Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-07-20

admitted as a sort Of superuumerary into a
wandering band.
One night when this primitive orchestra
was engaged for a ball at a private house in
the city, the first violin mysteriously disap-
peared In this dilemma young Reuben
found courage to offer himself as a substitute.
1t was daring thing to do.
The other musicians first laughed at him,
then heard him play the part which no one
else could take, and finally suffered him To
try.
For the first timo in his life, the BARRIERS
boy witnessed ball IL seemed to him a
fairy scene--ho was dazzed bewildcred, OK
cited, and in his enthusiasm he played excel
lently. The night wore away; the dancers
seemed never weary-not so the aching fin
gers Of the musicians Reuben especially,
to whom the excitement was new, grew more
and more exhausted, and at last, Just as he
had finished playing waltz, fell iainting from
his chair. Most Of the gay couples passed
ont was only poor musician but one
young girl, in whom the compassionate and
simple nature of child had not been swept
away by the iormalites Of young adyhood,
held a glass Of water to his lips.
Cora Dacres bringing to life iainting
fiddler" said a twttering voice. "Oh, what
story when we get back to school :"
The girl turned around Indignantly, say
ing, Cora Dacres is never ashamed Of doing
what is right Are you better now" she
added gently to poor Reuben who had opened
his eyes
The youth recovered, aud she disappeared
again among the dancers but many time
did the auburn curs and soft, brown sympa-
thizing eyes of the little schoolgirl float be-
fore the vision Of Reuben Vandrest; and the
young musician often caught himself repeat
ing over his sole confdant--his violin--the
pretty name he had heard on his waking, and
dimly recognized as hers-Cora Dacres.
Long before he was twenty-one Reuben had
entirely devoted himself to the musical pro-
fcssion. The turning-point in his career was
given by a 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
The head was withdrawn when he ceased
playing and again put forward as soon as he
recommended. A natural feeling of graft
fed vanity prevented the young man from
yielding to his first shy impulse Of retiring
and besides, sympathy in anything relating to
his art was so new to Reuben that it gave
him pleasure to be attentvely listened to,
even by an unknown neighbor over the way.
He threw all his soul into his violin, and
played until midnight
Next day while at his duties in his masters
abor tho nppront;oo ,uas aopt co. ~ th, bo,so
opposite. Reuben went bearing the insignia
Of his lowly trade but instead of patient
customer, he saw gentleman, who only
smiled at his array Of brushes
did not send for you to act as barber" ("
said the stranger in English which was strong
ly tnctured with a foreign accent, but to
speak about the violin playing which l heard
last night. Am | rightly informed that the
performer was yourself2'
" 1t was, sir" answered Reuben, trembling
with eagernoss.
Who taught you?"
8" |, myself
Then you love music 2"
with my whole heart and soul !" said
the young man enthusiastically.
The stranger skllfully drew from Reuben
the little history Of himself and his violin,
and talked to him long and earnestly.
" You have a true feeling for that noble
art to which |, too, belong" he said. &" You
may have many difficulties to encounter, but
never be discouraged will surmount
them all. You have had many hndrances--
but listen, and | will tell you what went
through with at your age. once came, like
you, to the greatest capital in Europe, my
heart full of music, but utterly without means.
My only wealth was my violin. | left it one
day in my poor chamber, while | went out to
buy a loaf with my last coin
When came back my violin was gone.
1t had been stolen May God forgive me
for the crime | contemplated in my mad de-
spair | rushed to the river; plunged in
but was saved from the death sought
saved to live for better things. My friend -
continued the musician, after long silence,
during which his face was hidden by his
hands, in all the trials of your career, re.
member this of mine--take warning"
81 will, | will !" cried Reuben, much
moved.
"Aud now, after having told you this ter
rible secret in my life, it is as we'll that |
should not reveal my name-and besides, it
could do you no good, as | set out for Europe
tomorrow. But should you ever be in Paris
come to this address, leave this writing, and
you will hear from me"
The gentleman wrote some lines in a for
eign language which Reuben could not make
cut, though among his musical acquaintances
he had gained little knowledge of both
French and Italian. He then gave Vandrest
the address, and babe him adieu
The young man long pondered over this
adventure, and it was the final crisis which
made him relinquish trade so unpleasng tc
him for the practice of his beloved art
1t is mistake to suppose that the profess
sion Of music is an easy, careless life, to which
any one may turn who has taste for more
solid pursuits. In no calling is intellectual
activity and,arduous study more imperatiyely
required. He who would attain to even
moderate eminence in it must devote years OF
daily, patient toll to dry and uninteresting
branches ofstudy. A poet may be one by
nature; it is utterly impossible that musi-
elan can be great without as deep science as
ever puzzled a mathematical brain
He must work-work every inch of his
way-must dig the foundation and enrich the
the soil before he can form his garden and
plant his flowers Thus did our young bar.
ber. He studied scientifically what he had
first learned through the instinct of genius
aud rose slowly and gradually in his profes.
sion. Sometimes his slight and ordinary ap-
poarance, which made him look more boyish
bs. llu 10 IL II