Middletown transcript., 1872-05-04
selttt storn.
CA ANlII.I.A.

Paul Smith was u poor old man. He
had n back room in the top Of noisy
lodgiaghou,c, where h. slcp, at nights.
and munchcd his meals Of bread aud
cheese. and whence he crcpt down to the
corner Of the liucy street, to ta, little
music shop Of Carl Bcriman. German
settler somewhere in Soho There be
tinkcrrd all day on broken violns and
other musical instruments. never ahscn,-
ing himself for y moment save on Sa,ur-
day afternoons. When he went 10 the house
oi small tradc,man to teach the piano tn
three or four girla Sundays he curlrd
up in bis den, and rmnsri himself. ~.
body knew haw, until Moniay morning
There arc u few oertuia,ic., b. never
went 10 church blt picked rugged chil-
drcn from thr faycm.ui when they tell
near him. aul gave them half-pruni.> =
when he had any s; shared his ,lruHrr ofieu
with eur, who acted n . sort Of cscap,
valve for the iii.ietnpcr Of half Of the men
and women in the street aud b. reused
Pat Ryan from his midnight snooz- 10 the
gutter many cold night. and literally
carried him home 10 "Norah and the chill
drcn J"
As for his honesty ncighbor remark
ed: III he found five shil,ipgs in the
street, he'd wear out ten shliings' worth
Of shoe leather aud strength 10 ind thr
owner
One cold night Paul was returning from
his work with a loaf nf bread under or.
arm and violin under the other. when
ut the street door. he stumbled and nearly
fell over n small object croaebvd on the
step.
"Blcss us. what's th,.?' cried Paul.
striving TO regain his equilibrium.
Only me, sir aud TIE small object
stood up, very pale, thin, aud ragged
ehili.
Are you hurt, little girl?'
"No. sir F"
What are you doing OF, here in the
cold?"
| "Nothng
why cont you go home!'
Il niu't go, any"
Th. Winter Of 1886 came in like lion.
as many poor wretch well remembers
and with the first blast came Pauls enc
my lie turned one night with sad face
frem his warm cornc, in Beriman's shop
among the violins. and hobblel up the
cold street. feeling the approach Of the old
rheumatic pains. and wondering wha,
would become of his poor little Camilla.
His excitement carried him up to the
last flight Of stairs, and. hearing Camilla
voice. he paused to rest and listen. She
was singing in that sweet expressive man.
ner which made her voice seem TO him the
sweetest and purest he had ever heard. A,
the end of the s,anxa she took breath. and
another voice said: Child. you astonish
me Edith. nm poor Judge Of music.
or else your voice is the finest ever
heard. Your are right in prefrrring its
cultivation to anything else "
An electric thrill tho, through old Paul $
frame. and quickcncd his blood to rapid.
ity that quite carried away his rheumatic
pains. and in a twinkling he was up the
stairs and in his little attic.
He was terrified at the sound Of man
voice but the sight Of handsome and
polished gentleman. with diamond studs
In his snowy linen. heavy ring upon his
dainty white hand, unquestionable broad
cloth upon his back. in close conversation
WITH his Camilla. whose wondrous beauty
had Of late stsrtlcd even his dull .pcrcop-
tioa, sas more than Paul could bear.
He vss very small man--had been in
his youth nov that times withering
| 1mRers had touched him. be was shrivelled
and dsied like uishssed fruit !; but in his
virtaous indignation he puhed out TO biz
! bIlsst sspest, spd ls BE elsstso ,eiss BE-