Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-06-03
REUBEN

1t was a 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 Reuben's long
dead mother. The strongest memory
Reuben retained of his father was a
mind-picture of a white-haired man
sitting up in bed, with the beloved
violin in his hands, filling the poor at
tic room with sweet sounds. He was
partially paralyzed then, and later,
when his fingers became helpless, his
heart broke and he died.
Then Uncle Josiah came from the
country to the great city and took the
lad home. At the bottom of the hair
trunk containing all Reuben's posses
sions were safely stored the violin and
case, with a score of music the dead
musician had left his boy.
On the farm in Jersey Reuben found
rough, kindly welcome. Aunt Polly
cried little over the orphan; Sue and
Jennie, kindly maidens, kissed and
caressed him, and Daisy, whose blue
eyes were like violets, stole shyly up
to the dark-haired lad and slipped a
slice of cake into his hands. 1t was a
busy hive, the old farmhouse, where
no drones found place.
Uncle Josiah disapproved altogether
of the violin. Never had he heard OF
a fiddler blowing a field or raising
stock. Never had he seen any prac.
teal good come from scraping a cat
gut, and more than once instant de-
struction was threatened to Reuben S
one pleasure. He grew afraid to raise
the sweet sounds he loved inside the
farmhouse, and would steal away to
practice the lessons his father had
taught him, by the brookside, in 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 spirits OF
music with his bow. Sue and Jennie
did not object to a good, lively dance
tune; but only Daisy would fol
low Reuben into the world where
dreams foated into the sweet
melodies, and the bow and strings
talkedin music's own language. Daisy
alone knew of the lonely walks with
the dear companion, and Daisy's lips
would culver and her blue eyes fiji
when the boy whispered in her ear Of
his heart hunger.
Years passed away, and the boy be-
came a man.
Scarcely worth his SALT" Uncle 10
siah pronounced him, and yet loved
him well for his gentle obedience, his
willingness to perform any task, how
ever distasteful.
"a dreamy gawk, in everybody's
way" Sue and Jennie said, but saved
the choicest bit of the dainty country
fare for Reuben.
"a poor weakly body" Aunt Polly
said, and her touch was soft on Reu
ben's hair, while she sighed gently
convinced that the pale, thin cheeks
would never grow round or rosy, but
"ikely rest under the daisies" sht
thought pityingly.
Only Daisy really understood tht
sensitive nature, the tender heart
the starving, longing intellect. Only
Daisy grieved when the long, delicate
hands blistered and bled over rough
work, and would never harden. Only
Daisy, as maidenhood came, shrinec
Reuben in her heart of hearts, anC
knew no other could ever take hi
place -.-e
Only Daisy filled Reuben's heart
OF all the rough life around him, ther,
was only one gentle influence to keel
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 tn
minister and eagerly perused. Daisy
alone kept him from the utter despair
OF heart loneliness.
So these young hearts, in eleven Ion,
years, learned the story of mutua
truth, mutual dependence, sympathy
tenderness, and devotion, which W,
call love.
On the day when Reuben was TWEEN
ty-one he told Uncle Josiah he loved
Daisy, and Uncle Josiah sadly shool
his head.
you'll never be able to keep wife
Reuben" hes said. Never! | Low,
Daisy too well to trust her to you