The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1878-04-12
MozART'S VIOLIN.


could hardly support ont of the mes-
gre profits Of his business.
Ruttler Chat was the name OF the
poor mani bad only one pleasant d.
yerson in the discharge Of his ardu-
ous duties, and that was to exchange
few respectful words with daily
visitor, still young, but whose
physioenomy bore the uumistakable
stamp Of mortal disease Nature
seemed to have lost for him all It's
beauty, and be never smiled excep.
when Ruttler's children surrounded
him with the charming familiarity
characteristic of young age
Every day the stranger used to
stop ten or fifteen minutes at the poor
shop keepers, and it was more than
than once subject of dispute for the
littls ones, to decide which OF them
should bring chair to the SICK
visitor.
One Monday of Penteoost the stran-
ger came back from bis daily walk
sooner than usual; Ruttler's children
fastened around him as they were
accustomed to do every day, and the
gmartes, of all, a sparkling girl OF ten
told him: "Gcnleman, mamma has
lust given us a pretty little sister :,
Ruttler appeared at this moment and
confirmed the news: Eyes, sir" said
he. "that makes the fifteenth child
God sends us within nineteen years.!
Good man." exclaimed the stran.
gor, visibly moved with sorrow and
tenderness, "wouId that small por
ton Of the treasures wasted at the
Court of Schnnbrun were allowed to
visit your patriarchal home. But,
alas! we live in a century of IRON
Talent, honor, domestic virtues,
don't weigh much now a.days! But
tell me, have you already secured 4. a
godfather for your new born babe
"Nhen one is poor" ars yered the
merchant, "godfathers are not easy
to be found; indeed, the godfathers
of all my children are either passerS
by or neighbors as poor as myself
well, name your new one ia.
brielle," replied the stranger, "snd
!, is / who give her that name. -
Here are one hundred forms for the
baptismal festival, to which will be
party"
And as Ruttler was undecided
"Take it, take it !" said the stran-
ger "when you know more OF me-
you'll acknowledge that ! am worthy
of sympathizing with your troubles.
But. please, do me favor bring
me this violin which see hanging
on the wall of your shop; have an
idea, and | must write it down at
once.
Ruttler FASTENED to comply with
the request of his visitor, who began
to play so splendid piece OF rel'g'
ious music with such consummate
art that the street was soon crowded
with people, among whom we're many
members Of the aristocrscy who had
offered their carriages to stop, IN Or
der to enjoy this unexpected melody,
But the stranger, absorbed by us
composition, did not notice the crowd
and when he had finished writing
he folded up the paper, put 1t IN his
pocket, and bid farewell to the mer-
chant, whom he requested to let him
know on which day the christening
would lake place.
Three days had elapsed, and the
stranger had not been seen any
more Ruttler, not knowing what 1t
meant, went to the residence OF his
Gabrielle's generous godfather, the
door of which was hung in black and
besieged by hundreds of noblemen,
artists, savauts and priests. There
he-learnt with surprise equal only
to his sorrow that his guest and bene
factor, the would be godfather of his
daughter, was Mozart, and was that
the funeral OF that great man about to
take place.
Mozart had brea,hed in that hum
Die shop his last musical inspiration,
,ha, Incompatible requiem which
alone would suffice to the glory of a
composer.
Kutiler, after having paid the last
duties 20 the man whom he had hon
ored and respected without knowing
who he was. returned home, and was
quite stunned at seeing his shop IN,
vaded BY crowd of admirers OF Mo
zart, aware of the daily visits paid
by the illustrious departed.
The circumstances gave to the
heretofore ignored establishment OF
Ruttler notoriety which sent to it
an unexpected custom, so that, after
having secured for his fifteen child
rem comfortable situations, he was
enabled to retire with an income
hardly dreamed Of twenty years ago.
The violin which Mozart used two
days before he died for the compost
ton Of his Requiem was sold for / 200
iorins, which constituted Gabrielle's
portion: it is now the property OF
the Imperial Conservatory of Music
at Vienna, to which institution 1t was
given by the late Archduke Maxi
milan, before this unfortunate prince
left his native country for Mexico,
where his tsiumphal march was SO
soon to be transformed into a Re