The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-09-19
i" SWEET BELLS JANGLED.v

but, as the song says,
When they began, they'd no meat in the pan
end, before they were fairly on their
legs, SO to speak, MacNeil went and
married ga lass without tocher."
Shell had yearned over this extravaganza
himself; and, going down one day with
his partner to the old place where they
had learned their trade, hearing from
the press-room the old, sweet, familiar
voice singing the old, sweet, familiar
tunes, Shiels heart throbbed to the
measure, and he said to MacNeil, with
90 big blush on his broad cheeks, that he
supposed his partner had forgotten lit
tie Jenny Burke, but he, for one, would
never forget her while the world went
round, and he was going in to see her
that very day. Whereupon MacNeil
began to redden, too, and led the way so
readily to the particular press that the
young English girl was feeding. and
Jenny met his approach in such a shy,
trembling, glad confusion, poor Shiel
felt his heart suddenly faint within him,
and stole away, after minute or two.
TO be alone with singular pang of DESC
lation that had swept over him. When
MacNeil joined him, Shiel was himself
again, but there was something in his
face that led MacNeil to ask him what
was the Meter. Had he lost anything?
"No-yes, stammered poor Shiel.
then added, piteously: "Why didn't
you tell me, Mac, that you had kept on
with Jenny? I thought it was bar
gain we shouldn't think of marrying till
the business was well started"
So So it was, Shiel," said Mac; "but
YOU know what sweet voice she's got
Deuce take me, if it didn't haunt me
might and day. You don't know what it
is to have musical ear, and there's no
harm in being cheered by song or
two"
"Tush, mani" broke in shiel. edo
you love each other?"
"Tm afraid so, Shiel."
''Then the sooner she's out of that
nasty press-room the better"
Ii you'd board with us. Shiel T be-
1ieve we could save money by going to
housekeeping; and think how nice Il
would be to have snug ingleside of orr
.own!" -
Shiel WINGED little from This nro.
posal, but couldn't find courage to reiao+
it; SO they took rooms near their place
OF business, and for the first twelve
month or so Macs fiddle was well known
IN the neighborhood. The boys dropped
IN tor chorus three nights out of four
and all wentmerry as marriage bell, till
the feeble pipe of an infant was added to
the refrain, which suddenly subdued all
other music in it's vicinity, to the i'm
mense delight of Shiel, who. not BEING
able to raise note himself, was some.
what tired of the melodious conceits of
others. He did not know that the
Ghlld's squeak was singularly low and
sweet, and as it gained volume il also
acquired melody. Shiel was disap-
pointed to find the little girl an exact
reproduction OF her papa, but could not
believe that the fates had willed she
should share his weakness for music
he declared it was the monkey that
amused her, whereas the baby's soul was
given over to the hurdy-gurdy.
Now take this premature and strik-
lng .procllvlty as q misfortune. Infant
lprodlgles are always more or less of
nuisance, and little Miss jeans precocity
grew to an alarming extent as the wears
went by. The firm of Shiel & MacNeil
hourlshed. Jenny saved the pennies
ana the only extravagances were in be-
half OF little Miss Jean, whose waxen
face could only be coaxed into a glow bv
the aid OF some sort of melody. And
the older she grew the wider her taste
expanded, SO that after while a new
piano was Unanswered and engineered
UP the stairs, and almost filled Jenny's
httle parlor. Msny a familiar knick.
knack had to go to the wall or be tucked
out OF sight to make room for this noun
tain of mahogany.
Its burnin' shame" said one of
She boys, "to give up the dear old i'd
ole for the jinglin' OF them ivory pup
pets. Every new piece of Miss jeans
sets fellows teeth on edge. One can't
nave any more fun at Macs; he's hung
up his fiddle and his bow; and for nv
part I'm sick to death of the infant nhe.
nOmenOn."
90 were the rest of the cronies-thev
TELL Oft one by one, and in a few vears
none were left but Shiel; he, poor fell
low, sat night after night with his head
mp against the wall, the music going i,
one ear and out of the other til 4
seemed to him he had become simnlv q
sort OF hollow melancholy tube for the
accommodation of echoes.
What could Mac do, who bad alone
kept pace with his daughter, and appre-
clated to the full her remarkable prof
ciency-what could he do but long for .
larger, fuller, prouder scope for her
The ceilings were low in their humble
door; the acoustic properties were en-
Glrely wanting in that cramped but COW
@1cinity. Alas alas the nest was ali
too small for it's full-fedged inmates.
and the neighborhood was not what II
had been. Macs business Increased