The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-11-18
SELECTED.
REUBEN.

1t was a legacy from the father who
had died before Reuben was ten years old
and left him to the care of Uncle Josiah
the brother OF Rcuben's long dead moth
or The strongest memory Reuben re
tanned of his farther was a mind-pictur,
of II white-haircd man sitting up in bed
with the beloved violin in his hands, filling
the poor attic-room with sweet sounds
He was partially paralyzcd then, and later
when his fingers became helpless, hi,
heart broke and he died.
Then Uncle Josh came from the country
to the great city, and took the lal home
At the bottom Of the hair trunk contain.
ing all RcubCns possessions We're 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 Il
rough, hearty welcome. Aunt Polly cried
n little over the orphan; Sue and Jennie,
kindly maidens, kissed and caresScd him,
and Daisy, whose blue eyes were like
twin violcts, stole shyly up to the dark
haired lad and slipped a slch Of cake in
to his hands. 1t was a busy hive. the old
farmhouse, where no drones found place.
Uncle Josiah disapproyed altogether of
the violin. Never had he heard of tid-
der blowing n field or raising a stock,
Never had he seen any practical good
come from scrapng a cagut, and more
than once instant destruction was threat
ened to Rcubens one pleasure. He grew
afraid to raise the sweet sounds he loved.
inside the farmhouse, and would steal
away to practice the lesson his father had
taught him, by the brook side, in the
whispering woods or the shady lane,
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy.
Daisy would softly touch the string, and
listen with parted lips and shifting color
when Reuben woke the spirits of music
with the bow, Sue and Jennie did not
object to good lively dance tune; but
only Daisy would follow Reuben into the
world where dreams floatcd 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
companions; and Daisy'S lips would quiv-
er and her blue eyes fill, when the boy
whispered in her ear of his heart hunger
Years passed away and the boy be-
came man,
Scarcely worth his salt" Uncle Josiah
pronounced him, and yet loved him well,
for his gentle obedience, his willingness
to perform any task, however diStasteful
a dreamy gawk, in cvcrybodys way"
est biz OF the dainty country fare for Rcu-
ben.
"A poor weakly body" Aunt Polly said,
and her touch was soft on Reuben hair,
while She sighed gently, convinced that
the pale. thin check, would never grow
round or rosy. but "likely rest under the
daisies" she thought pityingly.
Only Daisy really understood the senSi-
tive nature the tender heart, the starving,
longing intellect. Only Daisy grieved
when the long delicate hands blistcrcd
and bled over rough work, and would
never harden. Only Daisy, as maiden
hood came, shrincd Reuben in her heart
of hearts. and knew no other could ever
take his place.
only Daisy filed Rcubens heart! of all
the rough life around him there was only
one gentle influence to keep his heart
from br aking. The fair, blue-eycd girl,
with hair like floss silk. alone understood
him when he talked of the books he Dor
rowcd from the minister and eagerly per-
sued. Daisy alone kept him from the ut
ter despair Of heart loneineS.
SO these Young hearts in eleven long
years, learned the story Of mutual truth
mutual dependence, sympathy tenderness
and devotion, which we call love.
on the day when Reuben was twenty
one he told Uncle Josiah he loved Daisy
and Uncle Josiah sadly shook his head.
you'll never be able to keep a wife.
Reuben" he said. Never. | love Daisy
too well to trust her to you. Why, look
at it, lad; you've never earned full day :
wages since you came to the farm, II
you'd give up your foolish hddling now
YOU might make something of yourself,
but a. long as your heart is in that saw
ing and scraping you'll be good for
nauyht else It's my advice to you to
smash tn. fiddle over the first rock, and
then I'll talk to YOU about Daisy.
Break his violin. Destroy his dearest
friend. his sole comfort, But for Daisy:
What would he nor do for Daisy?
Perhaps Uncle Josiah was right. Fer
haps. il he had no outlet for the dreams
that filled his soul, they would cease to
haunt him, and they would conquer the
May routine of farm drudgcry that was
such a hcart-breaking problem to him.
Perhaps, when all the phantoms 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, Reuben
took the violin from its case and went to
the woods to an opening the countr,
folks called the fairy ring. Here he sal
upon huge stone and played his fare
well. dirgc of hope. Great tears fell ov
er his pale cheeks as the weird, melan
choly strain echoed through the space
around him. Then he wrapped the vic
lin once, twice in his arms, kissed II ten
derby and lifted it high in the air t,
smash 1t on the rock. But his heart fail