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

had died before Reuben was ten 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 4
mind picture of white-haired mar
sitting up i'm bed, with the beloved
violin in his hands, filling the poor at
tic-room with sweet sounds. He was
partially paralyzed even then, ant
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 score of music the dead
musician had left his boy.
On the farm in Jersey, Reuben found
a rough, kindly welcome. Aunt Polly
cried a little over the orphan Sue and
Jennie, kindly maidens, kissed and
car essed him, and Daisy, whose blue
eyes were like twin 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 farm house, where
no drOnes found place.
of the violin. Never had he heard of IA
fiddler blowing a field or raising stock.
Never had he seen any practical good
come from scraping a catgut, and more
than once instant destruction was
threatened to Reuben's one pleasure.
lie grew afraid to raise the sweet
sounds he loved, inside the farm house,
and would steal away to practice the
lesson his father had taught him, by
the brook side, in the whispering
woods or the shady lanes.
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy.
Daisy would softly touch the string,
and listen with parted lips and shift
ing color when Reuben woke the spirits
of music with his bow. Sue and Jen-
ME did not object to good, lively
dance tune but only Daisy would
follow Reuben into the world where
dreams foated into the sweet melO-
dies, and the bow and string talked in
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 fill when the
boy whispered in her ear of his heart
hunger.
Years passed by and the boy became
Il man.
Scarcely worth his salt" Uncle JO-
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 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
''likely rest under the daises," she
thought pityingly.
Only Daisy really understood the
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, shrined
Reuben in her heart of hearts, and
knew no other could take his 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
despair of heart loneliness.
So these young hearts, in eleven
long years, learned the story of mutual
truth, mutual dependence, sympathy,
and devotion, which we call
love.
On the day when Reuben was TWEEN
ty zone he told Uncle Josiah he loved
Daisy, and Uncle Josiah sadly shook
his head.
you'll never oe able to keep a wife,
he said. "Never! | love
Daisy too well to trust her to yOu.
Why, look at it, lad you've never
earned full days wages since You
anne to the farm. If you'd give up
-Our foolish fiddling now You might
make something of yourself, but as
Ong AS your heart is in that saving
md scraping you'll be good for naught
Use. It's my advice to you to smash
he fiddle over the first rock, and then
III talk to you about Daisy"
Break his violin Destroy his dear !
st friend, his sole comfort! But for
Daisy Z What would he not do for |
Daisy
Perhaps Uncle Josiah was right. |
'erhaps, if he had no outlet for the |
lreams that filled his soul they would |
ease to haunt him, and he would con
Iuer the may routine of farm drudge
y that was such heart breaking
problem to him. Perhaps, when all
he phantOms that broke into reality
IpOn his violin were driven away, he
would be the practical farmer to whom
Jncle Josiah would give Daisy
Musing thus, very sorrOwfully, Reu-
zen took the violin from its case and
vent to the woods, to an opening the
ountry folks called the fairy ring.
lere he sat upon a huge stone and
layed his farewell, a dirge of hope.
Ireat tears fell over his palecheeks as
he wierd, melancholy strain echoed
trough the space around him. Theu
e wrapped the violin once, twice in
is arms, kissed it tenderly and lifted
high in the air to smash it on the
Dck. But his heart failed him. His
rm dropped nerveless ut his side, and
e stood mOtionless, looking at his
lther's legacy.
Suddenly there stepped into the
pening an elderly man, greyhaired
nd dark-eyed, and dressed in city cut
tire.
$50 You would smash your violin ?"
e said. "YOu had better sell it, or, !
etter still, play on it. Was it you |
card playing as | came through the
GODS r. {
''1es. | was bidding my violin fare
ell" !
"H'm Play again for me-"
Gladly Reuben lifted his violin and ]
rev the bow across it.
Il will play you the Carnival of the {
irds," lie said and there rose upon l