The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-02
TIE LITTLE vIOLINIsT.
a Story of Ole Bull and Hans Christian
Anderson.
Rerru ~, IN the poTs Drenmaker.


Andersen.
Henry Coy'e, in the Dolls DreSsmaker.
On tie outskirts Of @ great city In Ger
many there lived q poor widow and her
little son. Hrs. Aurlich earned a scanty
livelihood with her needle and little
Berthod made himself use al by gathering
wood, run ing errands aud working their
small garden during the summer. The
warm weather was q pleasant season, but
in the winter when work was scarce they
we, often hungry.
But berthold was not unhappy he lived
in an ideal world, a heaven of harmony.
For him all nature was an orchestra: he
heard music in the whispering OF the great
pines in the forest behind his cottage home
ia the evening zephyrs, in the tinKling
streams, IN the Ginning OF the church bells
IN the village hear by, at night mighty
chorus Of unseen Ministries luIled him TO
sleep.
Mrs. Aurlich's health began to fell aud
she was finally Obliged 20 give up the little
work she already had. one day wien
Berthold was absent in toe forest gathering
wool, be was detained until quite late. He
hurried home, and AS he approached the
cottage be saw thas there was no light Shin
lag from the window.
! With an anxious heart Re hurried into
| the house aud called his mother, but re-
ceived no answer. he CROPPED his way
| AtELsS Tue lOOu through Lub uhTktI6sS, ana
stumbled over her where she lay unojn-
| scious on the cold floor.
Very much alarmed. tho lad knelt down
! and ch2fed her bands and sprinkied some
water her face. After while Mrs.
Aurlich opened her eyes and assisted by
| BerthOld, managed to reach her bed, aud
for several days the lad was her only nurse.
The poor woman did nos seem to i'm
! prove. She needed sOu4e nOuTisAing food
| and medicine, but these cannot be obtained
without money. Berthoid begged her 10
! allow him to go into the village and Dor
row some money from u relative residing
| there, but this she would not consent 70; she
was very proud. and the relations between
! herself and her relatives had not been very
! cordial since she had become poor.
| The widow did not realize that she was
very i'll, and SIZE thought that u few days
rest would restore her again; she felt no Sc
we're pain, but was very l9nGuid and weary :;
breathing was difficult. and her head aud
! hands were hot aud feverish, while her feet
we're like ''blocks OF ice.n
1t was a very cold day; the sky was
! dark and threatening, and Berthold heaped
! the little fireplace with wood, but the heat
all went up the chimney and the house was
very cold.
be bad only crust of black bread for
| his breakfast; the last of the leaf was
nearly gone and he had put the last grain
! Of chicory coffee into the pot to make
! cup Tor hrs mother. There was no milk or
sugar for it, and when the mixture was
! hos he went over to the bed.
dear mother" he whispered, softly.
| She lay very still, her eyes closed, her
| hands crossed over her breast She looked
looked like the picture of a dead saint he
had seen in the art gallery Of the city which
! he had once visited with bis father. The
| sick woman opened her eyes, and smiling,
| began TO cHre5s his hand.
| ''Will YOU have some coffee. mOtherW
| To please him she assented, but when he
brought it to her she could not drink it; her
stomach was too weak to retain 1t.
LET 1t rest on the table, she whispered,
lit is too hot. l will drink it by and by"
The tears came 20 the boys eyes. for he
| knew that the mixture was COO strong for
| hor and that she needed some light and
nourishing food. He tucked the clothes
about her and smoothed the pillow. His
mother thanked him with a smile and kissed
| him tenderly.
"You are good'boy," she whispered.
The lad went to replenish the fire, and
| when this was done he saw that his mother
! was asleep. There was a deep flush on her
| face and her fingers were working nerv-
ously.
Berthold sat on low stool before the fire
in deep thought for some time; suddenly he
arose and went over to a little cupboard.
De took from 1t something covered with an
old coat; this he unrolled and disclosed
violin, small and yellow with age.
He examined the strings carefully and
| then placed it at his shoulder and drew the
back of the bow noiseleSsly across the strings
| Suddenly he heard a low tap at the door
and without waiting to lay aside the instru-
meut he went and opened the door,
"Good morning, Gretchenr' he exclaimed:
Come In and shut the door softly. Ny
| mother Is sleep"
Gretchen, the daughter of their nearest
| Toll kEa
about the same age 0s Berthold; her eyes were
blue as the skies, and her hair yellow as
| gold. In her hand she carried something
wrapped up in a towel
"What have you therep
Mother sent over a bowl of rabbit soup !"
replied the girl, land she said might stay
over here all day and clean up the house,
''0he is very good" said Berthold 81
am afraid my mother is going TO dep
Now the lad was a manly little fellow
but he loved bis mother very much, and he
felt so miserable that he sat down on the
stool and began to sob.
Dear Berthold," cried Gretchen, "do
not cry, The good God will spare your
mother, | am sure. Do not let her see you
grieying, for that will only distress her."
"You are right" said the lad, rising from
the stool and brushing away the tears from
his face" "Now, Gretchen, am going to
ask a favor of you"
''Of meW
EYES," said the lad, cit is this: lam going
away for few hours, ana / want you to
stay with my mother until return"
But where are you going"
DO not ask me, please. VIII you stay
here until l returnn
why, of course, but"
Thank you, dear Gretchen, !" and Berthold
wrapped the violin up in the old cloth and
then put on his thick jacket and fur CAP.
when my mother wakes up tell her that
l am out in the forest and that you expect
me home very soon. IL may be late before
l get home. and will stop at your house
now and tell them that you will remain
with us until tomorrow"
The lad went over to his mother, but he
was afraid to kiss her, as it might waken
her. he barely touched his lips to her hair,
aud then, after giving Gretchen few direc-
tions about the IRE, he hurried out, softly
closing the door after him.
He looked back once OF twice, and he
could see the girls fair face in the window
watching him. He waved hts hand 70 her
and hurried on. He stopped at the farm
house where Gretchen lived and begged her
parents to permit her to stay with his
mother until morning. They were kind
hearted people and consented; they insisted
| on his drinking bowl of milk, which was