The record-union., 1897-01-10

ner sfdleS clear of his weapon before he
ignites the fuse.
The effect of the trial was superb.
and repaid all that Robert Ross had
suffered. The top string beloved with
a grinding pungency which developed a
kind of sneeZing sensation at the back
of the palate: the string in the midst
emitted a large sour boom which rat
tied the teeth together unless one
clenched them: but the lowest string
ah, that was a masterpiece When
you got the bow home on that string,
small objects on tables and shelves
danced solemnly, windows ratified,
cakes of plaster descended from the
ceiling, lights fluttered and flicsered.
and the air was filled with quaking
gloom. 1t was a grand string indeed.
The rector, having investigated the
instrument. explained where the differ
en- tones and semitones might be found,
and they drove nails into the side of the
somewhile cricket bat TO mark the posi-
tions; bel1ows-na hob-nail, brass
nail, screw nail, tin tack; but the tin
tack was the same as the bellows nail
on the next string. SO efficient did the
system prove that in about an hours
time Robert had mastered the bass of
Life Let Us Cherish" and had blistered
his fingers severely by the friction of
the various nailheads.
While the rector and his pupil were
studying, the door was flung open, and
the cowman ran in with look of great
anxiety and a pail of hot water. He
stood open mouthed for some moments.
What is it, John?" asked the rector.
Lord be praised, l thought as old
Dolly We're down afore her time said
John. Reuben Tummit, he come a.
running round TO l, Ind he said: John,
one of youer cows is down; if I was you
] should go and look to her purity sharp
for she's powerful bad by the sound.
SO I says to he, Reuben, it can't be
one of ouer cows and he says, 1t is
one o youer cows, / tell zee; it's old
Doll come down. and l thought twas
old Dolly sure
"Oh, no, it's Bob's Big One" said the
rector, and so it got christened.
That was a delightful evening for
Bob. Prissy watched him and he made
louder sound and more of it than all
the other men in the room put together.
Wien Toby, crouching over his cello,
would clutch it's neck and carve saw
agely at 1T, Bob would stand erect and
touch up his center string; but if To-
by attempted any fancy work, tickling
and picking with his fingers, Bob would
let go the big string and drown him
head over ears. 1t was fine. If Robert
strayed the parson would cry to him,
First bellows nail, please, Ross" or
Second hob nail, Robert as the
case might be; and, when he desired
modulationS, he called, Look out, Rob
ert, sharp coming,'' So things went
very smoothly, and the parsons lady
came in to see this wonderful instru-
ment which was keeping her fowls
awake.
For the ingenious young man the
evening was full of hints by which he
profited against the future Accord
lngly, come next week, when Toby
walked over behind a Warmster boy
who carried his green bag in state,
there was a blot moving two miles
ahead of him on the plain, which blot
was Robert Ross, driving a donkey
cart with his Big One therein. When
1t was unlOaded. Law, Robert, what
be they tits ON thy fiddler" people in
quired. Then Bob explained that he
had built a cupboard and two drawers
in the front to hold things; and he got
out from one a necktie and a pair of
boots, and some honey for Priss out
of the other
Stlll his fancy urged him on to new
amendments, and late next Tuesday
afternoon the Dinder folk, hearing a
great rattling and humping. perceived
that Robert had mounted his Big One
ON wheels and was trundling it down
the hill. The axle was detachable and
took off when he wished to perform
on the vehicle
Prissy appeared much impressed by
his ingenuity and his neckties: she was
kind to him, and when she looked the
look, there was a tiny something at
the back of it which made Bob's heart
beat quickly. Toby purchased an iron
peg for his instrument, and weekly in
vested in a brass box for the strings:
but for some reason he appeared to
make no headway.
At last things came to crisis 1t had
was in flood. There was no getting on
to the hill from Warmster or from NAL
lop either, for the swollen river ran be-
tween over ford and bridge But when
Tuesday morning dawned gray and
dripping, Robert arose with an idea. All
the forenoon he labored at it with pitch
and with paint, and at the turn of the
day he embarked upon his Big One.
having slackened off the strings suffi-
ciently to afford comfortable sitting
room. After an uneventful passage he
drifted against willow on the further
side, and arrived at Dinder in time for
practice. Everyone was astonished to
see him, and commended the young man
mans resource and industry; but Phissy
as they walked up to the practice-room.
said that it was very wrong of him to
have gone on the water upon his vioI.
Bob asked why. She answered (very
low, Because you might have been
drowned" Bob set down his craft in
side the doorway of the empty room and
said bravely, cropping out with one arm
(for the humping of his heart dimmed
his eyes), Should ZEE care then, Prissy?
Should zee, should 'ee?"
Prissy nodded, and began to cry. for
fear-for fear
Long after this, and far from Dinder.
l came up their garden one evening
when their son and his wife and their
children had been paying them a visit.
for l wanted to hear all about the bows
The old lady was sprinkling linen: the
old gentleman was smoking and staring
at his hollyhocks.
"Ah. fine boys they be-" said Prissy.
"and young Bob, he do take after his
grandad wonderful, he do. And as fond