Milford chronicle., 1885-02-27
RHVben.

/ ~ was q ACBhCy from inc IaIlGf Wit
Z had died before Reuben was ten years
OLD and left him to the care of Uncle
Z JOSIAH, the brother of Reuben's long
dead mother. The strongest memory
reuben retained Of his father was a
mlnd'picture of a white-haired man
sitting up in bed, with the beloved
violin In his hands, filling the poor at
uc-room with sweet sounds. He was
partially paralyzed even then, and later.
when his fingers became helpless, his
heart broke aud 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.
slons 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, pretty, fossy-
haired Daisy, whose blue eyes were like
twin yiolets, stole shyly up to the dark
haired lad and slipped a slice of cake {
INTO his hands. 1t was busy hive the g
Old farm house, where no drones {
found place.
Uncle Josiah disapproved altogether b
OF the violin. Never had he heard of q v
fiddler plowing a field or raising stock. v
Never had he seen any practical good
come from scraping a catgut, ard more G
than once instant destruction was threat II
ened to Reubens one pleasure. He 81
grew afraid to raise the sweet sounds he
loved inside the farm house, and would +
steal away to practice the lessons his ca
ather had taught him by the brook Ell
iide, IN the whispering woods or the Ir'
hady lanes. WI
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy. an
Daisy would softly touch the string. lei
nd listen with parted lips and shifting Be
olor when Reuben woke the spirits Of wi
1usic with his bow. Sue and Jennie gr
Id not object to a good, lively dance Da
1ne; but only Daisy would follow Reu- ine
en- into the world where dreams tru
Dated into the sweet melodies, and the scr
oW and strings talked in mu'ic's own
nguage. Daisy alone knew of the bio
nely walks with the dear companion: yea
Id Daisy's lips would quiver and her to
ne eyes till, when the boy whispered
her ear Of his heart hunger. Rel
Years passed away, and the boy be- my
nc man. A
Scarcely worth his salt" Uncle sult
siah pronounced him, and yet loved go.
N well, for his gentle obedience, his viii
lllngness to perform any task, how stra
er distasteful. siah
"A dreamy gawk in everybody's exp'
y" Sue and Jennie said, but saved com
? choicest bits of the dainty country IL
re for Reuben. MS
"a poor, weakly body" Aunt Polly VINO
d, and her touch was softon Reubep's nepL
r, while she sighed gently, convinced tne
It the pale, thin cheeks would never were
w round or rosy, but 'likely rest naa
Ter the daisies" she thought pity T %oul
ly. them
'nly Daisy really understood the vas
sltive nature, the tender heart the Jross
wing, longing intellect. Only Daisy f1iIet
we'd when the long, delicate hands -
tered and bled over rough work. ,Ca;s1
would never harden. Only Daisy 1oo,.
came, shrined Reuben ,ro,,l5
er heart OF hearts, and knew no Tn
r could ever take his place. and q
My Daisy filed Reuben's heart OF eal tr.
me fough NE around him, there comp
only one gentle influence to keep the bI
leart from breaking. The fair blue Of the
8iEl, with halr IKE hoss silk, alone whose
'rstood MIN when he talked of the speecl
5 ne borrowed from the. minister, fnger
eagerly perused. Daisy alone 1t "
him from the utter despair of lady C;
loneliness. gen
tnese young hearts, IN eleven long piano.
learned the story OF mutual truth, of pei
al dependence, sympathy, tender stampi
and devotion which we call love. lering
the day Reuben was 81, he told A or
JOSIAH he loved Daisy, and a moth
Josiah sadly shook his head. ear the
oull never be able to keep a wife upon q
en-" he said. ''Never I I love ''Carnl
too well to trust her to You 5he
look at it, lad, you've never earned DARK eJ
day wages since you came to " ne
rm. II you'd give up your foolish not g
g now, You might make some- s u'ous
OF yourself, but so long as your vas EesS zoo
IS IN that saving and scraping ''i9 2. olo 10
be good for naught else. It's - wa
wee to you to smash the fiddle DoMeu !
ne iiTst rock, and then I'll talk TO suIng,
'out Daisy" pen was
K his violin Destroy his dearest l9Inlllal lii ~,
his sole comfort But for Daisy 'it rr-s- Slls :
would he not do for Daisy. .;.il I"lce =.
APPS Uncle Josiah was right Per- on5 s,n5e ~; q;
= 5G L9 Hau no Quiet ior the dreams to the c
.eu ": ms soul tney would cease to his arm.
M, ana ne would conquer the parlor I
Gu'lne 4 OF farm drudgery that night, al
4. % = uealt- t-Dreaking problem to face to fl
: lI.e eiisPs' B9en all the phantoms sad boy
~ ~, INTO reality upon his violin reliant,
Iissn ta away ne wonld be the found his
iatIler ~ % Whom Uncle Josiah Uncle
W Oaisy' glove mo
x nus, very sorroWfully, Reu- clasped J
tne violin nom its case and tender w