Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-09-25
The Contrabasso's Story.
By J. WATSON STEAD.
Crane. in Boston Travel

b1 De WAloOE SlEADs
There were just four of them-two
violins, flute and a contrabasso-anda
most harmonious quartette they were.
Their master, an old musical enthusiast,
kept the room in which they rested
sacred to the divine art. He never
boxed up the smaller instruments, but
left them laying around to be company
for each other, as he told visiting friends.
Little did he dream how much the four
enjoyed themselves, and what good
company they were to each other. When
the quiet hours came along they would
crack jokes and tell little stories. And
such stories! Many were the interesting
scenes they had witnessed, and with true
musical enthusiasm they wove those
scenes into very romances.
One particular evening the old contra
basso appeared more than usually happy,
and his strings quivered with real excite
ment. One of the violins inquired the
reason.
II am somewhat excited this evening,
my diminutive brethren" replied the
basso in his deepest tones, 'because it
is the anniversary of very notable oc-
currence in which 1 played leading
part" The old basso paused to give
due importance to his words and notice
their effect upon his companions, and
was implored to relate the story.
"Wcll, " replied he, my story is about
the strangest you ever heard. 1t is now
nine years since the event happened, but
whenever I think of it feel like striking
up a jig-tune and dancing to it. My
master then q have been with my pres
ent owner but three years. was a young
gentleman with great love for music,
but with greater love for the dearest.
brightest, sweetest little lady I have ever
seen. Yes, she was little; petite is the
proper word, think, and this fact has
good deal to do with my story. Nv
master, whose name was Walter Good
son, occasionally brought her Che called
her Rosie) to the mushroom, when she
sang and played the piano, my master
playing the violin; and they produced
such lovely music that, more than once
was so enchanted I nearly fell down.
Master Walter would then say: See
Rosie, the old bass fiddle; it's slidino
down to the floor, and he would take
me by the neck and place me upright in
the corner. But to my story. My two
loving children (for l felt like a father
to them seemed to love one another very
much. | must not be depended upon as
a sure judge, however, for was never
in love save once, over delicious run
in one of EIandel's works; l gathered
this from their actions and the number
OF times they told each other. But the
old skeleton was there. The course If
their true love did not run smooth. sone
objection on the part of Miss Rosie's
father was the rock which broke nm the
stream of their love. At times Rosie
cried and complained of her fathers I'M.
kindness, and 10 sooth her nv master
nad to say many nice things. When
this kind of thing occurred. / could No.
help grooming little on my low C. and
sorrowiuliy vibrating for sweet Miss
Rosie
This mixture Of JOY and sorrow bar.
mony and discord went on for some t;no
Sad to relate, during one, of their more
than usually emotional scenes was 50
overcome that I fell to the floor apJ
cracked somewhere. This was crea,
trouble to me, but when found that M
iail had been the means OF making Rosie
forget her grief. ! felt that had No,
iaiien m van On investigation. NV
master found that my back was bro.,e1
ana would have to be taken out A.
expert rePairer, he accomplished ,h;.
successfully, but being pressed for tim
ne left me standing in the corner v;,h
out my back. remained in mi. co..
several days, Illuminating on my hard Incl
wnen heard footsteps hurriedIv an