The Osceola times., 1880-04-10

and by its Pickering light PhQbe Lock-
EFT was busy practicing on the violin,
from some sheets of torn and well
thumbed music.
She started up with cry at the appari-
ton of Mrs. Marchell in the doorway
an avenging spectre, with a shaggy over
coat and dark lantern.
"Ungratelul girll' tragically cried out
Mrs. Marchell; how dared v u to diso-
hey me?"
Il meant no HARM" flltered poor
Phoebe. 81 hired the violin FROM the
village music store with the dollar Mr..
Marchell gave me Tor finding his gold
spectacles, and Mrs. Musard gave me the
music; and came out here of a night 50
that the noise should not disturb you"
Phoebe" said Mrs. Marchell "what a
goose you arel Why don't you stick to
your needle, and your rolling pin, and
your scrubbing brush, as other girls do?
How do you ever expect TO find bread in
the strings of fiddler"
Phoebe hung down her head, and said
nothing in roply.
I'VE may rs well break the charm at
once" said Mrs. Marchcl. "rll take You
to the concert at Bloomington tomorrow
night. They tell me there's to be a GIRL
viOinist there as plays like playing; and
if that don't cure you of your silly am
| bltion, don't know what will"
Phoebe Lockett crimsoned to the very
roots of her hair.
Il can't gol" she said. "That is, not
with you. promised Mrs. Musard to
go to her house; but perhaps she will
take me.
at don't matter how you 60" said
Mrs. Marchell, nor with who, so long as
you see real excellence and learn the
folly OF your silly aspirations"
But" faltered Phoebe, 'why shouldn't
l be good player some time, too?"
"Why shouldn't the sky fall, and we
all catch larks?" contemptuously retorled
Mrs Marchell. "As for you, the best
thing you can do is to 60 into the house
and go to bed as fast as possible"
And crestfallen Phoebe obeyed.
Mrs. Marchell dressed herself in her
best black silk, to 90 to the Bloomington
concert, the next evening.
'For | suppose it will be something
very fine she said. Where's my eye
glasses, Charley? | must take them
along, II expect to see anything, for
do declare Pm getting binder every
day"
Il expect, mother" Charley answered,
with little laugh, you'll see lot of
things to surprise you"
The concert had proved an unusually
great attraction in the neighborhOod, and
the hall was crowded when the Marchell
party arrived, so that Mrs. Marchell was
forced to be content with a camp-stool at
the very back of the room.
Dear, dear! how provoking this isl"
said the old lady. And Charley didn't
find the glasses after all. | shant see
thing"
"But you can hear" said Charley.
"Hush-sh-sh" said the mother. Isn't
that the yiollnist-a pretty, light-com-
plexioned girl, in white, with roses in
her hair? Now, do hope Phoebe Lockett
is here to see this"
The violinist was greeted with shouts
OF applause. which died away into ST.
lence as the delicious music rose upon
the air, floating upwards like the halos
we see in ancient pictures.
1t was short cdpriccio, and, when it
ended, Mrs. Marchell was in tears.
Il never thought before that | cared so
much for music" said she to CharIey.
But such music as HdU Do you know,
Charley, II seemed to me exactly as if my
little baby that died twenty years ago
was whispering in my ear. Oh, il Phoebe
could only hear this!'
The female viOlinist was certainly he
feature Of the night. And at the close of
the concert she was again and again
called before the curtain to receive the
rapturous plaudits of the Bloomington
public.
where's Phebe?" said Mrs. Marchell,
standing on one OF the benches to look
around her. Has any one seen our
Phoebe here?'
81 have said Charley, dryly. "Shall
| take you to her?-here, in the little
room adjoining the stage?'
but what is she doing here!" said
Mrs. Marchell, perplexedly,
Counting her bouquets, suppose"
Charley said, with the same odd little
laugh.
And, without further ceremony, Mrs.
Marchell was ushered into the presence
of the female violinist herself, all in
white, with deep-red roses glowing in
her hair, and cheeks afiame with happy
triumph.
"phpbe" calculated Mrs. Marchell,
fairly out of breath with astonishment.
This is never-you?"
Phoebe flew into Mrs Marchell's arms.
"YeS, dear, dear friend" she cried, ''it
is Il"
"Why, didn't you tell me?" said the
farmers wife, reproachfully.
Because was So afraid that my first
appearance wogld be a failure" confessed
Phoebe.
81 suppose you will never come back
to the farmhouse again?' said Mrs. Mar
chel.
YES, | SHALL" cried Phoebe. II shall
be your own Phoebe still, if only you'll
let me practice in the garret once in
awhile"
"You shall practice all over the
housel" cried Mrs. Marchell.
Didn't | tell you, mother" said tri-
umphant Charley, that you'd see some
thing TO surprise you? But you'll be
still more surprised when"
Charley, DON'T! cried out Phoebe
growing roster than ever.
"You needn't" said Mrs Marchcll,
looking brightly from one to the other.
81 can guess"
"She's such little darling, mother"
said the young man.
And Phoebe threw both her arms
around the elder woman's neck, and
whispered, softly:
"Motherp'-.Selected.