Connecticut western news., 1880-09-01
HIS WOODEN SHOE.

| In Q villa at Paris, With several other inyalids, lodged the renowp ed Paganini who was seriously i'll. The patients lived there much as they liked, still il was always noticed if any one did not appear for 8 long time in the saloon 1 The great musician was seldom seen but the ill-natured remarks of the other lodgers did not trouble him in the least he would not be drawn out of his soli tude, and hardly saw any one but Nj cette, harmless, merry, country girl I who waited upon him, and often cheereC him up in hours of sadness.
 One morning Nicette appeared witt weeping eyes, and waited on the musician without saying word. Paganini, who was carving piece of ivory for the handle of dagger, noticed this, anc said:
 "What's the matter, child? Has any misfortune happened unto you?''
 ''Alas /! yes, sir.'
 "Speak- speak! What is it ?'' She was silent. Paganini fixed his eyes on the troubled countenance of the girl.
 "Now, out with it, said he. "I see it all, clearly enough :; after he had made 8 thousand promises, he has forsaken you. Is it not SOP"
 "A1as poor fellow he has, indeed, forsaken me, but he is quite innocent. "
 "How has that happened?' "He has drawn bad number in the conscription, and must go off for a soldier. I shall never see him again P sobbed the poor girl.
 "But, can't you buy substitute for him?"
 ".Monsieur is joking! How could I get such large sum-"
 "Is it, then, so very much ?''
 cit is very high this year, for there is report that war will soon break out. Fifteen hundred francs is the low est price," The musician did not reply, but when | Nicette left the room he took out his pocketbook, and wrote on an empty leaf |: "Mem. To think what can be done for pour Nicette."
 In winter Paganini got much better, and every now and then passed his even | ings in the saloon, but sacrcely ever speaking, and taking no notice of the remarks upon his moroseness, which were purposely uttered close to his ear. Thus the Christmas festival approached, ! o4 1c among young people to place a wooden shoe in the corner of the hearth, as children hang up their stockings, that the generous fairy who comes down the chimney may fill it with sweetmeats and other presents.
 On the afternoon of the 24th of De- cember Paganini sat, as was his cus- tom, on the sofa in the saloon, slipping his sugar and water, when an unusual noise was heard below. Immediately after Nicette came in, and said that a box had just arrived addressed to Sig nor Paganini. The musician replied he expected nothing of the kind, but de- sired that it should be brought up to him. The box appeared forthwith, and he proceeded to open it. The first thing which the musicians hand pulled out was packet, in strong brown paper, sealed several times. The curi- ous eyes of about twenty persons pres ent beheld gigantic wooden shoe, cut out of ash, and almost large enough to put child inside it. All laughed aloud.
 "A wooden shoe! p said Paganini, smiling. "I cannot fancy from whom it comes. Some of these excellent ladies wish to compaae me with a child who always receive presents and never gives any. We'll, for my part, who knows whether this shoe may not carr its weight in gold p
 With these words the musician left the saloon, taking the box and the wooder shoe along with him.
 For three days nothing was seen O. him. The most inquisitive only learned that from morning till evening he was busy working with carpenters tools And, in fact, during this time the mu sician's wonderfully clever hand hat created perfect, well-sounding instru ment out of the awkward-looking woode1 shoe. He had stretched few silve
 strings across it. The next day it wa announced that Paganini would, on Nev
 Years Eve, give a concert in the larg
 room of the villa where he boarded. I'm
 great master gave notice that he would play ten pieces five on violin and fv,
 on a wooden shoe. Each ticket cos twenty francs. Only one hundred wer issued. They were instantly purchased
 by persons of the highest rank. Ever, one was curious to know what was mean by the music of the wooden shoe. At last Paganini appeared, smiling cheerfdlly he bowed, and began to pla, more beautifully than ever, to the de ? light of his hearers, on his old violin : And now he took up the shoe, which h had made into 8 violin, but which stil had somewhat of its former shape, an began one of those fantasias which neve failed to charm his whole audience. I it music? Is it poetry? One seems t behold the departure of the recruit; t hear the sobs of his intended bride tha !" follow; his noisy life in camp; his deed ,, in the battle; finally, his return. Fri U umph-rejoicings- -marriage-bells rin
 out merrily at the end. Applause fol
 lowed this performance, which scene
 as if it would never end, and in whic even the ill-natured ladies are forced t join; the musician is covered almos