Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-06-23
Gales aud Sketfhes.
THE OLD VIOLIN.

1t was legacy Il ON the father who 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 mind picture OF a white.
haired man sitting up in bed, with the be-
loved violin in his hands, filling the poor
attic room with sweet sounds. He was
partially paralyzed then; and later, when
his fingers became helpless, his heart
broke and he died
Then Uncle Josiah came from the great
city and took the lad home. At the bot
tom of the hair trunk containing all of
Reuben's possessions 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 caressed him
and Daisy, whose blue eyes were like vio-
lets. stole shyiv up to the dark haired lad
and slipped slice of cake into his hands.
1t was busy hive. the old farmhouse,
where no drones found place.
Uncle Josiah dsapproved altogether OF
the violin. Never had be heard of fid-
dler blowing field or raising stock. New
er had he seen any practical good come
from scraping catgut, and more than once
instant destruction was threatened Rev.
ben's one pleasure. He grew afraid to
raise the sweet sounds he loved inside the
farmhouse, and would steal away to prac-
tice the lessons his father had taught him,
by the brookside. in the whispering woods
or in the shady lanes.
Nobody loved his violin but Daisy
Daisy would softly touch the strings, and
listen with parted lips and shifting color
when Reuben woke the spirits OF music
with his bow.
Years passed away, and the boy be-
came man. Scarcely worth his salt, ="
Uncle Josiah pronounced him, and vet
loved him well for his gentle obedience,
and his willingness to perform any task.
"A dreamy gawk in everybody's way"
Sue and Jennie said. but saved the choic.
est bit of the dainty country fare for Reu-
ben.
Only Daisy really understood the sensi-
tive nature, the tender heart, the striving,
longing intellect; only Daisy grieved
when the long delicate hands blistered and
bled over rough work. and would never
harden; only Daisy filed Reuben's heart
Daisy alone kept him from the utter
despair of heart loneliness So these
young hearts, in eleven years, learned the
story OF mutual truth, mutual independ-
ence, 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 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 up your foolish fiddling now.
you might make something of yourself
but as long as your heart is in that saw
ing and scraping, you'll be good for
naught else. It's my advice to you to
smash that 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 not do for Daisy?
Musing thus, very sorrowfully. Reuben
took the violin from its case and went to
TIE woods. Here be sat upon huge
stone and played his farewell, dirge of
nope. Great tears fell over his pale
cheeks as the weird, melancholy strain
echoed through the space around him.
Then he wrapped his violin once. twice,
in his arms, kissed in tenderly. and lifted
it high in the air to smash it on a rock
But his heart failed him; his arm dropped
nerveless to his side; and he stood mo-
tionless, looking at his fathers legacy.
Suddenly there stepped into the open
ing an elderly man. ray-haired and dark
eyed. and dressed In city attire.
80 you would smash your violnp" he
said You had better sell it, or, better
still, play on it. Was it you heard play
ing as came through the woods?"
Eyes. | was bidding my violin fare
we'll"
Him! Play again for me-"
Gladly 2heuben lifted the violin and
drew the bow across it, 81 will play you
the Carnival of Birds" he said. "This
Ia ba .Droot,S HYMN ~ Rapbap said