The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-03-08

undersized, and thought of his mother down
stairs. Those cold little shivers that shook tht
melody sometimes. too. made his throat ache
what was it. Karl2" he asked, when Kar
laid down the violiQ; and Karl smiled slowly
and said, "a Nocturne."
Tony had heard of such things as Chopin
nocturnes very often. He had also heard Kar
speak of Bach fugues and Palestrna. But wha
manner of composition a fugue might be he
had no idea, whereas the word "nocturne
conveyed distant impression in his mind.
I" / will write nocturnc," he said softly that
night, while Karl was out. He STOOD pressing
his face against the chilly pane and trying to
catch sight of the one visible star.
This nocturne should sound just as the dark
made him feel-ionesome and rather acby
that evening; and he decided that il should
have some shivers in it, if he could possibly
put them there. He hummed desperately for
a few moments a dreary little air which he had
thought of in the afternoon
AS soon as Karl had lett him, next day, he
fell to work. He hummed over the notes
which had come to him and thought of more.
From his experience with Karl's old piano
and his observations since, he had discovered
that when one reached the end Of a melody, it
was good idea to go on for several measures
with something different or nothing in par
ticular, and at last to come back to the melody
again. Something different" he repeated,
Z" or nothing special"
He chose the latter plan, as &c was
less of drain upon his newly-found
inventive powers, and in the course of
an hour he felt that he was ready to commit
his work to paper. This was the hardest part,
Tony thought, as he sat down at the table,
having spread thereon one Of karl's manuscripts
aai fresh sheet OF music-paper. He made a
wonderful clef to start with, and encouraged
by its elegance he hastened On with the F clef
and a brace Some time elapsed before the
notes appeared, since Tony was obliged to
think hard and count the lines and spaces care
fully before he could write any Of them; but
as this nocturne consisted chiefly of repettions
1t was easy enough TO copy those notes, and
the task was at length accomplished.
To overcome difficulties in the time he con-
suited ali of Karl's music in search of similar
circumstances. His methods of making rests he
took from Karls copy; and liking the appear
ance of long curved lines here and there over
the notes he scattered several throughout his
composition.
After meditating the plan Of having "shiv-
ers in it, he reluctantly gave it up as an i'm
practicable one; for, after all, one could not
tell just how to make them or where to put
them or whether they should point up or down,
and, besides this, people might find some diff
Guilty in playing them. Tony resolved to be
considerate.
Before noon he ran downstairs in state of
great excitement to see the Old L1dy OH the First
Floor. She liked Antonio and sometimes c0axed
him into her room, where he sat, very shy aud
uncomfortable, staring at the little old melo-
deon which she would not relinqush, even in
this abode. because a daughter of hers had
played on il in some bygOne golden day.
Having astonished the Old Lady by request
ing that he might be allowed TO play OH her
queer little pianncr," Tony marched into the
room and. with beating heart, perched on
chair before the instrument, to try his nocturne.
lie discovered that a melodcon, especially
very old one, is a strange thing 1t would not
sing at all. He pressed the keys heavily; not
a sound came. AT this unexpected reception
of the nocturne Tony turned TO look at the Old
Lady for an explanation. She sat comfortably
nodding and smiling at him.
u won't go" said Tony
You hev ter put your feet to X, guess. My
darter used ter" she explained.
Tony wondered upon what portion of its
time-worn frame he was to place his feet. He
noticed a small strip of green carpet suggest
lively worn. He rested both feet upon it and
nearly slid from his seat when this carpet gave
way unexpectedly. Tony touched the first
note. cautiously; it mewed pteously and there
was disheartening silence until tho next note
came. Tony was disturbed, but for all that,
when he had played laboriously the whole of
it, aud repeated it again and again, he was
proud and happy boy.
he put some nbtes in the bass this time, and
wrote them with pencil on his manuscript;
and when the Old Lady, who sat nodding at
him, said, Sweet, pretty" he rose to depart,
feeling quite professional.
During luncheon with Karl, and until the
latter had left him. he maintained absolute
silence concerning his work. He would not tell