St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-11-05
MISCELLANY.
A BIT OF MELODY

re going to bed, met the two must
ans coming in, carrying under
heir arms their violins in cases.
They belonged to the orchestra at
fhe - thea tire, and were returning
nom a dress rehearsal of the new
tomic opera that was to be produced
here on the following night.
4 Schaaf, who entered the hallway
Ill advance of the professor. respond
Ia to my slight greeting in his Gus
komary gruf, almost suspicious
Tanner, and passed on, turning
3bwn the collar of his overcoat.
lis heavily bearded face was as
eloomy-looking as ever, in the light
10 the single Pickering gaslight.
The professor, although by birth a
pmpatriot of the other, was in dis
aosition his opposite. In his courte-
ous, almost affectionate, way he
stopped to have a word with me
bout the GOODNESS of the weather
md the danger of the icy pavements.
I'm thankful to be at last home"
Iae said, showing his teeth with a
7cprdial smile, as he removed the muf-
Ger from his neck, which l thought
Nature had sufficiently protected
With an ample red beard. "Take my
d dvice, my friendt, tempt not de
Ewedder. Stay warm in de house
andt play for you de music of de
new opera"
Thanks for your solicitude," l
aid, "but l must have my walk.
Play to your sombre friend Schaaf
Ind see if you can soften him into
Good night
The professor, with his usual kind
Iiness, deprecated my thrust at the
taciturnity of his cOuntryman and
rbnfrere, with gesture and look
ID reproach in his soft gray eyes, and
&Ke parted l watched him until he
disappeared at the first turn of the
3dingv stairs.
AS passed up the street, where
MAS in constant peril of losing my
Xfooting, l saw his windows grow
alight. He had ignited the
#gas in his room, which was imme-
#diately beneath mine. At the same
#time a vague yellowness illumined
The frosted window of the next room,
which was that of the professors
Xsinister friend Schaaf.
My regard for the professor was
Morn of his invariable goodness of
HEART. Never did 1 know him to
Xspeak an uncharitable word of any
one, while his practical generosity
WAS far greater than is commonly
&ekpected of a second violinist. When
~ commended his maunanimity he
would say with a smile:
e. c4o1x IL 10
zgedder l am de most selfish man.
#Eharity cofers a multitude of sins.
hat SO many sins to cofer."
We called him the professor be-
&cause, besides fulfilling his nightly
and matinee duties at the theatre he
#eave piano lessons to a few pupils,
and because those of us who could
Remember his long German surname
zcould not pronounce it.
III One proof of the professors benefi-
&eence had been his rescue of his friend
zSchaaf from starvation. He first
8fDund Schaaf on a bench in Madison
Ssguare one day, a recent arrival from
muttering despondently
ITO himself The professor learned
he had been unable to secure
employment and that his last cent
Had departed two days before. The
5professor took him home, clothed
Dim and cared for him until eventual
In another second violinist was need
ed in the - theatre orchestra.
Schaaf was now on his feet, for he
was apt at the making of tunes, and
he picked up few dollars now and
Ethen as a composer of songs and
3waltzes.
All of which has little to do, ap-
8parently, with my post-midnight
walk in that freezing weather. AS
turned into Broadway, l was sur
prised to collide with my friend the
doctor.
Il came out for stroll and a bit
Ito eat" Isaid won't you join me?
know snug little place that keeps
#open till two o'clock, where the dew
6lled crabs are as good as the broiled
Epvsters.'
with pleasure" he replied cordial
~, still holding my hand mot for
hour food but for your society. But
do you know what you did when
you ran against me at the corner?
For long time I've been trying to
"a C(dIl (Cl ldlIi lullO lIdl neal u
$pnce. Three minutes ago, as l was
svalking along, it came back to me,
ind l was whistling it when you
name up. You knocked it quite out
pf my mind. I'm sorry, for interest
fng circumstances connected with my
first hearing of it make it desirable
that l should remember it."
Il can never express my regret" [
Said. But you may be able to catch
1t again. Where were you when it
<fame back to you three minutes
&ago?"
Two blocks away, passing
church. think it was the shining
#pf the electric light upon the stained
glass window that brought it back
Re me. for on the night of the day
when first heard it in Paris a strong
III ht was faI1iuO urOu the S+o;nad