Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-05-20
THE OLD FIDDLER'S STORY.
Told at the Fall of the Curtain After the
First Act of the Opera.


who had but recently joined the orches-
ira, turned to his companions and told
the following remarkable story as he
thrummed the strings of his own instru-
ment:
During a recent visit to the old coun-
try in search of health | thought it
would be an excellent opportunity to
find choice instrument. | travelled
slowly through sunny Italy constantly
on the alert for some sign that might
lead to the finding of such violin as [
had always had in mind but which |
had never seen. One day came to a
dusty-lCol1ing little shop with the sign,
Victims r paired and Old Tiolins for
Sale staring through the little window.
/ entered, and found myself in a low
walled room redolent with the musty
smell of antiquity. Upon the shelves,
which extended on either side of the
room, were number of violins, some
labeled with the owners name and
some with the date of making. And
such an array of old violins! There
were violins 1000 years old!
''The proprietor came forward with
very pleasant make yourself-at-home
sort of an air, ard I at once made known
the character of my visit He said it
would give him great pleasure to show
me through his stock, and if | found
anything that [ wanted, all right, and
if not it was all the same to him, as the
pain at parting with one of his pets was
so great that the money part of the
"A, o1- 20,
''He at once began to explain the his
tory of some of the different instru-
ments. At last coming to one of the
Oldest looking and at the same time one
that showed that it had always been
we'll taken care of he began something
in this vein: Here is a violin that is
human. It has been in the same family
for over five hundred years and readily
recognizes any member of that family,
although many generations have passed
away since they came into possession of
this wonderful intrunent.' Of course,
l was paralyzed with wonder and could
not imagine what all this meant |
asked the price of it. The price of it,?
he exclaimed in wild surprise. The
price of it? Would a mother sell her
child?'
81 now began to understand what he
had meant when he called it human and
told him that l intended no harm in ask
ing the question: | really wished to buy
the finest violin in the world He
smiled and replied: eff you will come
here this evening at nine o'clock you
can see the most wonderful sight ever
known to mortal man. At that hour
every night since the violin has been
here the little girl who now owns it
comes to caress it. It is truly a Won
derful sightr' thanked him and prom
ised to be there. [ spent the interven-
ing time soliloquizing and wondering
what was in store for me, and If the
mysterious violin were really human.
A human violin! Whoever heard of such
a thing? What does it mean? | kept
saying to myself over and over again.
when night came | FASTENED to the
little shop again, feverish with excite
ment When I entered there was an
oppressive stiffness; not a sound of any
kind was heard. / walked to the rear,
and found the proprietor with his
hands, apparently in deep thought l
spoke to him, and be looked up with a
wild, imploring look, which changed to
one of delight when he recognized me.
90, it's you, is it? Glad you came.
| have often wished that some one
could be present when the child [ told
you of is here. It is almost time for
her to come. All, there she is. Now
for the most wonderful, most sublime
He did not have time to finish, for
all at once from the old violin on the
shelf came the clear and distinct do
with wonderful vibration and sweet
ness, as though a master hand had
drawn bow across it. No sooner had
the first sound died away than it was
succeeded by another. The old man
reached up and took it down and handed
it to me- AS | took the instrument it
repeated the do again and again; not
only could l hear the sound, but / could
feel the constant vibration of the whole
violin. At last l recovered from my
establishment and asked what it all
meant. The old man smiled and told
me that it was as much of mystery to
him as it was to me, but that always as
soon as the little girl entered there was
a continuous sounding of the violin I'M
til she took it.
81 handed it to the little girl, and to
my surprise the sound of the vibrations
ceased. She stepped to the case in
which the bows were kept, and, taking
one, began to play. And such music;
such divine music! / never heard it's
equal before and / never expect to
again"
At this juncture there was a sharp
rapping by the conductor with his baton
as he called the players attention to the
score The musicians played it as If
they were in a hurry to get through the
act. When the curtain was rung down
again one of them reached far forward
and whispered to the white-haired old
fiddler in hollow, excited voice: .'Well,
what then?"
ssWhy, I awo}e." was the solemn re-
ply.-N. Y. Sun.
The Servant Question.