Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-11
REUBEN,

1t was q legacy from the father who had
died before Reuben was 10 years old, and
left him to the care of Uncle Josiah, the
brother Of Reubcn's long-dead mother
The strongest memcry Reuben retained Of
his father was Z IniAd-picture of white
haired man sitting up in bed, with the be-
loved violin in his hands, filling the poor
attic room with sweet sounds. lie was
partially paraly2ed then, and later, when
mis- fingers became helpless, his heart broke
and he died.
Then Uncle Josiah came from the coun-
try to the great city ana took The lad home.
At the bottom of the hair trunk containing
all Reuben's possessions were safely stored
the violin and case, With score Of music
the dead musician had left his boy.
On the farm IL Jersey Reuben found q
rough, kindly welcome. Aunt Polly cried
a little over the orphan Sue and Jennie,
kindly maidens, kissed and caressed him,
and Daisy, whose blue eyes We're like vio-
lets, stole shyly up 20 The dark-haired lad
and slipped q slice Of cake into his hands.
It was i busy hive, tie Old farm house,
where no drones found place.
Uncle Josiah disapprOyed altogether of
the violin. Never had he heard OF a fiddler
blowing field OF raising stock. Never had
he seen any practical good come from
scraping a catGut, ana more than once in
slant destruction Bas threatened TO Reu-
beu's one pleasure lie grew afraid 10 raise
the sweet sounds he loved inside the farm
house, aud would steal away to practice the
lessons his father had taught him, by the
b-ook-slde, III The Whispering woods, or the
shady lanes.
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy.
Daisy would softly touch the strings and
listen with parted lips and shifting color
when Reuben woke the spirit Of music
with his bow. Sue and Jennie did not OBJ
ject to good, lively dance tune, but only
Daisy would follow Reuben into the world
where dreams ilOateI injO the sweet mel
odies, and the bow and strings talked in
music's own language Daisy alone knew
OF the lonely walks with the dear com-
panion, and Daisy's lips would culver, and
her blue eyes fill, when the boy whispered
IL her ear of his heart hunger.
Years passed away. and the boy became
man.
Scarcely worth his sat, ncie Josiah
pronounced him, and yet loved him we'll
for his gentle obedience, his willingness 10
perform any task, however distaStetul.
A dreamy gawk. i'll everybodys way,
Sue and Jennie said, but saved the choicest
bit of the dainty country fare for Reuben.
a. 4 poor weakly BODY" Aunt Polly said,
and her touch was soft on Reuben's hair,
while she sighed gently, convinced that the
paie. thin checks would never grow round
or rosy, buc " likely rest under the daisies
she thought, pityIugly.
Only Daisy really understood the sens
tive nature the gentle heart, the starving,
longing intellect Only Daisy grleTed
when the long, delicate hands biistered
and bled over rough work, and would
never harden. Only Daisy, as maidenhood
came, shrined Reuben in her heart OF
hearts, and knew no other could ever take
ms place,
Only Daisy filled Reuben's heart. OF all
the rough life around him there was only
one gentle influence to keep his heart from
breaking. The fair. blUe-eyed girl, with
hair like floss silk, alone understood him
when he talked Of the books he borrowed
from the minister and eagerly perused.
Daisy alone kept him from the utter de
spair of heart loneliness.
So these Young hearts, in eleven long
wears, learned the story of mutual truth,
mutual dependence, sympathy. tenderness
and devotion which We call love.
On the Gay when Reuben was twenty
ono he told Uncle Josiah he loved Daisy
aud Uncle Josiah sadly shook his head.
You'll never be able to keep wife,
Reuben, lac said. Never love DAISY
too well t. trvst her to you. Why, look at
it, lad, you've never earned full Gay 5
wages since YOU came to the farm. II you d
give up your foolish hddllng now YOU
might make something OF yourself, but as
long as your heart Is IN that Saving ana
9crapins youN he good Tor IaQsh' else
It's my advice To- you To smash that hddie
over the first rock, and then l II talk 10 you
about Daisy.
Break his violin Destroy his dearest
friend, his sole comfort Bat for Daisy?
Perhaps Uncle Josiah was right Perhaps,
If he had no outlet for the dreams that
filled his soul, they would cease to haunt
him, and ne would conquer the weary
routine of farm drudgCry that was such a
heart breaking problem 20 him. Perhaps,
when all jho phantoms that broke into
reality upon his violin we're driven away.
he would be the practical farmer to whom
Uncle Josiah would give Daisy
Nus;Yr Tins. very sor.owfuilv, Reuben
took the violin from its ease and went 10
the woods. to an opening the country folks
called the fairy ring. Here he sat upon a
huge stone and played his farewell, dirge
If hone Great tear, .cn over his pale
cheeks as the wierd. melancholy strain
echoed through the space around him.
Tbeu l,e u-1r,i;cd the violin once. twice in
bisarns f,;;.ted il tcnie-ly. and lifted it
hirh in the air r, smash il on . rock. But
his bna~t f1iirI him MS arm dropped
naryeisss "a jis siin ard he stood motion
les, lool,;,1., at i,is f,tber's legacy.
Suddeniy fbe-o stcnned into the opening
an elderly nam g,ray-ba;red and dart-eved.
and dressed IN '.i 49, t'' lire
So Won yogIJ snash vour violin ," he
said You.Lld he,tnr seIl il or better
still. plar IN i W-oS II van hoard nlay-
ing as | cam, tfro,,'-b tbc woods ~
Yes. was bijI;ne. INV yia1ip fare
well"