Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-04-24
The Little Musician.
BY FANNf FERN

"Nuisance - So said young schoo
girl who sat next to me in the city cars. Sh'
was out of humor perhaps she had an i'm
perfect lesson at school: perhaps she wa,
weary of sitting in a close room so many
hours perhaps her head ached bodily, and
she was faint for her dinner.
Little Nuisance," Who was little
nuisance? 1t was poor boy, who had
first paid his FIVE pennies to the conductor
anG had commenced playing on an accor-
dec, in the hope of getting some money
from the gentlemen and ladies in the car.
Some scowled, some pouted, and some, like
the young lady have mentioned, loudly
called him IA nuisance Still the boy
played on, though with weary, spiritless
look in his young face, as II to say, 81 know
it is poor music, very poor, to ears which
are used to opera or concert singing but
have pity on a poor boy, who would earn a
few honest pence for his bread, who will
not steal, and dislikes to beg" 1t Twas of
no use. The gentlemen were busy reading
their newspapers, the ladies in taking care
of their hooped skirts and fiounceS. Lily
Dale charmed them not, nor "Auld Lang
Syne." There were diamond pins flashing
in the sunlight from gerilemen's shirt
bosoms, rubies and emcrald~ from the ladies'
fingers, and massive gold bracelet clasped
a snowy arm that was never pinched by
cruel want. Little parcels, too, the ladies
had, from which peeped costly purchases in
embroidered lace and muslins. Little boys
were with them, 50 unlike the little musi-
elan, in their silk velvet jackets, irilled
collars, and plump, rosy faces, that one
could hardly believe both 10 belong to the
same human family.
Still the boy played on. with the old,
weary, spiritless look, with his soft eyes
fixed upon those unsympathizing faces; sill
Yer and gold glistened through the net
work of dainty purses, bat not for him
One more tune the child played then,
folding his ACCORDION upon his arm, he step
ped from the ear and was out of sight.
Where? In the great busy city? Did
he sink down lainting from hunger and
fatigue, feeling that God and His good
angels had left him? Did he stand before
some brokers' shop widow, a. have seen
many little ragged child stand, counting
the shining piles Of dollars. half-dollarS and
quarters, and the great round gold pieces
only one of which would make his weary
feet to leap for JOY? God help the lad
Did he look at them with hungry eyes, and
count them over and over till wrong seemed
To him to be right, and the little hand that
never was stained by dishonesty became
foul with crime? Not were sad to DE
hungry and housele~s; bat it We're -adder
yet To he shut up in prison-a bad con
science keeping him tormenting company.
Where did he 90 the "little nuisance
where? The papers told me the next
morning. Listen
a little boy who is accustomed 1, play
the accordeon in the street cars. in stepping
from the Fulton ferry boat To the pier, last
evening, accidentlly lost his footing AMI was
drowned"
No more lault-fnding voices % ask why
don't the lad earn his living. or calling him
"a Nuisance when he tried the only thing
he could do, and failed. no more returns at /
nightiall with leaden feet and empty pock- /
st- The boats plough on Just rs merriiy the .
water dances and sparkle~ al the same as If F.
the light in his blue eyes were NOT quenched /
forever
Where is the little nui-aIce3 Where
Ask them who. through much tribIla- I
tion, have washed their robes white, who /
neither thirst nor hunger and more. and in
whose song is no jarring di-corl. ot such 1
Is the little musician