The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-13
For the Dtspatch.l
THE ENCHANTED FIDDLE.
A Fairy Tale.

Once upon time there lived in town,
many thousand miles from where we now
are, an old woman who had n son by the
name OF Jake. This Jake had n frail and
puny body, but 4 wonderfully wise head
on his small shoulders. Being too weak foI
any rough work ne turned his attention to
the fine arts, and became in time skilful
musician-known by high and low in his
native town. ... ... ....,
One day wrinkled old woman hobbled
into his mothers shop, supporting her tot"
tering steps with stick in her right band,
and carrying 4 bundle in her left. She sal
down TO rest, her palsied head trembling
with age and infirnity, her hollow cough
and asthmatic respiration rendering her
an object for pity indeed. The proprietor
OF the shop, after having looked at her,
compassionately gave her cup OF milk and
slice OF bread, saying kindly to her:
"Here, good mother, you are old and
weary, take this and refresh yourself"
Thank you. thank you, God bless you,'
said the old woman, and ate and drank with
great relish.
When she had rested herself she rose,
walked up to the counter, laid down her
| bundle on il, and said to Jake's mother:
81 know you have son whom you love
| dearly. and who is cunning in the musical
art. Give him this bundle from me as q
mark OF gratitude for the kindness you have
shown me-"
Having said this she moved slowly to-
wards the door. But Jake's mother was
beside herself with astonishment at what she
bcheld when looking after her guest; for,
as the old woman was proceeding, her fig
urc gradually grew tall and erect, her
,h, la1 foy IoI p1
lovely proportions, and when she had
reached the door and turned around to give
parting nod her countenance bcamed with
beauty that was quite supernatural in its
charms.
Jake's mother now understood that she
had been visited by some benevolent fairy.
but concluded not to tell her son about it
for fear that he would diSbelicye her and
laugh at her.
Jake, who had been fddling around all
day, came home in the evening with his lit
tie body tired and worn out by his musical
cxertions. His mother gave him the bun
die, which she said an old woman had left
for him. Jake united the rags OF which it
was composed. and found inside it an old
fiddle But such 4 fiddle! 1t was cracked
in many places, covered with dirt and dust.
and had no tinger-board. When Jake had
Dccn turning anu Inspecting loi
4 while, he burst out laughing, and said:
"Oh. mother, don't you see somebody has
been hoaxlng us? What am l to do with
this old rattle-trap?" ...-.,, ..
But his mother answered seriously: /" BE
careful of that fiddle, my son; there may
be more in it than you think" n'
Jake took the fiddle and threw it away
into Il lumber-room, where it remained
long time among other worthless rubbish.
One day Jake had nothing particular to
do, and as his energetic little soul could
not endure idlencss, he brought down his
old fiddle, and went to work scraping and
washing it, rather than to do nothing.
When he had got it tolerably clean, and
commenced looking closer at it, it struck
him that the proportions OF the instrument
were very fine; whereupon he carried it to
skilled maker OF instruments, whose name
was Stone, and who lived near by, to have
it examined.
"Mr. Stone," said Jake, 81 wish you
would tell me what you think OF this
fddle!" ..,.s -
Mr.. Stone gave it another washing and
took off the top Of it. But heavens what
sight its inside offered! The sides and
the bottom were covered with dirt and dust
that must have accumulated there for years
and years. 1t was almost filled with cob
webs, and in one corner little mouse had
made her nest. ;.'
When Mr.. Stone had cleaned it as we'll as
he could and taken, a good look at it, he
turned to Jake and asked:
"What willyou take for this fiddle, little
Jake: 2" ( a,
"Fiity dollars" answered Jake smiling.
"Well, Pll give you that: ,..r .,;,= ..tf
No" Jake hastily corrected himself, "I
meant one hundred" -...
"Pll give you that too," said Mr. Stone.
Jake opened his eyes wide, stared ut Mr.
Stone, and finally said: J. -
MIR. Stone, don't think will sell this
fiddle at all, but shall bevery much obliged
to you ii YOU will put it in order for me,
and furnish it with new finger-bOard."
Mir. Stone promised to do SO. sJ,rsr.
When Jake called again after few days
he scarcely recognized his old fiddle. IT
was now clean and neat, had got new coat
OF varnish on it, sported black, shining
tinger-board, and, was in all respects as de-
cent looking instrument as you could
wish to see. But when Jake tried to play
on it! Gracious alive! Such heavenly
sounds issued from its body that they made
Jake's senses reel and set two canary birds
in cage singing and screaming with such
a rapture that they came near bursting their
little throats. 81 .
Jake rushed home and exclaimed franti-
cally, Us soon as he found his mother:
ooh, mother, mother; you don't know
what treasure have found in this fiddle
It is divine. But what a pity tits that have
not skill enough to play on 1t as such i'd
die should be played upon. Oh, where can
/ lind an artist skiliul enough for such an
Instrument" @A'F-@'-
After few moments reflection his mo-
ther said - ,a1
"Why don't you consult the shoema-
ker?" .,,,,,-,.,.-. :.
"That's it," exclaimed Jake in ecstasy.
"Thank you--just the very, thing >, ~
And he clapped on his hat, seized the
fiddle, and ran out through, The doors. :,
Now there lived in that town q shoe.
maker who was a very remarkable man.
He had travelled far andtwide, knewnearly
everything worth knowing in this world,
and was looked upon as o paragon
of wisdom by his fellow.townsmen.
Once upon his travels he came to
the land OF Italy, where he mnde D pair
NJ bOOfs for tho Kipu which an mueh