Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1885-12-08
REUBEN

II wa.a legacy from the father Who
had died before Reaten was ten years
old and lsn him 10 'hs care of Uoele
Jr.iah. the hfoihsr u R,uben's long dead
mother The strongest memory Reuben
retained of hi. father was . mind picture
of a ~hiie.haifci man ,iiiing up IN bod.
With ihs beloved violin ia his hand.. tll-
ing 'he poor attic roon With swec,
sounds. he ~as pa'iiall, paralyred
then. and later. when hi. hngers b'eame
helpless. his hsa'i broks and he died.
Then Uncle Josh came from the ooun.
uy 10 the great city and took the lad
home. At The bottom Of the hair Trunk
containing al Rsuben'. Po..e..ions. ~ere
.afcly stored the violin and case. ~i,h a
.core of music the dead musician bad len
hls boy
On the farm IN Jersey. REUBEN found
= rough. hearty welcome Aun, Polly
crsd LITTLE over the orphan; Sue and
Jennie. Kindly msiden.. kissed and ca.
resssd him. and Daisy. whose blue eyes
we're like t~ia violsi.. stole shyly gp 70
the dark haired lsd and slipped 'lice u
e.se into hi, hands. |, was = busy hive,
TIE old farmhouse. where 40 drones found
place.
Uncle josiah dinpprosed altogether oi
,he VIOLA. Never hal be heard of hl-
der. plowing field OF rai'ias stock.
Ne,ef had be seen any practical good
come from scraping esigui, and more
Than once instant d sirsci'on was threat
ened 10 R-gben's one pleasure. Tie greS
afraid 10 rai.e the s~ec, sound. he loved.
inside the farmhouse. and would steal
away 20 practice the lesson biz 'aihef bad
,augh, him. by the brook s'de. Ia the
whispering wool. or the shady lane.
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy.
Daisy would sofsly touch the string. and
h.,en With parted lips ADD shifting color
when Reuben woke the spirit. Of music
~ith the bow Sue and Jennis did no,
object o good. lively dance tune bu,
only Daisy would folios Reuben into the
world where dreams a,Aied into the
sweet melodies. and the bow and strings
talked IN music's osn language. DAISY
alone kne~ of the lonely walk. ~i,h the
dear companion; and D.i.,'s hps would
qaysr and her blue eyes hll. when the
boy whispered IN her ear Of hs heart
hanger.
Years passed away Ani the boy became
q man.
Scarcely worth hi. .al,," Unele Josiah
pronounced him. and y,, loved him we'll,
for hi. gentle obedience. his willingness
10 perform any task. however disiAs,efal
"A dreamy gAsk. 10 e'epoody
way" Sue and Jennie said. ba, saved
the choicest bii Of the dain'y country
fare for Reuben.
"A poor weakly body" Aun, Polly
said, and her touch was sof, on Reuben :
hair. while ,he sighed gently. convinced
,hA, the pale. thin che X. would never
grow round o. rosy. but "hkely re-, IN
der the daisies" she though, piyingly.
Oaly Daisy really understood the sen
.i,l,e nature. the tender heart, the s,Arv.
ing. longing iniellee, Only Daisy grleved
~hen the long. delicate hand. blis,ered
and bled over rough work. and would
never harden. Oaly Daisy. As maiden
hood came. .hrined Reuben In her hear,
Of hearts and knew no other could ever
take bis place.
Only Daisy filed Reuben's heart Oi
al the rough life around bin there was
only one gentle influence to keep b..
heart from breaking. The fair. blue
eyed girl. With hair like hJss silk. alone
unden,ood him when he talked Of the
books be borrowed from tue minister An'l
eagerly persued. Daisy aloae KEEP, him
from The utter despair Of hear, loneliness
So these young heAit', In eleven Ions
years. learned the story Of mutual truth,
mutual dependence, sympathy, tender
nee. and devotion. which We call love
On the day when Reuben WAS twenty
one, be told Uncle Josiah he loved Daisy,
and Uncle josiah sadly shook his head.
You II never be able 10 keep a wife,
Reuben" he .sid. Never! | love Daisy
too veil TO ,rus, her to you. Why. look
at il. lad you've never earned fal
day. wages since you came to the farm
II you'd give up your foolish hddlins
nov you might make something OF your
self. but as long as your heart Is in that
saving and sersplng. you'll be good fo'
naushi else. It's my advice 10 you tC
smash the fiddle over the frs, rock, and
then III talk to you about Daisy"
Break his violin Destroy bis dearest
friend. bis sole comfort! But for Daisy
What would he not do for Daisy,
Perhaps Uncle Josiah was night. Per-
hsps, II he had no cutie, for the dreams
tina, filed hi. soul, they would cease ,C
haunt him. and they would oVnquer The
mary routine Of farm drudsery that VA
such a hesrt-brrsking problem to him
Perhaps. when all the phan,oms thsI
broke into reality upon bis violin were
driven away. be ~Ould be the practices
farmer to whom Unele Josiah would give
Daisy.
Masing thus, very sOrO~fally. Rsuber
took the violin from Its case and went t'
the woods to IN opening the eoun,r,
folks called the fairy ring. Here he ss
upon . huge stone and played his fare
we'll. dirge Of hope. oe., tears fel
over hi. pale cheeks ss the weird mslsn'
choly strain echoed through the spac'
around him. Then he wrapped the vio