The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-03-09
saying to youa" asked her father. VIE

ceive, told him every word.
"Oh, hon growled the old man, "rn
have him there. If he has stolen away
my pupils, he shan't have my daughter.
The next time he comes, you're not to
let him in-do you hear, Martha?''
Eyes, SIR" answered Martha. And,
letting fall pile of plates, broke half of
them, tore her only gown in trying to
save them, burned her fingers when she
lighted her fathers pipe, got well scold-
ed, and went crying to bed.
After that, every morning was laid on
the door steps brace of birds, basket
of fruit, or some fine fish, always for the
professor, who began tofancy that some
of his old friends had at last remembered
him, and chuckled nightly over them
to Martha, who blushed as red as rose,
but never said word.
One morning, however, the old man
who was as curious as woman-took
it in his head to find out whether it
rained fish, birds, and fruit, or whether
he had still q friend in Blunder; and,
posting himself behind the curtains,
watched the doorstep as cat would
mouse, till, to his horror, he deserted
the dark-eyed young professor in the
'Sly ttSu VI oCHoolelIl9 d oupCIU AduIiSl
of venison.
''You scoundrel! you villain! you
cowardn' shrieked the old man, in a
fury, throwing open the window; ''you
wretch! you poisoner! you pettifogger!
you huckster! you ninny! you
Here, as he could think of nothing
else, he threw his wooden leg at him.
The young man picked it up, and po-
litely handed it to Martha, who came
running to the window, as by this time
did also half of the Blundernarians
who, being only half awake, and hardly
dressed at all, decided that the young
professor had been trying to poison the
old one; that he was discovered in the
act of trying to elope with Martha; that
the house was on fire; that the old pro-
fessor was crazy; that he was drunk,
and a variety of equally consistent and
sensible opinions. But the truth of the
matter leaking out Gas it always will,
little ones, no matter how deep they
bury iD, the Blundcrnarians exclaimed,
with one voice, that the old professor
was an idiot and an ass, and, az idiots
and asses have no right TO live, unani-
mOusly resolved to starVe him out, by
depriving Martha of the little work by
which she had been able to support her
father and herself. Only the minister's
wife couldn't be made to see that she
ought to staryc afellow-creature because
he was poor and cross; and between her
and the dark-eyed stranger, who used to
smuggle his contributions now into the
kitchen, they managed to struggle on
for few months longer.
AT last, one day, Martha found the
dark-eyed stranger himself in the kitch-
en-, and was going to blush. and scream,
but concluded to cry, when he told her
that he was going away.
81 have ruined your father" he said,
sorrowfully, land he won't let me repay
him: so you see | must go.n
''lt will do no good" answered
Martha. ''Some one else will come. You
have taught our people too much.
They will never come back to Herr
Worstanadrum."
] ''But there is another reason" he
said. 81 am very unhappy. l love a
little blue-eyed girl, who is my next
door neighbor; but her father hates me,
and don't think she would Marcy me
without his consent-do you?" And 10
looked straight into Martha 5 eyes, as if
she could know anything about it.
Il don't think she would" answered
Martha, ''if she is good girl.''
''She is very good, he said, positively;
$50 you see there is no hope for me, and
/ must 60"
On which Martha whispered some
thing in his ear-to which he said ''Do
you think so?''-to which she answered:
Il know So!''-on which he said: ''Tll
try''-and went away.
That evening the professor was quite
alone, and the door was open. He was
wondering what kept Martha so long,
and grumbling terribly as he smoked
his pipe, when in came the dark-eyed
stranger.
81 came to make my peace with you,"
he said, mournfully. 81 am going
away.n
'"Take a seat, SIR" said the professor,
growing civil at once.
Il am going" he repeated, seating
himself close to the old man, ''for two
reasons. The first is, that love your
daughter Martha, and am sure you won't
let me have her; but the principal one
is-Herr Worstanadrum."
''Herr Worstanadrum!' repeated the
old man, opening his eyes very wide.
Eyes, [ am tormented by the recollec-
ton of your superior excellence. My
style of playing pleases; it is popular.
Why? Because the vulgar can under
stand and appreciate it-just like the
children like the primer better than
Cicero's orations. Yours is the true
school-the only fountain of all excel
lence. But it is only great minds like
yours that can comprehend the mean
ing of such wondrous melodies like those
of Herr Worstanadrum; but to play them
-ah! that is reserved for you. | have
tried it, and failed"
"Reallyr' interrupted the old man,
hugely delighted.
Yes, really. am continually trying
to recall it, but in vain. 1t haunts me;
it crazes me; and since | cannot bear
the torture, l fly
But the professor was already at the
long-closed piano.
''You shall not 90 away, my poor boy.
l will play it for you every day, and
perhaps you might learn it by degrees.
1t is not your fault, you know, if you did
fall
Impossible" returned the young
man, sadly, "You are only too good;
but cannot stay"
Not if will give you Martha?" urged
the old man-as eager to keep him as he
had ever been to drive him away.
That might alter the case" he said,
hesitatingly. But would you play the
adagio every day?'
81 will if you like And he did.
And the young professor, with his arm
around the waist of his blue-eyed wife,
smiles as the old man crashes away ut
''Herr Worstanadrum," saving plying
ly: ''Poor fellow! he can never play it -
Reader, it is not probable that there
are any such cross-grained, quaint,
crotchical, Drained old curmudgeons
nowadays; but if ever you should
chance to stumble on any, find out THEN
particular Herr Worstanadrum, and
60 and do likewise.
III