Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-07-30
+" A FIDDLE

sin Ia the calendar. attuned 10 all the
bad impulses OF youthful natures.
| Aunt Priscilla seemed about to say
something, as her gaze wandered from
the disappointed face of their only
nephew to the stern, not to say hard one,
of her husband, but, on reflection, de-
sisted, the CLEAN in her eye, however,
bespeaking merry thought, possibly a
thought OF by-gone days.
"But, Uncle ST." said tho delicate
Abner, "the blind boy does fairly make
the thing talk. and talk good, too. Why
/ almost cried when he played 'Auld
Lang Syne.'
'Auld Lang Syne!' repeated his
uncle, the stern face relaxing somewhat,
ION a fiddler Why, l never knowed
you could play on that instrument any
thin 'cept 'money-musk, and jigs and
hornpipes, and SIGH. Bent you slightly
mistaken, Abner2"
Abner suppressed smile, as he met
the sharp gaze of his uncle.
mo. sir, I'm not" he answered !;
"and he PLAYS ever SO many tunes, too,
the 'Doxology, and
The Doxology on fiddle! That
was too much for the unbelieving old
man.
That's wickedcr than all the rest, {"
he interrupted. ''Hed YOU stopped at
'Auld Lang Syne,' l might hev give in
and bought tho fiddle for We, but"-and
an expression, that Abner knew further
argument to be useless.
"'And they played on a harp of a
d.
ella, land they rejoiced with the
trumpet. and brazen Instruments and
no doubt with various stringed ones be-
side"
'But not on fiddle" stoutly main
tanned her husband, picking up his hat.
''that's the DEVILS own instrument"
and out he went TO close the argu-
ment.
81 don't see," testify said Abner,
"why Uncle ST has such an anlipathy to
violin. Its ignorance, aud nothing
else, Aunt, which makes some old peo-
pie so intolerant of modern advancement,
in the sciences, and IT and - every
thing"
Its not exactly ignorance that causes
your Uncle's dislike of the fiddle" re-
turned his Aunt Priscilla, with demure
smile. "Hc never liked one since-since
he caught me dancing a contra dance
once, with-with-"
"Oh," interrupted Abner, "did you
ever dance, Aunt2"
"Yes, and your uncle was very
jealous OF my partner" and faint pink
flush dyed Aunt Prscila's wrinkles.
ooh" cried Abner again. "How
FUNNY ~ ,1;otnr;o~ No h. o,olo A. I~...
form of his aunt, capering up and down
the long line of dancers, and Uncle 81,
leaning upon his stout stick, glow ering
from under his shaggy gray b.ows upon
his rival.
That show funny" touched the old
lady somewhat, until, divining how the
youths thoughts were tending, she
arose, unlocked drawer in the old
fashioned side-board, and, among the
many daguerreotypes therein, selected
two, which she laid before the smiling
Abner
Your Uncle 81 was a well-favored
lad, said abe primty. >. as You vvftl-ss..-
and-and In those days, I was looked
upon as a right bonny lass, too" with
which words, and faint sigh, Aunt
Priscilla turned and left the room.
The next day found her and Abnc'
close consultation. She loved the =.
and deeply sympathized with his taste
for music.
I'VE must use strategy" said she.
Arguments are of no avail against the
deep seated prejudice OF your uncle"
That evening the Farmers Journal
had been thoroughly scanned, even to
the last advertisement, and the old man
sat half doing in his chintz-covered arm
chair, the old lady opposite, placidly
knitting, and near by Abnor seemingly
intent upon squaring the circle.
Family upon the evening stiffness
broke note or two of plaintive music.
Abner and his aunt exchanged chances.
Like an eolian harp swept by unseen
fingers of the air, came, at intervals,
those low sweet strains to their listening
ears.
That's powerful sweet" murmured
Uncle 81, half dreamily, powerful
sweet kin tell ye."
Clearer and clearer came the sounds,
till presently, with almost a human
voice, the instrument sobbed out the
notes of 'Auld Lang Syne."
: like one electrified, Uncle 81 sat up
right in his chair.
"Well have thought of kindness yet,
For auld lang sync."
The old mans voice rose aud fell with
the instrument. and when the air was
done, neither of his listeners smiled as
he drew forth his cotton bandanna and
Justify blew clarion note of emotion.
''That sounded somethin' like n
fiddle" he said mcditatively, "but,"
sturdily, mo fiddle could talk like that
least ways never heard one"
His wife made no reply, for at this
moment arose the dir of one OF Tom
Moore's melodies:
''Belicve me, il all those endearing young
charms,
Which gaze on so foundly to-day,
Were to change by tomorrow, and fleet
In my arms,
Like fairy gifts fading away"
Uncle 81 looked sheepishly at his wife.
and she In turn laid down her knitting
and smiled happily upon him.
"You turned that tune well. 81, In the
old days." she said, beating time to the
music with her knitting needle; Gin the
old days, 81, when" she hesitated and
blushed like girl Of sixteen.
Thou wouldst still be adored, a. this
moment thou art
Let thy loveliness fade az II will,
And around the dear ruin each wish OF
my heart
Would entwine itself verdantly still. y
The old mans voice, wavering and