The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1897-02-19

At Christmas Eve, on the anniyers-
airy Of the birth OF tho Lord, Gus.
tom exists in France very dear 10 the
children. A wooden shoe is placed at
the corner of tho hearth aud q bene-
tioient larry is supposed 10 como down
the chimney laden with various pres.
ents and dainties, with which no ellis
It.
On tho morning Of December 81,
four Of Pdganis feminine critics we're
in consultation together.
"lt will be for the evening"" said
one.
"Yea, Tor this evening; that is set
tied, " replied the Others
After diuuer Pagani was, according
to his custom, seated on the drawing.
room sofa, slipping his eau suoree,
when an unusual noise was herd in
tue corridor Presently Vicette en-.
tered aud announced that a porter had
arrived with a case, directed to Signor
Pagaui.
81 do not expect any case, /" said he,
shut | suppose he had better bring it
up"
Accordingly a stout porter entered,
bearing q good.sized wooden box, on
which, besides the address, were the
words, "FragilC. with care" Pdgani
examined It with some curiosity, aud,
having paid the messenger, proceeded
to open tue lid. His long, thin, but
extremely Muscular fingers, accom-.
pliahed the task without difficulty,
and the company, whose curiosity
caused them somewhat to transgress
the bounds Of good manners, crowded
around IN order to see the contents OF
the box.
The musician drew out large pac-
ket secured with several seals. Having
opened this, "a second, and then a third
wrapping appeared, and at last the
curious eyes of twenty persons we're
RECALLED with q gigantic wooden shoe,
almost large enough to serve for a
era tie Psals of laughter hailel this
discovery.
"Ah !" said Pagaui, ga wooden shoe.
I can guess who sent it. Some OF
these excellent ladies wish to compare
me to a child who always expects pres.
cEts an never gives any. Well, be it
so. We will zee if we cannot find
some method OF making this shoe
worth its weight in gold"
So saying, and source y saluting the
company, Pagani withdrew to his own
apartment, carrying with him the case
and its contents.
Daring three days he did not appear
in the drawing room. Vicette in
formed the com0auy That he worked
from morning till night with the tools
of tue carpenter. In fact, the mu1i-
clan, whose hands were wonderfully
flexible and deztrous in other things
beside violin playing, had fashioned q
, per ect and sonorous instrument out
of the clumsy wooden shoe. Having
enriched it with one silver string, his
work was complete. Next day a pub.
lie notice appeared that on New Years
, Eve Pagan would give concert in the
: large hall of the Villa Lutetanea. The
, great master announced that he would
play ten pieces, five on a violin, anC
five on wooden shoe. The price o.
the tickets was placed at twenty franc!
/ each. OF these only 100 we're issued
3 and they we're Immediately purchased
The evening arrived and Pagani ap
peared. smiling, with every appear
. ance of renewed hen til, and on hi
favorite violin played some of those
marvellous strains which never faileC
to transport his auditors to the sew
enth heaven of delight. Then he selzet
the shoe, which in its new guse o
violin still preserved somewhat OF it,
pristine form, and his whole beinl
! lighted up with enthusiasm, he began
, q wondrous improvisation which cap
. tivated the souls OF his hearers. II
represented inst the departure OF (
! conscript, the tears, the wai.ing OF hi
q betrothed, then hi' stormy life in the
. camp and on the field OF battle, ant
his return, accompanied by triumph
4 and rejoicing, A merry peal of we'd
ding bells completed the musica
drama.
q Long and loud were the thunders o
applause; even the old ladies who dis
. liked Pagani could not refrain from
d clspPing their palms, and bouquet
u thrown by fair and jeweed hands fel
at the feet of the musician. Ia
4 corneS OF the hall next the door
- Vicette was weeping bitterly. Th
sympathy of the couscript had gon
G straight to her heart