The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-04-07
The 1.titic Vioitu ~.

L OuHk hmCtiCurs uS uo was Cdilcus tiN
was boru iu London. believe, and wa,
only four years old when his father
brought him to this country, less THAI
three years ago. Since that time he has
appeared 10 concerts aud various enter.
tanneuts IN many of our principal cities,
attracting unusual attention by bis musicsl
skill. confess, however, that bad
not heard Of hun until last mouth. but
since then | do not think day has pass.
ed when this child's face has not risen
up in my mcmory,-the little half.sad
face, as l saw it once, with its large,
serious eyes and :niaptile mouth.
One morning last January, when I told
Charley and Talbot, at the break fast table,
that Prince Rupert and his Court had
come to town,
"Some IN jags,
Some 10 rags,
And some in velvet gowns
the news was received with great glee, as
you may imagine for this meant that we
we're to go to the play.
| am not going to tell you much about
the play,
What interested me most, aod what
pleased Charley and Talbot even beyond
the Naiad Queen herself, was the little
violnist who came to the German Court
aud played before Prince Rupert and
his bride.
1t was such little fellow! He was
not more than year older than my own
boys, and not much taller He had a
very sweet, sensitive face. with large
grey eyes. in which there was a deep set.
tied expression which | do not like to see
10 child. Looking at his eyes alone,
you would have said he was sixteen or
seventeen. and he was merely a baby
do not know enough of music to as.
sert that be had wonderful genius, or an y
gepius at all but it seemed to me be
played oharmnsly, aud with the touch Of
natural musician. thought The Last
Rose of Summer" tbe sweetest strain OF
music 10 the world. as it Goated up from
the small violin.
At the end OF hi. niece, he was lifted
over the foot-lights OF the stage into the
orchestra, where, With the conductor :
stick 10 his hand, he directed the band 10
playing one or two airs. Ia this he show.
ed carefully troined ear and perfect
understa ndipg of the music.
wanted to here the little violin again
hut as be made hi. bow to the audience
and ran OF. it was with half.wearied
air, and did not joiu with nv ueighbors
III calling him back. There's smother
performance tonight" said 20 myself
''aud the little fellow isut very strong
lie came out and bowed, bat did not pls :
again.
All the way horna from the theatre
my children were full Of the little violin
st aud as they went u,ong, chatterine
and froiicking iu front Of me, aud getting
under my feet like a couple Of young span
iels, could not help thinking how differ
ent the poor lit,le musicians lot wa:
+ from the RS.
He was ouy six years aud a.half old
and bad been before the public nesrl,
three years. What hours of toll aud
wearipess he must have been passing
through at the very time when ny little
ones were being rocked and petted and
shielded from every uugeute wind tina,
blows. And what an existence was hi.
bow travelling frotn ciiy to city, prsc.
ticing at every spare moment, aud per
forming, night alter night, in some close
theatre or coHceft-room when be should
be drinking in that deep, refreshing slum
Der which childhood needs. However
much he was loved by those who had
charge Of him,-ahd they must have
treated him tiadly,--it WAS r hard lite
; for the child. He aught to have beer
turned out into the sunshine that pretty
violiu-onc can easily understand that be
was fond Of it himseit-ought to have
been taken away from him, and kite
string placed in bis hand Instead. II
God had set the germ of great musician
or great composer 10 that slight body
surely it would have been wise to let the
precious gift ripen aud flower in its owr
good time
This is what thought, walking home
ia the glow OF the wintry sunset bu. 10y
boys saw only the bright side of the pic.
ture, and would like nothing better thar
to change places with little Jane,
Spesight. To stand 10 the midst of Fai
rylsnd and play beautiful tunes on q toy
fiddle, while all the people clspped theil
hauds,-whst could quite equal that
The next morning at the breakfast
table, when | opened the newspaper
which is always laid beside my plate, the
drst paragraph my eyes fell upon wa.
this
james Speaight, the infant violinist
died 10 this city late on Saturday uigth
At the matinee oil the 'Naiad Queen OF
he afternoon Of that day. when little
james Spesight came of the stsge, after
giving his usual violin perlornance. Mr.
Shewell noticed that he appeared fatigued
and asked il he felt i'll, lie replied that
he had pain in bis heart. and then Mr.
Shewel suggested that be remain away
from the evening performance. He re.
tired quite early, and about midnight hi
father heard him say, Gracious God
make room for another little child in
Hearen' No sound was heard after
this, and his father spoke to him soon
Afterwards he received no answer, tu,
found his child dead"
Was there ever anything ssdder than
tbatf The printed letters grew dim aud
melted into each other as tried TO read
them again. l glanced across the table
at Charley and Talbot, eating their break
fast, with the slauted sunlight from the
window turning their curs into real gold
and ! bad not the heart to tell then
what had happened.
or all the prayers that Hoated up to
heaven, that Saturday night, from the
bedsdes Of sorrowful men aud women, or
FROM the cots Of happy children, what &C.
cents could have falleo more piteously
and tenderly upon the ear of listening
angel than the prayer Of little james