The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-08-27
"I 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 u
pert little bulltinch, whose merry piping
-for bulltinches can be taught to
whistle almost any tune-kept time to
the cordwaincr's hammer. A mort in
/ telllgcnt and companionable bulliinch
never lived, and this ones aptness was
the wonder of all Heinrich's customers
! and ncighbors. It was his companion.
his cncollrager, his "bird of luck" and
his only friend. But there is no rose
without its thorn, and it was Hcinrich's
one grief that among all its accomplish
ments the bird positively refused to
, learn the one air dearest to all German
hearts. "Thc Watch on the Rhine"
Day after day, and hour after hour, the
shoemaker would patiently whistle and
hammer out tho tune, but without sue
cess. Eithcr from inability to master
: this strain or from some peculiar orni-
thologlcal pcrvcrscness of it's 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
III despair when something occurred
that engrossed his whole attention. The
hearts of shoemnkers arc not quite so
tough rs the leather they hammer. and
one fell in love- His sweetheart was a
,, pretty and shapely young girl, who was
playing minor parts at tho Baldwin,
whose gorgeous stage shoes he had
made, and whose symmetrical l. last he
! had professionally fallen in love with
from the first.
a month or two rolled by, and rs poor
people have no time for long court
ships, Heimich's wedding day came
around, and the handsome and hearty
young couple were married amid the
good wishes of everybody, the bride
grooms wedding present being a 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 u week, and
Yves quite n journey through fairylsA,d
to the slmpo-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 Mt his emotion.
! ''Thc curses of heaven will follow me
for heartlcss wretch. / forgot uU about
Nina %
1t WAS indeed truc Absorbed by his
happiness, and in the hurry of depart
urc, he had left the bulliinch locked up
III the dark shop with only one days
seed in his cnge. Leaving his wife to
look after tho baggage, Heinrich sprang
from the scarcely stopped train and tore
thhEsR%eSGh tthEsGR%SGh utl% the str. stroets like madman: He
key had been left, snatchcd it from its
nail md hurried to his door. AS he
placed the key in tho lock his trembling
hand refused to turn it; and, sick with
, dread Of what he was about to see, he
leaned for moment against the door
frame.
Hark Faintly from within came n
weak, qnnvering chirrup, painfully striv-
ing to form n familiar tune.
| 1t WAS '"Thc Watch Oh the Rhine"
After cXhausting all it's repertoire to
fetch it's cruel master bnck to its gloomy
prison, the little starved thing bethought
itself of one Inst means to bring what it
considered its punishment to nh end and
strove to whistle the disputed air.
| But the succor, SO pitifully pleaded
for, came too late. 1t gave one little,
fcathcry fluff Of JOY rs the door opened,
and tho next moment tho master, ns he
kEclt beside the cage, saw, through the
tears that wet his check, the little head
droop slowly over rs the song and singer
died together.