The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1892-11-05

VA
confess it. Whenever l visit the
Austrian capital, my friends, who
are a legion, give me a most hospi-
table reception, and l am forced to
enjoy all the pleasures of that city,
which is the city of pleasure par ex-
cellence.
One night, while we were return
ing from Die Neue Welt, which is
one of the most curious establish
ments in the world, our carriages
were brought to a standstill by q
mob which had assembled in front
of a fifth rate ballroom, ~frequented
by soldiers and suburban wOrkmen.
We thought at first the crowd had
been attracted by a battle between
drunkards or a conflict between
lovers, for Il nan was lying ON the
ground. DR.. Ialkner. who was one
of the party, leaped from the car
riage and went to see what was the
matter. He was told that the ticket
taker of the ball had died suddenly.
DR.. Falkuer examined the man on
the ground, and presently said:
He is not dead, but is dying OF
starvation!"
Everybody tried to do something
for the poor ticket taker. He was
given q glass of wine, and a collec
ton was taken up for him. Wecon
tributed literally. The doctor prom
Used to call on the poor fellow in the
morning, and asked his address. A
woman gave him a visiting card, anc
going up to the carriage lamp the
doctor read aloud, "Rodolphe Tim
mer, professor of music, Sterngasse.
26S."
''Zimmer." l exclaimed. Il know
him! Put him in the carriage. Quick.
l will take charge of him!"
We drove to the address on the
card. Zimmer's room was on the
fifth floor. The door was opened,
and our hearts ached when we saw
not in the room, but the hole ir
which the poor fellow lived. Foul
naked, solid walls, a little straw in
one corner, an earthenware jug, ar
earthenware porringer, a bit of soap
nothing else. Luckily we We're in
what was called a Furnished lodging
house" and the rooms on the first
floor we're almost decent. We had
poor thinner placed in the best OF
them. DR.. Falkner promised me that
he should be well taken care of.
A week or ten days afterward a
servant announced to me, Mr.. RO-
dOlphe thinner" At last l had go,
possession of my waltz! A tall, old
man with a noble face entered
my room. Misfortune had cruelty
scratched his wrinkled cheeks With
her claws. His eyes were gentle and
resigned. Long white locks fell or
his black coat, which was almost
threadbare, but very neatly brushed.
In fact, everything about him excited
sympathy.
Sir" said he, Il have come tc
thank you for your kindness to me.
1T is not worth mentioning,"I an
swered. Il did nothing but follow
the example Of your friends"
Il have no friends. | have not
long enough to live to talk to you OF
gratitude; Ihave come merely to say,
Thank you"
Il repeat again, you w me moth
ing. Do you know who l ann" ] re
piled quite testify, for to tell the
truth I thought his Thank you
rather a poor return for all l had
done.
Jacques Offenbach."
Yes; that is my name. Now, you
can understand that between breth-
rem of the same profession the very
least thing that can be done is to help
each other"
"Brethren!" murmured Zimmer in
a bitter tone. You say that out of
politeness. Alas! l am nothing but
poor professor with absolutely moth.
ing"
Il beg your pardon, but you have
had your share Of popularity. You
nave mad talents"
IT am obliged for your courtesy"
1T is not courtesy. 1t is my sin
cere opinion"
You may perhaps have heard
that and you repeat it to me to less
en- the bitterness Of aims. You do
not, you cannot know anything
about me-"
You are mistaken and | am going
to prove it to you"
went to the piano, and | played
slowly the eight bars l knew SO well.
The old man lifted his head at the
first notes. Stupefaction was fol
lowed by infinite delight. The artist
in him Strengthened himself up, and
a beam of joy shone through the
tears which flowed down his hollow
cheeks. His emotion affected me so
that l had the utmost difficulty to
get through the eight bars. AS ]
arose from the piano he ran toward
me and took my hands, exclaiming:
"Ah, maestro, dear maestro! May
God reward you! You have done a
good deed. You have prevented me
from dying-that was nothing. You
give me strength to live-that is
everything. So there is indeed some
body on earth who still knows me,
and that somebody is you. All, how
a l show my gratitude for this
delight, which is SO great, so unex-
pected!"
I'm a very simple manner" l re-
piled. "You have but to play for
me the rest of the waltz"
1.-THE rest-the rest Of the waltz"
Eyes. 1t is the greatest favor you
could do for me. When I have told
you why, you will see that all is not
settled between us and that | am
still your debtor"
thinner sat down at the piano and
played, as I had just done, the eight
bars. Then he stopped. l was all
attention. He seemed to be trying
" r. 10 Oh f., pr0I fa0rN,