Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-05-04

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For many years old Ben, the colored
fiddler, had been in demand for dane
ing parties Of modest pretensions Ben
could coax . world Of melody out OF
his old rheumatic violin whether he were
drunk or sober. Ii made no differ
ence II one or two of the strings we're
gone or if his bow were spiiced with
brass ferrule; he would take . chunk Of
rozin out of his Old soldiers oysrcoat
pocket and 'rosum up and then he
be was ready for business. He would
sit on his chair with legs crossed. his
bead thrown hack and with = grin of
ecststic delight on his face hour after
hour, while the dancers whiFied and
crossed before him. His eyes were
always fixed on the ceiling and
when he opened his mouth TO
call OF. his jaw would SWING
until his head looked like top buggy.
The ceaseless pat, pat. pat Of his great
spiay foot beating time 70 the rythm of
the tuno seemed To stir the giddy
dancers as the mystic pecromancer
charms the serpent by the motion Of hls
hand. Ben WAS poor lonely old ras-
cal, with no bad habits, except weak
ness for strong drink and prediction
for fat chickens harvested in the dark
of the moon. Nobody knew how old
he was. He lived in the rear of an old
tumble down building on Wsterloo-st.
Decided to Give Hen . Chance.
Fred and were delegated to procure
music for private ball, and knowing
that old Ben had not had = job for some
time, We decided to give him the
chance. He Was not at bis usual haunts
so We went to his lair. There We found
him tossing on = ragged bunk and in
the last stages of violent fever. He
reused up when We went IN. but fell TO
muttering and wandering in . few mln-
utes. He said he needed for nothing;
that he was supplied with food and
medicine. "I'se dom we'll enough;
dom want nobody fussin' round me"
he said, i'm answer to an offer
to procure . nurse. We started to 90
out. but he rose up IN bed
and said, "Don't leave me boys. its
long pight TO be alone, and it's mighty
lonesome" We stayed. and after q
while tho old fellow fell into doze.
The lamps were lighted, and presently
the loud discordant strains Of Smiths
Opera House band foated down the
street. The sound reused old Ben and
he rose to q sitting posture in the bed, !,
stared wildly around the room aud
called out in his shrlll, quavering voice,
"Git 20 pahdners." His black shiny
face was radient with Joy, as if he
heard music too exquisite for mortal
ears. His left hand began to claw 1T
fully at the ragged connterpane on the
bed. while his right swayed to and fro
in the air. He was playing. in his
feverish delirium, the old violin that
hung mute against the wall.
HssAw spectral Dances.
'sSalute came with q flourish of the
imaginary bow. The dim old eyes
looked out upon . spectral crew of
dancers treading to the time Of . silent
time. "Balance ALL" rang out as he
swayed forward almost double and his
bare right foot came tapping against
the foot-boafd of the bed, Keeping time
~ he dancers sWept to and fro. AL
leman left" 'sall promenade" "for-
ward four" ''ladics cross over,"
and all through the calls he
ment his voice growing fecb-
Ter and the knotted fingers working
more fitfully as he proceeded. "Rest," !"
There was weak flourish of the right
arm, the hands clutched the bedding
with . death grip, the staring eyes
stopped rolling and looked straight
ahead and the lower jaw sunk upon the
old fiddler's breast. Old Ben satsilent
as stone for = few seconds and then
fell back dead. The shock of
his fall Jared the old violin from its
fastening and it fell upon the bare
floor, broken. shattered thing, never
to sound again. The old man had
played the dance of death and his soul
had gone out into the starlight of the
wintry night and the music Of the old
violin he loved had gone with him.
JOSH Loxo.