Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-09-01
"1 Forgot Nina"

On Dupont street, not very far from
Market, San Francisco, is the shop OF q
young German theatrical shoemaker.
who is doing thriving busines. and
who has every reason to be contented
with his lot. Among the treasures he
had brought from the Fatherland on his
arrival here, some three years ago, was
pert little bullfnch, whose merry piping
for bullfnches can be taught to
whistle almost any tune-kept time to
the cordwainer's hammer. A more in
telligent and companionable bullfnch
never lived, and this ones aptness was
the wonder of all Heinrich's customers
and neighbOrs. 1t was his companion,
his encourager, his ''blrd of luck" and
his only friend. But there is no rose
without its thorn, and it was Heinrich's
one grief that among all its accomplish
ments the bird positively refused to
learn the one air dearest to all German
hearts. ''Ihe Watch ON the Rhine"
Day after day, and hour after hour, the
shoemaker would patiently whistle and
hammer out the tune, but without sue
cess. Either from inability to master
this strain or from some peculiar orni-
biological perverseness of its own, the
finch remained provokingly mute. Even
a days deprivation of its food did not
bend the stubborn little will of the saucy
pet, and Heinrich was about giving up
in despair when something occurred
that engrossed his whole attention. The
hearts of shoemakers are not quite SO
tough as the leather they hammer, and
Fal in
pretty and shapely young girl, who was
playing minor parts at the Baldwin,
whose gorgeous stage shoes he had
made, and whose symmetrical IL last he
had professionally fallen in love with
from the first
A month or two rolled by, and as poor
people have no time for long court
ships, Heinrich's wedding day came
around, and the handsome and hearty
young couple were married amid the
good wishes of everybody, the bride
groom's wedding present being pair of
white satin shoes, whose perfection of
workmanship rendered his rivals in the
trade ready to wax their own latter ends
with envy and despair.
The bridal trip lasted just week, and
was quite journey through fairyland
to the sImple-minded and obviously
happy couple. As the train that brought
them back again to the city entered the
depot, however, a sudden change come
over the groom's happy face.
'What is the matter, man ?" said his
wife, terrified at his emotion.
''The curses of heaven will follow me
for heartless wretch. forgot all about
Nina %
1t was indeed true. Absorbed by his
happiness, and in the hurry of depart
ure, he had left the bullfnch locked up
in the dark shop with only one days
seed in his cage. Leaving his wife to
look after the baggage, Heinrich sprang
from the scarcely stopped train and tore
through the streets like mailman. He
dashed into the corner store where the
key had been left, snatched it from its
nail and hurried to his door. AS he
placed the key in the lock his trembling
hand refused to turn it; and, sick with
dread of what he was about to see, he
leaned for a moment against the door
frame.
Hark Family from within came a
weak, quavering chirrup, painfully striv-
ing to form familiar tune.
1t was '"The Watch on the Rhine.
After exhausting all its repertoire to
fetch its cruel master back to its gloomy
prison, the little starved thing bethought
itself of one last means to bring what it
considered its punishment to an end, and
strove to whistle the disputed air.
But the succor, so pitifully pleaded
for, came too late. It gave one little,
feathery fluff Of JOY as the door opened,
and the next moment the master, as he
kEelt beside the cage, saw, through the
tears that wet his cheek, the little head
droop slowly over as the song and singer
died together.
COIIc IN Horses.