Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-07-13
ROMANCE OF VIOLIN,
a Sensational story of Interest to the
Musical Public.

Only n broken violin! There it lay in
the mud worthless piece of wood, rude
ly snapped i'll twain, with few loose
fragments of string, soundless, voiceless :;
yet beside it, MS reyerently as though
bending over something human that
had diod--with n passionate burst of grief
as for some dearly loved friend, knelt a
lad of some 13 summers
Out from the mud, with tender, caress-
ing touch, he lifted up the shattered rem
nGnts, his tears falling the while thick
and fast, his slight frame convulsed with
sobs which would not be repressed.
He made no cutlery, but his face was
white with the anguish of despair. He
had lost his all-the friend to whom he
poured out all his woes, the companion
who, until now, never had failed him, his
second, better, nobler self.
Not many PAGES distant on the sidewalk
stood the perpetrator of the outrage, Il
sort of underlined remorso gnawing with
i'll his breast. For mere bravado he had
wrenched from the hands of the little
musician his instrument and broken il
across his knee, throwing the pieces in
the mud
Realizing that he had committed q
towards and bully's act, he took from
his pocket small coin and tossed it to-
ward the boy.
"Take that, he cried, "and stop youl
Whispering You have got no business
to play your music in the public streets.
You're beggar and a nuisance"
But in an instant, with flashing eyes
and head thrown proudly back, the little
street Arab had thrown the money back.
''You think you can pay me thus y he
replied in frenzied tones. at is who
owe You debt, l yet will live to see il
wiped out"
They stood one instant looking steadily
into each others eyes-one of the senior
of the other some three or four years,
tall and powerful clad in broadcloth and
fine linen-one little shrinking lad, his
ragged clothes despatched with the mud
of the streets.
At this moment an open carriage rolled
by, but the little girl seated within it had
with her quick eyes, discovered some
thing amiss.
She had seen the disdainful return OF
the rejected coin she had heard the boys
words; she had marked the traces of Q
passionate grief upon his face and will
hasty command to the coachman to stop
she called him to her.
"What are you about to do, Miss Sci
ma ?" questioned the lady with her, hel
governess.
"Nothing naughty, dear Miss Irwin,
she replied. "This poor boy-see his
violin is broken. l am so sorry fo
him."
The lad had slowly approached the car
riage, in obedience TO her command bu
there was no light in his face no eager
ness in his step.
'How did this hNppen?" asked the lit
tie girl.
Carl looked up. Was this M angel VIII
spoke to him? He had never seen an,
one half SO lovely. Her hair iloated abou
her shoulders iii shower of gold, ant
resting on it was white hat, with long
white plume dropping far down behind
her eyes were like two purple pansies
on her cheeks was the flush of the sun
rise her lips were ms red as the carna
ton, though they quivered with her un
spoken sympathy.
The boy held up the broken pieces..o
his violin.
sit was my all, he said. 81 loved it =
loved it because it talked to me, an,
with it / was never lonely"
''But can you not buy another ?"
81 have no money, Miss. can neve
make enough, since this has gone.
hal hoped one day to buy something bet
ter than this, but now the day will neve
come"
A shade OF thoughtfulness crept owe
the sweet, fair face. In the little glove
hand she held tiny purse, and within it
three bright, glitterng gold pieces shone
They were to purchase coveted doll, he
fond fathers birthday gift,
She turned hastily to her governess,
''Please, Miss Irwin, do you think pup