Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1893-01-07

lulltu OUT lily ledlueI IuIst, WDeTt l.
had got sovereign, half and eleven
shillings in silver. So put back one
of the shillings, and clapping him on
the shoulder, said
Here YOU are, Brown. | don't
want no fiddles, but there's "A
couple of pounds hard earnings from
one who knows what it is TO be out of
work. Catch hold, and | shall keep
the fiddle till times are BETTER
He turned upon me quite tiercely,
clutched at the money and made for
the door, out the next moment he was
back again to get hold of my hand,
God bless You, mate" he said,
and he gave me such a look with
those wild eyes of his as made me
shiver.
Poor old chap" ] said, beginning
TO whistle as / put the fiddle in the
bag, and then, trying to forget all
about it, | went on with my dinner
The first mouthful or two wouldn't
go down, but the third would, and
feeling a bit light hearted at having
done fellow good turn, | finished
that cold pork and bread to the last
bit, and shook the crumbs out of the
window to The sparrows that were
waiting. | began to wonder what
my wife would say, for I'd promised
TO go with her the next day TO buy
hit of druggeU for our floor, for she
SAID that now work seemed to be reg
ular we might treat ourselves to a bit
of carpet for our feet
STRIKES me I've put my foot in
it," ! said to myself, and then | be-
gan to wonder what she'd say
When it was knocking off time !
tucked the green baize bag and
walked off home as defiant as could
be, and stamped into thereon where
the missus was cutting bread and
butter. Just like a man who would
not be sat down on by his wife; but ]
began to feel awkward directly got
inside the door
why, for goodness, gracious, Bill"
she cried, what have you got there"
''Where?" | said,
"Whg hereunder your arm"
"Oh.' | said that fiddle"
THAT WHAT"
/ THAT fiddle"
"And what are you going to do
with a fiddle, pray?"
i Learn to play it," | said, as |
hung il up on a nail in the wall
"WhY you must be mad, Bill"
/ she said you've no more ear for
music than an old COW. Did you buy
/ it,"
"Well, not exactly" | said, "be-
cause he may bring the money back. 8"
"How much did you give for it,"
Two pounds "
1.-TWO WHAT"
"Pounds, my lass, pounds. ="
Tea was ready and everything was
as NICE as could he, though there was
no drugget on the floor; and then, as
she poured out my tea, | told her all
about it.
"And if you've been such a precious
baby as to be taken in by the first
pitiful tale that you hear, I'll never
forgive you, " she said.
"hut suppose his tale was ali true,
Patty"
"Why, then, Bill" she said, very
slowly, 'atl have to say is, that If
ever you are as hard pushed, | hope
you may meet with as good friend"
It was about month later that 4
went home, and | said
rIt'S all trJe enouph pattvD
What's all true, Bill?" she said,
for we had never mentioned the hd-
die since that night.
about the fiddle" | said. '8The
hard times when we were out of work
were too much for poor Abel Browns
wife She's dead"
Dead" she said softly and | saw
tears come into her bright gray eyes.
after a time | used to get in the
habit Of taking that fiddle down and
making a noise with At, ana often and
often. as | scraped away making the
most horrid noises, Patty would sit
there stitching away quite satisfied:
for. as A Del Brown said it used to
keep me at home.
] never got TO be a good PLAYER, Gut
at last | could scrape out any popular
tune from the notes. and many's the
pleasant evening | have had, playing
pokas and waltzes and quadrilles,
and all the new songs: but somehow,
! 1ever hung that old fiddle up on its
nail without seeing Abel Browns sad
face and at such times I'd say to my
self THE poor chap was right"
Why, when the bad time came
again and our shOD was closed and
pound by pound all our savings went,
try bow | would to get work else
where. that fiddle was about the ONLY
consolation ] had. Month after
month went by, and my hands were
growing as white and soft as poor
Patty's face: but she never com
planned, only spent her time working
with her needle, and trying to per
suade me that she had no appetite.
or that she had something while
was out. SO as 10 save - few pence.
one day, feeling half mad, and
ready 70 do anything after hanging
about the shut-up gates Of our work
shop. and wishing could have turned