The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-13

lett. derived from the Italian word stiudte,
which means boot in our language, as You
all know. But when Signor Stiyalettl came
back TO his native land and found that his
countrymen had some difficulty in pro-
nouncing his new name, he made some
slight alterations in it and called; himself
Signor Sigeletti, and now everything went
smoothly. Among his other innumerable
nplishIncpts this Signor Sigeletti was
also great lnusician-not that be laid any
claim TO be very great performer himself,
but he had wonderful art TO make other
people play Wherever he told the n1u-
sicians OF his town, You play here, you
play there, you play soft, you play loud,
you play high, you play low, they all obeyed
him like good children, SO that most eX-
traordinary harmony resulted from his
bright talent; and il any one dared to show
himself refractory sigeletti only had to rap
him over his pate with his conductors
stick, when the rcbellious object became
quiet as lamb directly. ..-. s- 81" '.'
TO this remarkable man Jake now went
with his fiddle, and said with q deep bow:
"Grcat and revered Signor Sigeletti,
have here most exquisite fiddle, and now
I want a correspondingly exquisite artist to
perform upon it. Knowing that you can
do almost anything, have come to ask you
il you could raise up a musician for me
worthy to play on this divine instrument
and plunge the natives into deep astonish-
ment." ,...s-.i.. .... ....5 ,s..,~. ..... 81.
Sigelctti looked graYely, at hiEl for few
moments, and then pronounced these words
with the greatest confidence:
"Littlc Jake, it shall be DONE Shrumps!' ~
Whenever Sigcletti uttered that little
word " Shrumps!" " it was sign that the
thing in question must be carried out; that
it was q fixed fact and beyond all peradvcn-
ture. He also employed it as an assurance
that he would stand by the person to whom
it was uttered through thick and thin, in
life and death.
"But where will you find such nusi-
clan, Signor Sigeletti?" asked Jake.
Little Jake, tell you it shall be done.
II I find that none Of our musicians has
knowledge enough TO play on that fiddle /
will pick out one OF them, lock him up, and
feed him on bread and water until he has
practiced enough to satisfy me. Sbrumps! )"
"Ob, thank you, great SIgnor Sigelitti !"
calculated Jake, and went his way reioic-
ing. " @
Signor sigeletti was walking up and down
In his shop the next day, revolving in his
mind how to fulfil the promise be had given
Jake, when a way-worn, foot-sore, scantily-
dressed traveller entered, walked up to
him, and asked with deep bow:
care you the renowned Signor Sigc-
letti?" .' f...
"Ycs, my friend, am," answered Sigc-
letti in his conscious superiority.
- have been shown to you," continued
the stranger. 81 am needy, weary, and
hungry; can you do anything for me ?"
Sigeletti's big heart commenced immedi-
ately swelling with compassion, and with
out moments hesitation he said to the
stranger in a friendly tone:
"To commence with, sit down and put
on a new pair OF boots"
When that performance was over, Sige-
letti gave the stranger plenty to eat and
drink, and made him feel comfortable in
every respect. .
Full Of gratitude for this friendly reccp-
ton, the stranger said, after he had finished
his meal:
"Generous Signor Sigeletti, wish I
could show my thankfulness for all your
kindness; but alas! am but apoor fiddler,
and have nothing to offer"
"You are fiddler said Sigeletti, prick
ing up his ears. "Will you play little for
me on this Instrument"
And he handed him Jake's fiddle.
The stranger put it to his chin and COM
menced drawing the bow over the strings,
and such enrapturing, heavenly strains did
he elicit from the enchanted instrument that
Sigeletti's senses were all in q whirr, and
every one OF his black hairs rose upon his
head, so that be looked more like an enraged
porcupne than a musical shoemaker. When
the stranger had finished Sigeletti could not
utter a word, but only stared at him with
mute amaZemcnt. ...
"Did my playing please you:" asked the
stranger after 4 awhile.
".Shrumps! ShrumpS!! SHRUMpS ! -"
was all Sigeletti could say.
When his emotions had somewhat sub
sided, Sigeletti said to the stranger:
.:My unknown friend, tomorrow eve
ming we have concert in this town, where
all the ladies and gentlemen OF distinction
will be present. Ii you will play one or two
pieces on that occasion you will richly re-
ward me not only for what have done for
you hitherto, but for everything / mean to
do for YOU in the future"
The stranger readily assented, and so the
affair was settled. -.
The next evening brilliant crowd was
assembled in the concert-hall, and listened
with pleasure to the pretty pieces that were
performed there. But when the stranger
made his appearance and commenced play
ing, mystic glow OF enchanted rapture
overloaded the mind Of every one, and put
them all in such state Of ecstasy that they
did not at all know what they were about.
An old, rich, grinding skinflint pul led out
several large gold coins and put them in the
pocket OF q poor young man who. occupied
the next seat; tail, Juno-like looking
married lady pressed the hand warmly,
time and again, OF a handsome young man
who was sitting close. by her, under the de-
lusion that it was her, husband; several
beaux looked straight into the eyes OF their
sweethearts. and the sWeethearts, forgetting,
in their confusion. to cast down their eyes,
looked straight back again, so that there
arose between them an electric telegraph
ing wonderful to behold; and even the lit
tie motise who used to have her nest in the
fiddle, having procured safe hole in COR
ner OF the room, sat there testifying her de-
light by the bright sparkle OF her eyes and
the vigorous wagsing Of her tail. 1t was
not until the company had been for some
time in the open air that they in some mea-
sure recovered their senses, but yet the
effect OF the music remained SO strong on
the mind OF the hearers that it is said that
fifty obduratc young ladies, who for a long
time had been worrying and GanteIiDg their
benuX, in going home that eve
ming promised to become their wives forth
with, which sent such a thrill OF bliss
to the hearts OF the young men that they
could not sleep wink the whole night, and
went next day to their several occupations
in drowsy, semi-somnolent state. Cox
Whether the stranger was a son or, rela-
tive Of the good fairy who gave Jake the
6ddla ao6 what bepaN N1e NJ that fiddle and