The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-11-01

notes the boy brings forth from the old
black fiddle have in them all the power
of master hand.
The picture comes before him Of the
quiet night, the restful sheep huddled
together on the hillside, the breeze as it
goes sweeping by moaning through the
trees, the gentle rustic OF the distant
grain growing in the darkness, and the
lonely little figure Of the watchful lad
gathering these sounds and heaping
them up in his heart until they tremble
forth at his touch upon the vibrating
strings.
Hark! The darkness moves away. In
the east the sun comes flushing up, and
all the dir is suddenly pulsing with the
singing of the dawn birds.
All, Carl, Carl!-lad, with thy heaven.
oorn gift, thou hast won the stern old
heart before thee. Thou hast saved thy.
self world of wandering, and gained
life of ease.
The one green spot in the magnate's
heart holds memory which Carl's play
ing has brought to life. Again he is
young-a student-and in the twilight
stands waiting for the song Of the young
peasant coming home from her work.
The song comes nearer, and when into
her pathway he steps with outstretched
arms, he laughs joyously to see the hap
piness spring up in her eyes.
Yet fate had come between. 1t was
not fit that the only son of rich old Bur
gomaster Van Cruiser should wed a
peasant; 80 he had come away at HE
fathers bidding, leaving behind his
heart among tho green country lanes
where dwelt the impetuons little soul
through whose veins ran the fire of the
south. All, God, how he had suffered |!
Suffered as his father, with his phlegm-
attic temperament, could not even dream.
He had pined so that his studies and
whole Ifs grew distasteful; then, at
length the father had relented, consented
grudgingly to his sons wearing the little
field flower, where he had hoped to place
rare exotic.
Not waiting for sught beyond q bare
consent, the son started forth, eager to
gain that so long denied. Alas, he came
too late. Elspeth had been but fool
ish maid, the neighbors said, to love the
burgomaster's soma foolish maid to
have naught to say to the village lads;
and when the young stranger left, just
seemed to lose all heart, and one day
came home ill with fever.
So while the stern old man debated,
death stepped in and gathered the wild
daisy of his sons heart; and when he
came the grass was already green on her
him the memory of what had been, aid
the knowledge that of the two hearts thus
sundered, one had broken.
Long years went by, and the old bur.
gomaster died. When his so succeed
ed him, he had married buxom, unim-
questionable dame, who brought with
her dover of gold and linen.
She ruled his house, attended to his
wants, and of the two daughters born of
the marriage, had seen that they both
were well versed in those things a good
housewife should know.
They were too much like their mother
even to interest him much, and his heart
sometimes yearned for son to bear his
name, but none had come.
Carl little guessed, as he ended his
playing, of all the thoughts he had con
jured up in the burgomaster brain.
well, lad. thou hast gift, thee and
thy fiddle, of bringing old-time music
into my heart. Thou hast name. What
is it,"
Carl Mueller; and I have neither
home nor friends, save those we win to-
gether. my fiddle and l."
Thou hast not? So much the better,
for now thou capst have both. Wilt
thou be q son to me? Thou shalt be
taught, and if thou art clever, as take
thee to be, one day from cut thy little
black fiddle thou shalt draw music that
will make all hearts thine"
Could Carl believe his own senses
He hardly knew what to say. What
was this life promised him? No more
wandering, sleeping where he might.
tired, and often supperless. The tears
stood in his eyes, then quickly Selling
the burgomaster's hand he kissed it.
Yes, the fiddle; the little old black
thing so contemptuously spoken of by
the towIsfolk, had gained for Carl what
money could never have done-a place
in the burgomaster's heart.
At first the little peasant lad, with his
strange tongue and odd WAYS, had been
q sore trial TO the burgomaster wife;
yet the lad, being gentle and lovable,
had won q place for himself in the
household; and when, after his days
studies were over, he sat back in cor
ner softly playing the melodies as they
sprang up in his heart, the active hands
would drop their knitting and the gilt
tering needles lay quiet in the lap of the
busy housewife.
SO time went by, and the little lad WAS
sent up to one Of the great city conser-