Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-02
LITTLE IDA AND HER FIDDLE
lAubertine Woodward Moore in Branard's Must
cal World.

She played the fiddle when she was but
five years old. Hers was Il mere toy in
strument, yet she could extract from it
singuIarIy weird and soul-stirring strains.
Her fame spread abroad and strangers
from distance often came to listen to
her music. The little one was shy and
could be heard to the best advantage when
unconscious of listeners. Those upon
whom it was desired to make good I'M
preston were usually secreted in the room
nearest the one where she was won't to
pour out from the depths Of her chid-soul
tie magic harmonies with which il was
flooded
She played wholly by ear. Her father
was her only teacher He was anative of
Norway, and ne made known to his
/ daughter the scandinavian melodies
with which his memory was stored. The
Swedes and Norwegians Of the vicinity
thought she invested them with more char
acter than he. and were delighted with
little Ida Norman's rendering of their
favorite ditties
She was ten years Did before she heard a
great violinist. Then Ole Bull gave con-
cert in her native town. So troubled was
she lest her father should not permit her
! to attend it that she scarcely ate or slept
for several days, and grew listless and wan.
| Her mother, observing her depression,
sought her confidence. Little Ida flung
herself sobbing into her arms. and declar-
ed she should die if she could not hear Ole
Bull.
Mrs Norman was unable to withstand
| her child's tears, and promised to talk
with father. AS result it was decid-
ed to waive the usually rigid rules about
| ida s bedtime. To deny the fragile, i'm
petuous little girl the concert would harm
her more than late hours it was thought.
| So Ida went to hear Ole Bull.
As the audiece was largely Scandina-
Wan, the great violinist had been requested
to make his selections chiefly from his
stock of Morse melodies. In view of this
he PLAYED his own superb ''Chalet Girl S
Sunday" and many choice folk-songs and
dances.
Ida was familiar with them all, and she
found it curious y fascinating to note how
this wizard of the bow would weave to-
| gether two or more melodies, and lay
them note by note one into the other,
like some delicate mosaic. Now he
would let one melody stand out in bold re-
lief, now another, until finally all would
be blended In one magnificent structure.
Listening and trembling, Ida wept and
laughed until she grew so excited that had
not her mothers hand been placed firmly
on her arm she might nave darted forward
to the platform where the violinst stood.
In the audience sat Norwegian farmer
who had driven many miles to attend the
concert. and who had expected thunder
and lightning to proceed from the fiddle
in the hands of so noted fiddler. During
quiet portions of the program he repeated
ly manifested his disappointment, but the
first strains of Halling, popular dance
Of his native land, thoroughly reused him.
Go it, Ole!'' cried he, at the top of his
lungs. That right, Never stop till the
beam is kicked. Now we have it. Go it
strong, old fellow!'
Thus he continued until an usher tapped
him on the shoulder, and threatened to
eject him from the hall if he did not keep
quiet.
The ludicrous episode added to Ole
Built inspiration, and he played Hall
ing such as was not often heard. The in
itiated listener could well coniure up be-
fore his minds eye the scene 1t depicted.
| 1t was in rustic barn. The village fd-
dler sits on his stool, keeping vigorous
time with his feet to his energetic playing.
The lads and lasses are ranged on either
side of the wall. From the ranks of the
former steps forward fine lad, the most
comedy and rugged of the company.
liesurely sways to and fro to the rythm of
the dance, and quickens his speed as the
tempo increases. Dancer and fiddler
seem moved by one impulse. There is
heard sudden accent in the music, the
dancer acts as though about to preform
some startling feat then moves rapidly
onward. makes another feint, and finally,
at the signal of sharp sforzando In the
music, turns a summersault In the air,
touching with his heel the highest beam
In the ceiling. Amid tumultuous cheers,