New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1892-01-20
Couldn't you manage to pay 50

uc1Vc fLuOIIss91tSSS1l ~ lie I1eAGs1 9DuTce
months screw But-a good idea-I
have a French horn, a regular beauty,
worth ten guineas, and dirt cheap at
that. Now, take it, like a good fell
low, and cancel the debt
"But what on earth do / want with
a French horn? It's OF no use to
me-
Then create a use for it. Add to
your many accomplishments that Of
musical amateur. You've splendid
lip" he continued artfulIy; sjust the
cut for the instrument. Now, old
chap, make me eternally grateful by
accepting. Amagnifcent bargain las
sure YOU
Itook theinstrument and from that
date my troubles began.
In three days | had to find fresh
lodgings. | stayed at the next a week.
/ tried a boarding house and was pre-
sented with three days board and
lodging gratis and my boxes bundled
into the street. Nothing daunted, ]
tried again and hit on my present
diggings, with a motherly old soul for
landlady to whom | conveyed my
orders through the medium OF a huge
speakingtrumpet and on whom the
trumpets which blew round Jericho
would have produced no effect.
Up till this period the course Of my
love had been perfectly smooth, when
who should turn up but q cousin OF
Louise's, Tom Medium. He had
been out to Australia to try his fort
une, but after a soiourn OF five years
in that land of promise, had returned
with just sufficient to pay his cab fare
from the dock to my aunt's, where he
was loaing till he found something
better to do.
was Jealous OF this Hercules-he
stood six feet one in his stockings.
Whenever I paid a dutiful visit to the
villa, was bound to come upon
the cousins in some interesting posi-
tion-poring over sketch books or
albums. Aunt was confined to her
bed, and could not watch over my
interests, and SO my rival had the
field to himself.
| determined to warm up my tickle
loves waning affections, and with this
object l practiced assiduously on
the French horn lovely German
serenade I had purchased at cheap
music stall.
I taxed my patience to the utter
most, and most peoples within q re-
spectacle radius of sound. If l en-
deavore to make a crescendo on a
certain note, invariably cracked it,
or split it into two or three.
But by laudable perseverance got
over theselittle difficulties as far as the
serenade was concerned, and deter
mined on the first fine moonlight night
to give it a practical trial and see what
romantic effect would do in the
cause Of Cupid.
At length the suspicious night
arrived and | set out for Hampstead,
arriving there quite two hours before
the time | had arranged for the per-
Torrance midnight. So I adjourned
to the shelter OF the nearest public,
and fortified myself with several stiff
tumblers OF whiskeysand- water till
closing time. This [ know would be
bad for articulation on the French
accent, but / needed bracing.
Unfortunately for me, though was
unaware OF the fact, Aunt Matilda
had an unconquerable prejudice
against music in any shape or form.
German bands visiting the locality,
as | afterward learned, were always
sure of a rich harvest-to take them
selves off; and Italian piano and
organ grinders from the purlieus of
Saffron Hill and Seven Dials were
amazed at the openhanded generosity
which proceeded a threat OF the police
if they came again within 500 hun
6paH varSc 0f tho nj
But, blissfully unconscious of this,
and also that she was nearly at Deaths
door with her old enemy, rheumatism,
Iwended my way to the villa.
Arrived there, l stationed myself
under the window OF Louise's bed
room, extracted my instrument OF
tortue from it's green baize cover, and
placed it to my lips.
just then / felt something shifting
about my legs, and looking down, be
held my aunt S fat poodle Ithad been
locked out by accident by the servants
| conciliated the brute by pats and
caresses, and it lay down contentedly
on the grass at my feet.
had started the serenade. Invent
beautifully. [ didn' It think the instru-
u1eAh was Capable OIL SQcn paGNOS.
had got halfway through it when the
window Of the bedroom was opened,
and dimly saw a white figure half
hidden by the ivy which embowered it.
This gave me fresh courage Louisa
was looking at me. l poured my
young soul through the silver-tipped
mouth-piece. I had got to the last
note when mournful and discordant
howl came as an accompaniment. I
raised my foot, and sent the poodle
spinning five yards away.
"You Wretchn'
Horror! | had mistaken the win
dow.
Aunt Matilda stood there, in wrath
full Indignation.
Here was a pretty predicament. I
had nearly killed her pet, which lay all
ternately whining and bowling under
some holly bushes.
"Poor Flossie! Don't dare to show
your face within these walls again!
My darling pet! ] knew there was no
good in such a stock My precious