The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1874-09-04
MISCELLANY.
A CHILD's LOVE.

pale and sorrowful, his eyebrows strong
ly marked, while his dark eyes sparkled
with a weird brilliancy which at times
had an almost sinister expression.
He remained lost in thought for some
time, his head resting upon his slim,
nervous hand, listening to the murmur-
ing waves, a. they broke at his feet, gaz-
ing sadly across to the distant horizon
with unutterable longing. Suddenly the
Joyous laughter of childhood broke upon
his musings; 2 little girl came running
across the waving field and threw both
arms enthusiastically about his neck.
"Oh. you naughty, naughty Nieolo;
what are you doing here? I've been look
ing everywhere for you!" Uttering these
half-scolding words, she continued to
oyerwheln him with caresses, and laid a
little basket Elled with wild roses and
elegantines at his feet, in token of her
childish affection. The shadow OF =
smile fitted across the boy'= f4c" rs he
}ool,ed into hcf laughing eyes; he raF
f:s ilugcrz .hruugh her iossy curls, gave
. slv. cautious look around, and whis-
pe-ed
y ran away from my father, Gianetta;
he gave re leave to rest, SO | came tc
this lovely place-you know how valne
my short liberty, and how | adore the
murmuring of these waves! Listen to
their weird music" +"
at is too bad of your father" sighed
the child, "to torment you with those
hateful exercises; you will die of over
work! Poor Nicolo,' SO mother saio to
me, is much too delicate; his bewitched
violin will be the death of him before
long. and it will be his fathers fault p
And mother is rightw she added, look
ing anxiously at the Young boys worn
face.
s'Do not fear me, Gianetta," replied
Nicolo! at shall not die yet; / must
grow up to be mani Look, how stro g
lamp He drew himself up to his full
height, his dark eyes flashed, and smile
of rare tenderness played around his ripe
lips. With his strong arms he lifted his
little playmate and held her suspended
over the water for some seconds. Sadness
does not linger long in the heart of I
child! Gianetta seeing him SO gay, com
menced sinring, pausing ever and amor
for some bit of childish gossip. Nicholt
listenad, amused, at the artless prattl'
about her flowers, her doves, her games
and her dolls, and whenever he sank in
TO an unconscious fit of abstraction, Gi
anetta Quickly brought him to himsel
with a playful shake or tender kiss.
The children remained on the stranC
until the stars came out one after anoth
er, smiling alike on the serious eyes o
NicoIo and the drowsy ones of the pretl,
Gianetta. Then, indeed, they turne'
their steps homeward, their arms wonn'
around each other in the innocent, lov
ing embrace of childhood. After Ion
walk, they turned down a narrow lane
at the end of which stood two humbl
cottages, overgrown with vines-one tn
home of Gianetta, the other of Nicolt
AT the threshold of the former stood tn
mother of the little girl, anxiously await
ing the return of the children, whor
she tenderly embraced as they come rur
ming up to her; then, isAing each othe
goodnight, Nicolo crossed over to h
home.
Or entering his dingy little room, h
sighed deeply. raised the window to Ii
IA the mild night air, and opening
chest. drew from ii an old violin. Sea
ing hiunielf near the easement, throng
which the silvery moonlight flooded, !
passed BIS fingers across the strings, M
drew from them tie most entrancir
strains of music, dying away at tim
into wondrosp melancholy, then swellir
into triumphant gladness.
Scarcely had he commenced playin
when large spider crawled out OF ii
vines and came on the shutter.
"Welcome" cried the young musicia
Rayly; and as it advanced, he laid his ii
ger on the window sill, allowed the 81
der to make its way over it, and plac'
it in triumph upon his violin, where
remained, during the whole perforI
ance, aa if enchanted by the wonderf
magic of the music.
Nieolo continued practicing until
eye-lids closed in sleep, and not until
sun shone into his eyes did he ava
from his sound slumbers. He arose a
replaced his mute, still sleeping compa
ion carefully upon the vine leaves.
Every time that he laid aside his "
lin, when inspiration or strength fail
he sank into his habitual morbid reve
The absence of the spider increased Il
feeling Of solitude, for he was attach
to the creature with all the passion o.
fervent and unhappy disposition. t
father was hard and relentless master
his dead mother he only dimly RENE
bered az having smiled upon him W
ineffable sweetness as she sung him
sleep with her gentle lullaby. But Il
was 30 long, long ago, and now he /
no friends; for the children of his o
age avoided the dreamy, reserved
OnlY llLLle Olducttd "hS SOOA ~ -
coming often to his room and listen
in silent admiration to the inspiring
sic of his violin. But Gianetta detes
his spider. "There is witchcraft IN
she would say, with dainty little sh
der, and so the insect was never adr
ted during her visits. When his hnt
grew stiff with exercise, Nieolo enliN
ed the hours by telling fairy tales,
mantle adventures and his own he
for the future to his delighted little C
panion, who would listen without {
ing to interrupt, her eyes cleaning
JOY, as she pre- sed the feverish hand
the sgitated narrator. Sometimes n
10 told her of Mozart, who was alre
famous at the 'ender age of six.
Gianctsa r NJ would exclaim, how 81
seem beside him" And hot I
d., f,ss o-fgOnatpH cheeks.