The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-05-20

.omnlotod ,yhen great bell rang, and loud |
W. rtn;nU ibrouoh the hall announced supper.
p pa " Nat ouaked at the thought of meet
;nn many strange boys, but Mrs. Bhaerl held
, nnf her hand to him, and Rob said, patron
zingy, "Doht Ut iraiu' IL Like Care Vi
you"
their chairs, prancing with impotence to be- |
gin, while the tall flute playing youth was
trying to curb their ardor. But no one sat |
down, till Mrs. Bhaer was in her place behind |
the teapot, with Teddy on her left, and Nat
on her right.
"This is our new boy, Nat Blake. After
supper you can say. How do you do? Gently,
boys, gently
As she spoke every one stared at Nat, and
then whisked into their seats, trying to be or, |
DERBY, and FILLING utterly. The Bhaers ana
their best to have the lads behave wen at
meal times, and generally succeeded pretty
we'll for their rules were few and sensible,
and the bows. knowing that they tried to
make things easy and happy, did their best 10
obey But there are times when hungry boys
cannot be repressed without real cruelty, and
Saturday evening, after half-hoiday, was
one of those times.
"Dear little souls de let them have one day
in which they can howl and racket and frOiic,
to their hearts content. A holiday isn't a
nOlluay, WltuOuJ picull vi HccuOll anu luu
and they shall have full swing once a week"
Mrs. Bhaer used to say, when prim people
wondered why banisters sliding, pillOw-fghts,
and all manner of jOvial games were allowed
under the once decorous roof of PlumGeld.
1t did seem at times as if the aforesaid roof
was in danger of flying off; but it never did,
for a word from Father Bhaer could at any
time produce hull, and the lads had learned
that liberty must not be abused. So, in spite
of many dark predictions, the school flourish
ed, and manners and morals were insinuated,
without the pupils knowing exactly how it
was done.
Nat found himself very we'll off behind the
tall pitchers, with Tommy Bangs just round
the corner, and Mrs. Bhaer close by, to fill up
plate and mug as fast as he could empty
them.
"Who is that boy next the girl down al the
other end?" whispered Nat to his young
neiehbor under cover of general laugh.
"That's Demi Brooke. Mr.. Bhaer is his
uncle"
"What queer namew
ellis real name is john, bat they call him
Demi, ohm, because his father is John too.
That's joke, don't you see?" said Tommy,
kindly explaining. Nat did not see, but pO
litely smiled, ana asked with interest:
nlsn't he very nice boy?"
81 bet you he is; knows lots and reads like
anything"
''Who is the fat one next him?"
ooh, thatt Stuffy Cole. His name is
George, but we call him Stufy cause he eats
so much. The little fellow next Father
Bhaer is his boy Rob, and then there's big
Franz his nephew; he teaches some, and kind
of sees to u.s."
she plays the flute, doesn't he ?" asked Nat,
as Tommy rendered himself speeches. by
putting whole baked apple. into his mouth
at one blow.
Tommy nodded, and said, sooner than one
would have thought possible under the circum-
stances, "Oh, don't he, though? and we dance
sometimes, and do gymnastics to music. l
like drum, myself, and mean to learn as
soon as ever 1 cam"
81 like a fiddle best; 1 can play one, too, y
said Nat, getting confidential on this attract.
i've subject.
Scan you?" and Tommy stared over the
rim of his mug with round eyes full of inter-
est. "Mr. Bhaer's got an old fiddle, and he'll
let you play on it ii you want to-"
"Could I? Oh, would like it ever so much.
You see l used to 60 round flddling with my
rather, and another man till he died."
Wasn't that ?" cried Tommy, much i'm
pressed.
mo, it was horrid; so cold in winter, and
hot in summer. And got tired; and they
were cross sometimes; and / didn't have
enough to eat" Nat paused to take gener.
erous bite of gingerbread, as if to assure him
felt that the hard times were over; and then
he added regretiully, "But did love my little
fiddle, and 1 miss it. Nicoo took it away
when father died, and wouldn't have ME any
longer, cause was SICK"
you'll belong to the band if you play good.
