Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1885-04-04

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Polly cried little over the orphan;
Sue and Jennie, kindly maidens, kiss
ed and caressed him; and Daisy,
pretty, fiossy- haired Daisy, whose
blue eyes were like twin violets, stole
shyly up to the dark haired lad and
slipped piece Of cake into his hands.
1t was busy hive, the old farm
house, where no drones found place
Uncle Josiah disapproved altogeth
err of the violin. Never had he heard
of fiddler blowing field or raising
stock. Never had ie seen any prac-
teal good come from scraping catgut,
and more than once instant destruc-
| ton was threatened to Reuben's one
pleasure. He grew afraid to raise
the sweet sounds he loved inside the
farm house, and would steal away to
practice the lessons 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 Jennie did not object to good,
lively dance tune; but only Daisy
would follow Reuben into the wood
where dreams foated into the sweet
melodies, and the bow and strings
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 had passed away, and the
boy became man.
Scarcely worth his SALT said Uncle
Josiah, and yet loved him well, for
his gentle obedience, his willingness
to perform any task, however dis
tasteful
"A dreamy gawk, in eyerybody's
way Sue and Jennie said, but saved
| the choicest bits 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
likely rest under the daisies,' she
thought pityingly.
Only Daisy really understood the
sensitive nature, the tender heart, the
starving, longing intellect. Only Dali
sy 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 filed 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 eyedgirl, with hair like
floss silk, alone understood him when
he talked of the books he borrowed
from the minister, and eagerly pc
rused. Daisy alone kept him from
the utter despair of heart loneliness.
| So these young hearts, in eleven
long years, learned the story of mu-
tual truth, mutual dependence, sym
pathy, tenderness and devotion, which
we call love.
| On the day Reuben was 81, he told
Uncle Jooiah he loved Daisy, and
Uncle Josiah sadly shook his head.
You'll never be able to keep wife,
Reuben 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
came to the farm. If you'd give ur
your foolish fiddling now, you might
make something of yourself, but SC
long as your heart is in that saving
and scraping you'll be good fol-
| narpht else. IT'S nv advice To vou