BY degrees the young violinist rose into note
and became received into society where he
could hardly have dreamed tn At he should ever
set bis foot. Many rich citizen was pleased
TO welcome 70 his house Mr.. yandrest, the
young and unassuDing musician, whose gentle
manner and acknowledged talents were equally
priced. The BARRIERS apprentice was LIterly
forgotten or else only thought of as proof OF
how much mans fortune lies in his own hands
il he will only try.
In one of these elegant reunions Yandrest
again heard the name which had never utterly
gone from his memory through all his vicissf-
tudes-Cora Dacres. He turned round, and
saw the altered likeness OF the girl who had
held the cup of water To- his lips on the night of
the ball. She had grown into womanly beauty,
but he remembered the face still. She had MT
the fsiutest memory Of him. How could 1t be
20 Light and darkness were not more differ
ent than the pleasing, intellectual gentleman
Ike man who Vas introduced to her, and the
pitied and aided.
Some times Vandrest thought he would re-
mind her OF the circumstance; but then a vague
FEELING OF sensitigeness and shame prevented
him. be went home, and again his old violin
might have been heard breathed over IL the
name OF Cora Dacres, but this time not in how