See if you DON'T"
"Do you have band here?" And Mats
eyes spanked.
"Guess we do; a jolly band, all boys; and
they have concerts and things. You just see
what happens tomorrow night"
After this pleasantly exciting remark, Tom
my returned to his supper, and Nat sank Into
blissful revere over his full plate.
Mrs. Bhaer had heard all they said, while
apparently absorbed in filling mugs, and over
seeing little Ted, who was so sleepy that he
PIT his spoon in his eye, nodded like a rosy
poppy, and finally fell fast asleep, with his
cheek pillowed on soft bun. Mrs. Bhaer
had put Nat next to Tommy, because that
roly- poly boy had frank and social way with
him, very attractive to shy persons. Nat felt
this, and had made several small condolences
during supper, which gave Mrs. Bhaer the
ss 49, ss a heS - eharactsr better than il
In the letter which Mr.. Laurence had sen
with Nat, he had said
heart. This poor lad is an orphan now, sick
and friendless. He has been street-musici-
an and found him in cellar, mourning foi
his dead father, and his lost violin. 1 think
there is something in him, and have fancy
that between us we may give this little man
lift. You cure his overta sked body, Fritz
help his neglected mind, and when he is
| ready I'll see if he is genius or only boy
with talent which may earn his bread fol
| him Giva him, q tria oil for ho DO Of
| own boy, "TEDDY."
"Of course we WHIP cried Mrs. Bhaer, as
| she read the letter; and when she saw Nat
she felt at once that whether he was genius
or not, here was lonely, sick boy, who need
ed just what she loved to give, home, and
motherly care Both she and MIR. Bhaer oh
served him quietly; and in spite of ragged
clothes, awkward manners, and dirty face,
| they saw much about Nat that pleased them.
| He was thin, pale boy OF twelve, with blue
eyes, and good forehead under the rough,
neglected hair; an anxious, scared face. at
| times, as if he expected hard words, or blows /;
and a sensitive mouth, that trembed when a
kind glance fell on him; while a gentle speech
called up a look of gratitude, very sweet to
see. "Bless the poor dear, he shall fiddle all
day long if he likes" said Mrs. Bhaer to her.
| self, as she saw the eager, happy expression
on his face when Tommy talked of the band.
So, after supper, when the lads focked into
the school-room for more "hlgh inks" Mrs.
| 10 appeared with violin in her hand, and
after word with her husband, went to Nat,
who sat in corner watching the scene with
intense interest.
"Now my lad. give us little tune. We
want violin in our band, and I think you
will do it nicely"
She expected that he would hesitate; but
he seized the old fiddle at once, and handled
1t with such loving care, it was plain to see
that music was his passion.
"I'll do the best b can, ma'am," was all he
said and then drew the bow across the
strings, as ii eager to hear the dear notes
again.
There was great clatter in the room, but
as if deaf to any sounds but those he made,
Nat played softly to himself, forgetting every
thing in his delight. 1t was only simple ne.
gro melody, such as street musicians play,
but it caught the ears of the boys at once,
and silenced them, till they stood listening
with surprise and pleasure. Gradually they
got nearer and nearer, and Mr.. Bhaer came
up to watch the boy; tor, as if he was in his
element now, Nat played away and never
minded any one, while his eyes shone, his
cheeks Redeemed, and his thin fingers flew, as
he Rugged the old fiddle and made it speak to
all their hearts, the language that he loved.
A hearty round OF applause rewarded him
better tnan shower OF pennies, when he
stopped and glanced about him, as if to say
I've done my best please like it,"
Il say you do that first rate" cried Tommy
who considered Nat his prOtege.
you shall be first fiddle in my band" add
cd NIT rA.,s.x c,x,;14