Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1895-12-19

Cardinals Richilieu and Mazarin were
considered elegant.
Dazzled by the many lights and half
stunned by the noise OF the holiday
crowd, he walked around the garden
repeatedly with a timid air, as though
undecided.
At last he took up his position on a
crowded corner, leaned against the
wall and proceeded to unwrap the OBJ
ject he had carried under his arm SO
long. This proved to be a violin and
bow.
After examining the strings OF the
instrument very carefully, he folded
up the shawl and threw 1t over his
left shoulder and started to tune the
violin. The first sounds OF the mel
ancholy and sentimental nj. drew the
attention of a couple OF street gamins,
who pitilessly sneered and laughed at
him. The poor old man stopped play
ing, sank down upon a doorstep and,
laying the violin on his knee, muir
INJURED: 20, God! / have forgotten
my art"
Thus he sat for some time, when
from the other end of the passage
three jolly young men came singing
toward him. They were singing a
couplet very popular at that time with
the students OF the Conservatoire of
Paris.
Not seeing the old man, one stun
bled over his outstretched leg, the 9th
or knocking his hat off, and the third
stopped frightened, es the old man
rose Indignantly.
1--WE are very sorry, sir; we did not
e you. l hope you are not inJuredT'
said n OF the young men.
'No, you did not hurt me-" replied
the old musician. rs he stopped to pick
up his hat, but the other was quicker
than he and handed 1t to him, and at
the same time he saw the instrument
in his hand.
"You are a musician he asked the
old "a politely.
IL was, m upon a time" the other
answered, sadly, while two large tears
rolled slowly down his poor, thin face.
The young men noticed this and
drew nearer TO him. What ails youy"
they asked. "Are you i'll, and can we
do anything for your
For a moment the old man was ST.
lent; then he held his hat toward the
young men, with a look that could
melt the narueSt neaTt.
'Oh, please give me a %trifie," he
whispered. II can no more earn my
living with my instrument; my fingers
have become stiff-and my daughter is
dying for want of nourishment."
The three young men were silent for
some time. Their faces expressed
confusion, and for the first time in
their lives they felt shame, even an
ger, at their poverty. They searched
their pockets. but the result was mis-
cradle. Their combined capital was
sixteen sous; the third one had only a
piece of resin, a article every violin
list carries constantly with him.
sixteen sous is not enough. my
friends, to help our colleague. We
must go to work energetically. You.
Adolve, take the violin TO accompany
Gustave, and l will make the rounds
with the hat"
The preparations occupied only a
few minutes. They turned up their
coat collars and drew their hats al
meg. eve. their eyes to Disguise them
selves as much as possible. The
young mar who had originated this
good work then gave the signal TO
begin.
at Is Christmas eve. Adolve: do
your best, for the Almighty may be
ID of your audience
And Adolve did his best. After the
first sounds of the Carnival OF Ven
Ice" all the windows opered and were