The Sunday tatler and Jersey City express. (Jersey City, N.J.) 1883-1886, 1886-05-30
THE OLD VIOLIN.

left him 10 the care of Uncle Josiah, the
brother of Reuben's long dead mother.
The stronges: memery Reuben retained Of
his father was mind picture Of a white
haired man sitting up In bed, with the
beloved violin in his hands, filing the
pcor attic room with sweet sounds. He
was partially paralyzed then; and later,
when his fingers became paralyzed, his
heart broke, and he died.
Then Uncle Josiah came from the ceun-
try the great city and took the lad home.
AT The bottom of the hair trunk containing
all of Reubep's possessions were safely
stored the violin and ease, 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
end Daisy. whose blue eyes were like VIC
lets stole shyly up to the dark-haired lad,
and slipped slice of cake into his hands.
It was a busy hive, the old farmhouse,
where no drones found place.
Uncle Josiah disapproved altogether of
the violin. Never had be heard of fid-
dler blowing field or raising stock.
Never had be seen any practical good
come from scraping catgut. aud more
than once instant destruction was threat
ened Reuben's one pleasure. He grew
afraid to raise the sweet sounds he loved
inside the farmhouse, and would steal
away to practice the lessons bis father had
taught him, by the brook side. in the
whispering woods, or in the shady lanes.
No one loved his violin but Daisy
Daisy would softly touch the strings, and
listen with parted lips and shifting color
when Reuben woke the spirit of music
with his bow.
Years passed away, and the boy became
q man. Scarcely worth his salt, /" Uncle
Josiah pronounced him, and yet loved
aim well for his gentle obedience and his
willingness to perform any task.
IA dreamy gawk in everybody's way"
Sue and Jennie said, but saved the choicest
bits of the dainty country fare for Reuben.
Only Daisy really understood the sensi-
tive nature, the tender heart, the starving,
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(eleyen long years, learned the story of
mn tual dependence, sympathy, tender
ness and devotion, which we call love.
On the day when Reuben was twenty-one,
he told Uncle Josiah he loved Daisy, and
Uncle Josiah shook his head.
You'll never be able to keep wife,
Reuben" he said; neverl love Daisy
too well to trust her to you. Why, look
at it, lad; you've never earned q full days
wages since you came to the farm. Ii
you'd give up your foolish fiddling now,
you might make something Of yourself;
but as long as your heart is in that saving
and scraping, you'll be good for naught
else. It's my advice TO you to smash that
fiddle over the first rock, aud then I'll
talk to you about Daisy
Break his violini Destroy his dearest
friend his sole comfort! But for Duisy--
what would he not do for Daisy?
Musing thus, very sorrowfully, Reuben
took the violin from the case and went to
the woods. Here he sat upon huge
stone aud played his farewell, a dirge OF
hope. Great tears fell over his pale cheeks
as the weird, melancholy strain echoed
through the space around him. Then he
wrapped the violin once, twice in his arms,
kissed it tenderly, and lifted it high in the
air to smash it on rock. But his heart
failed him; his arm dropped neryeless to
his side; and he stood motionless, looking
at his fathers legacy.
Suddenly there stepped into The opening
an elderly man, gray-haired and dark
eyed, and dressed in city attire.
So you would smash your yiolin" he
said. " You had better sell it; or, better
&stlll, play on 1T. Was it you heard play
ing as came through the woods?"
Eyes. ] was bidding my violin fare
well.
H'mI Play again for me.
| Gladly Reuben lifted the violin and
Rrew the bow across it.
will play you the Carnival of
birds, he said. This is the Brooks
Hymn, Reuben said.
!. Who wrote these?" the stranger In
hurried.
They we're never written. They are
om my heart was the quiet reply.
III play you some written music
And again the violin obeyed the bow,
the works Reuben had studied from bis
ther's music rose upon the Summer air.
And you were about to break the VIC
Z" the stranger asked. IS
Yes; for never can be farmer while
brain is full Of music" was the sad
Dbl You want to be 0 farmer, thenf
I'D you not rather be musiciap2"
Fuben's eyes glistened. Long he and
tranger talked, and the sun was SET
when he turned his face homeward.
Uncle Josiah, !" he said, when ali the
es were done, and the farmer rested
be moon1it porch, |" II In year Lean
|g you proof that can support Daisy.
you give her to meg
will, was the hearty reply. Shave
broken your fiddle, Reuben2'
No, and I'm going to leave you to-
row. I've been offered work in the
Work in the city Well, lad, it may