The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-07-25
AN ANDANTE OF BEETHOVEN.

AN ANDANTE OF BEETHOVEN.
Old Schmitt, with violin case under
his weather-stained cloak, came out of
the theatre after "A matinee performance.
IL was raining-a sleety December rain;
The street looked dark after the brilliant
lights Within there was an unusual
throng of people and din of wheels.
Schmltt felt strange bewiderment. 1t
was all so dream-like; he seemed to be
moving among phantoms, Truly, he
thought, these theatre orchestras were
enough to drive one mad sooner or lat
er, and maybe his time had come. Here
al the corner he comes upon the poor
old beggar who would seem to choose
such days as this for scraping his
wretched fiddle in the open air. Half.
frozen drops fall on the gray locks, on
the purple trembling hands 1t is a
pitiful sight, which sends sudden chill
10 the blood of the fur-robed passers-bv,
and Schmitt sees him with a start of af-
fright. Why should it strike him as a
prophetic vision, hooking picture Of
himself? He puts his hand to his head,
trying to rub away so distressing a fancy,
throws down few pennies, and hurries
on to be out of the sound of the Shrek
ing strings.
He climbs two flights Of stairs. and is
at his own door. Little Dorette greets
her grandfather with kiss.
"Ah, Dorstte thou art famous
housewife for seven-vears maiden.
But hast thou learned thy lesson, tooP"
with glance at the little piano in the
corner.
Indeed have |, grandfather and
when we have had supper | will play it
for thee" said Dorette as she went to
lay the cloth.
By the firesde the old man fell into
revery. In his ears still rang the galops
and medleys of the theatres but his
thoughts were away with the grand
orchestra in which he played before his
fingers had lost their cunning He had
in truth been one Of the original men,
bers of this orchestra in the primitive
days of musical enterprise, had sacri-
feed not little to its advancement, if
sacrifice it could be called. The years
went on; the band grew in numbers, in
skill; younger members came in, new
music was added to the repertory- er-
ratio compositions some of them, Schmitt
thought, though he tried to do his duty
by them. 1t happened at last that he
who had entered in his prime, who had
so long held the place of chef d dttaqae,
found himself with his gray hairs and
his uncertain fingers some seats re-
moved, a boy playing in the row before
him. Then came time Of changes in
the orchestra, and when all moved
smoothly again old Schmitt had been
left out. And this was the end of it all.
A fair vision passed before him-his
handsome Carl, his gifted son, the faith
er of little Dorctte who had died Sc
young. Carl would have been like a
| king cvIne ~ his kluS ,lcn,. aud hie old
father would not sit tonight dishonored
and forgotten. Then, again, that SYM
phony of his own-for he had one, as SO
many of the others had, whether or not
they confessed tit had been lying a
long time. No doubt but it was alto
gether old-fashioned, quite after the
style of Mozart. Should he really
never hear il with mortal ears?
Suddenly tonight, rs he sat in bitter
ness of spirit, the injustice OF fate and
the ingratitude of men racking his soul,
a terrible figure arose before him grim
Want with bony finger threateningly
lifted Dorette glancing around at that
moment saw a look on the beloved face
she had never seen there before-a look
of pain, but more of terrible resolution.
The scanty supper was eaten in sill
ence; the old man was absorbed, and
the child felt a new, anoppressive sense
of awe.
There is a knock at the door, and the
grocer's wife from below comes in bear
ing a small tray, Her face glows with
health and good. humor, and she is in
consolable that her neighbor can taste
neither cakes nor ale,
You are very kind, Frau Diefen-
bach. -" said he; "they will serve anoth-
er time. am going totake Dorette out
tonight and would YOU help her little
to dress herself comfortablyW
Right heartily, and she shall wear
my Lina'S warm cloak; it is bad night
TO be out of doors. Herr Schmitt"
But it is not far, They stop moment
at the corner where the great red and
yellow bottles glow so prettily, and
Schmitt asks for phial of laudanum.
1t was for the toothache, he said, but
| IN. .I.ll nr -hn.,,n L., IL. l.n....-.l