Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-03-27

Vi NOuTsci, Dut 80 IOnS ~ yOuI HehIt -
in that saving and seraping you'll be
good for naught else. It's my adviceto
you to smash the fiddle over the first
rock, and then I'll talk to you about
Daisy"
Break his violin! Destroy his dear
est friend. his sole comforts But for
Daisy? What would he not do for
Daisy.
Perhaps Uncle Josiah was right. Per-
haps, If he had no outlet for the dreams
that filed his soul, they would cease to
haunt him, and he would conquer the
may routine of farm drudgery that was
such heart-breaking problem to him.
Perhaps, when all the phanfoms that
broke into reality upon his violin were
/ driven away, he would be the practical
! farmer to whom Uncle Josiah would
give Daisy.
Musing thus, very sorrowfully, Reu-
ben took the violin from lts case and
went 70 the woods, to an opening the
country folks called the fairy ring. Here
he sat upon huge stone and played his
farewell, dirge of hope. Great tears
fell oyer his pale cheeks, rs the weird,
melancholy strains echoed through the
space around him. Then he wrapped
the violin once, twice ia his arms, kiss
ed it tenderly, and lifted it high in the
air to smash it on the rock. But his
heart failed him, His arm dropped
nerveless at his side, and he stood mo-
tionless, looking sadly at his fathers
legacy.
Suddenly there stepped into the open
ing an elderly man, gray-haired aud
keyed, and dressed in city-cut attire.
$50 you would smash your violin?"
he said. "You had better sell it, or, bet.
ter still, play on it. Was it you / heard
playing as came through tie woodsf"
eyes. was bidding my violin fare
well2"
"H'ml Play again for me-"
Gladly Reuben lifted his violin and
drew the bow across 1t.
81 will play yoG the Carnival Of the
Birds" he said, and there arose upon
the air n twi,tering chorus, here a sarcy
trill, there busy chirp, then 4 roulade,
till the very air seemed alive with song
sters, while under all a sweet melody
throbbcd and melted into softest strains.
"rhis is the Brooks Hymn" Reuben
said, and the ripping stream was mock
ed and echoed In quaint fantastic music.
"Who wrote thesef" the stranger
asked.
"They were never written. They
came from my heart" was the quiet re-
ply. 81 will play you some written
music"
And again the violin obeyed the bow
as the work Reuben had studied from
his fathers music rose upon the sum-
mer air.
"And you were about to break your
violin 2" the stranger said.
Yes, for l can never be farmer
while my brain is full Of music" was
the sad reply.
"Ah! You want to be farmer, then.
Would you rather not be a musicianf"
ReuSen's eyes glistened. Long he and
the stranger talked, and the sun Was
setting when he turned his face bome-
ward.
"Uncle Josiah, he said. when all the
chores were done, and the farmer rested
on the moonlit porch, "if In year can
bring you proof that | can support
Daisy, will you give her to me2"
"Iwill," twas the hearty reply. "Haye
you broken your fiddle, Reuben?"
"No; and ] am going to leave you to-
morrow. have been offered work In
the city,"
"Work in the city! Well, lad, 1t may
be you are too peaked for farm work.
and will find it easier there. But, re
member, 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, 1ir,"
came from his very heart.
Not even to Daisy did he tell his new
hopes, but bade her be faithful. aud
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. met in the fairy ring, was by
his side.
Little Daisy kept her heart true. Ev-
cry market day, when the farmer came
from town with his great wagon empty,
he took from his pocket a letter from
Reuben for Daisy, and every one was
hopeful. His work was pleasant, and
Was paying him we'll. Some Of the let
ters were dated New York, some Bos-
ton, some Philadelphia; and when win
ter came Reuben wrote from all the
great cities, even New Orleans; and
Daisy's heart throbbed high with loving
delight to feel sure his love was true
amid the gay scenes that 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, sand judge for yourself
OF my prospectsr"
And Uncle Josiah, after a long con-
sultation with Aunt Polly, concluded 70
go. Daisy had a new dress Of soft white
muslin made, aud bought dainty straw