Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-08-12
"Then," said Paganini, "bo'd better bring

AhNhi hhiu abhiihit hb boNeNA Shihb
IL in"
Accordingly the stout porter was introduce
ed, and brought into the room q large-sized
deal-box, on which, besides the address, were
words "Fragile-with care" Paganin look
ed il over with some curiosity and calling for
a hammer proceeded TO open the lid. His
skilled and muscular hands soon accomplish
ed the task, and the company, whose ourios-
ity caused them to transgress the bounds Of
good manners, crowded around in order to
see the contents of the box.
After burrowing through a quantity Of
straw and shavings, the musician drew out a
large packet enveloped in strong wrapping
paper, and sealed with several seals. Having
opened this, second, third, and finally a
fourth envelope appeared, all sealed in like
manner, and at length the curious eyes Of the
company were regaled with gigantic wood
en- shoe. carved out Of piece Of ash, and al
most large enough to serve as q childs cradle.
Bursts of laughter greeted the discovery.
"Ah !" said Paganini, with long drawn
exclamation, "a sd6Ot, and can guess, with
out indscretion, who sent it, Some Of these
estimable ladies wish to compare me to q
child who always expects presents yet never
gives any. AlIOnS done ! We will try to
make the wooden shoe worth its weight in
gold"
So saying and absorbed in his own idea.
Paganini withdrew to his own apartment
without saluting the company, carrying with
him the case and its contents
For more than four days he did not reap.
pear in the drawing-room. Rannette, when
questioned, informed the company that he
worked from morning to night with carpen-
ters' TOOLS and, in fact, the musician whose
hands we're wonderfully flexible and dextrous
at all things, had fashioned a perfect and
sonorous instrument out of the wooden shoe.
Having stretched one silver string across it
his work was complete. public notice ap-
peared stating that on New Years he (Pag-
anin) would give a concert in large hall in
the Villa Lutetiana. The great Master an
nounced that he would play ten pieces, half
on the violin, half on a wooden shoe. The
tickets were limited to 100, at twenty francs
each.
There was, Of course, a great rush to secure
places and it is needless to state that the elite
Of the beaumonde, who during several
months, had been deprived of the pleasure of
hearing Paganini, offended in large force on
the evening in question. The faubourg
Poissonniers was crowded with elegant equi-
pages, the concert hall was furnished with
comfortable chairs and brilliantly lighted for
the occasion, and expectation was on tip-toe
to fathom the announcement concerning the
wooden shoe.
every appearance of sound health, and was
greeted with rapturous applause as he played
on his marvellous violin some Of those strains
such as were never heard before, and may,
alas never be heard again. Then, in an
ecstacy he seized upon the wooden shoe,
which, in its new guise of violin, still pre-
served somewhat its pristine form. His whole
being was alive with enthusiasm as he began
one Of those wondrous improvisations which
transported his hearers into the seventh
heaven. This ode represented, first the de-
parture of a conscript-the tears, the sobs,
the wailings of his betrothed, then his stormy
life on the battlefield, and finally his return
in triumph and happiness to his love once
more. merry peal of weddingbells COM
pleted the musical poem.
Thunders of applause shook the hall as
showers of bouquets thrown by fair and jewell
ed hands fell around the great artist. Even
the censorious old gossips were transported,
and clapped and applauded with the rest. In
far corner sat Nannette, sobbing and weep
ing bitterly, for the symphony had come
home to her and gone straight to her heart.
| At the end of the concert the receipts were
counted and found to amount to 1000 francs
"Here, Nannette," said Paganini TO the
astonished and delighted girl, ''ye have five
hundred francs over the sum required to pur-
chase substitute for Henri they will defray
the marching expenses Of your bridegroom !;
but ma fol !" he continued, as a new thought
struck him, ''you will need some wherewith
to start the meRdge. Here, my girl, take the
shoe violin and sell it for your dowry."
Nannette did so, and received from a rich
amateur six thousand francs for Paganinfs
wooden shoe.