St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-09-17

4 violin 7" the stranger said.
ayes for / can never be a farmer
while my brain is full of music" was
the sad reply.
"Ah You want to be farmer, then.
Would you not rather be a musician y
Reuben's eyes glistened. Long he
and the stranger talked, and the sun
was setting when he turned his face
hOmeward.
"Uncle Josiah" he said, when all
the chores were done and the farmer
rested on the moOnlit porch, ''if in a
year | can bring you proof that | can
support Daisy, will yOu give her to
me p
AZ WILL" was the hearty reply.
"Haye you broken your fiddle Reu-
ben ?''
"No, and l am going to leave you
tomorrow. have been offered work
in the city"
"Work in the city Well, lad, it
may be you are too peaked for farm
work and will find it easier there. But
remember, if you fail, there's always
a home for you here, Reuben"
Reuben grasped the hand stretched
out to him in his long, slender fingers
and his sobbing "God bless you, sir"
come from his very hetrU.
Not even to Daisy did he tell his
new hopes, but babe her be faithful
and whether he succeeded or failed he
would return at the end of the year.
When he took his place in the stage
coach for the railway station, his new
friend, he met in the fairy ring, was
by his side.
Little Daisy kept her heart true.
/ l. af A
came from town with his great wagon
empty, he took from his pocket let
ter from Reuben to Daisy, and every
one was hopeful. His work was
| pleasant and was paying him well.
Some of the letters were dated New
York, some Boston, some Philadelphia;
and when winter came Reuben wrote
| from all the great cities, even New Or
leans, and Daisy's heart throbbed high
with loving delight to feel sure his
love was true amid the gay scenes he
described, the new friends he met.
Winter sped away, spring blossoms
blOomed and fell and the end of the
year was drawing near. A letter came
to Uncle Josiah =
"Will you bring Daisy to New York"
Reuben wrote. "and judge for your
self of my prospects ?"
And Uncle Josiah, after long consul
tation with Aunt Polly, concluded to
90. Daisy had new dress of soft
white muslin made and bought IA dainty
straw hat in the village. Then Uncle
Josiah wrote Reuben by what train to
expect them and the journey was COM
menced.
Reuben was not at the depot but in
hiS nlaoa vUaS pnnrtpnuS DnntlamHn
who explained to Uncle Josiah that
his nephew was detained by business,
took the travellers to hotel where
their rooms were engaged and waited
while they had supper. Then telling
them he would take them to Reuben,
he put them into a carriage and drove
rapidly to a white building, whose
wide hall was brilliantly Illuminated.
Here well-dressed men and ladies in
full evening toilets were entering i'll
crowds. Reuben's friend led Uncle
Josiah and Daisy to a seat i'll the bril-
liant hall near the platform, and told
them Reuben would come soon.
/. In Daisy's hand he put programme
and she wOnderingly read of the must
cal treat in store for her, only vaguely
cOmprehending it all. On every side
the buzz of conversation bore the
name of the great L, the famous
viOlinist, whose CremOna seemed gift
ed with speech under the touch of his
inspired fingers.
1t was like dream. A white -rObed
lady came upon the platform and sang,
a gentleman played solo upon the
piano. Then there was a great noise
of people clapping their hands and
stamping their feet, fairly bewilder-
ing poor country Daisy.
A great hush, and softly, familiar rs
a mothers voice, there fell upon Daisy's
ear the notes of ii violin, bearing out
upon the air the melody of Reuben's
Carnival to the Birds"
She looked up then and met the soft,
dark eyes of her lover watching her
face as he drew his bow across the
strings. Not sound but the music of
the wOndrous violin broke the stiffness
of the vast room, where one mans ge-
MUS kept the crowd spell-bOund.
1t was over, and the great vlollnlst
bowed and was gone. Again the deaf
ening, tnmultuOus applause, and Reu-
ben was back again, playing an AIR un-
familiar to Daisy, but seeming to
answer all the deep JOY of her soul.
Twice Reuben played, recalled each
time, and then the concert was over,
and their escort led Uncle Josiah back |
to the carriage, Daisy clinging fast to
his arm. At the door of their private
parlOr the new friend babe them good
night, and opening the door they stood
face to face with Reuben. Not the
pale, sad boy of a year ago, but a man,
self-reliant, glad and noble, one who
had found his life work and was doing
it well.
Uncle Josiah found the strap of his
glove almost unmanageable while
Reuben clasped Daisy in his arms, and
low, tender words fell from the lips of
both.
But when Reuben, clasping Daisy
still, held out his hand, the farmer
it hard.
"No doubt was an old fool, Reu-
ben," he said "but Pm not too old to
learn"
And Reuben, over the dainty supper
that was presently served, told them
how his violin had won him fame and
gOld-more than Uncle Josiah had i'm
agined a man could earn in ten years
81 have an offer to go abroad,
Uncle" Reuben said, ''and if | accept
It | must sail next month. May take
Daisy 7"
eyes, lad. You've kept your prom
se-Pll keep mine"
''You are my guests this week, and
hen l am free till we sail,::sO we may
90 home for the wedding" Reuben
said.
And Uncle Josiah, with inward mis-
,ivings about the boy, yielded to
Oaisy's pleading face and consented to
he argument. I
A week of sightseeing, shopping,