Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1901-12-26
Ole Bulls Christmas Present.

Christmas eve, as tall, digni6ed-
looking gentleman was walking lels-
urely along one of the by-streets OF
London, bis attention was attracted to
a little boy who was looking in at
shop-window in which were displayed
various articles (some of them appar-
emily second-hand) for sale. As the
gentleman, whose long, thick hair fell
far below his fur cap, approached the
little boy, he saw that his gaze was
fixed upon a beautiful looking violin
that hung in the center of the window
Upon coming nearer he heard him
singing familiar melody in pure,
sweet, young voice, accompanied with
movements of his slender
arms and fingers as if he were playing
the violin. He stopped to listen,
quite charmed at the innocent, child
ish spectacle. Just then the little boy
looked up, and, abashed at being OBJ
served, ceased his performance.
"Do you think you could play as
well upon that violin, if you had it,
as you can sing, my little fellow p
Il don't know, sir, but would like
to try" the boy replied.
Come with me, said the gentle
man, and together they went into the
shop. "How much for the violin in
the Window" he asked of the shop
keeper.
Give pounds"
"Too much by half" said the gen.
tleman. "Show me something cheap
er."
After being shown FIVE or six other
violins, which he rejected after mere
ly glancing at them (the little boy 8
big blue eyes looking more and more
wistful all the time), the Ihopkeeper
handed out a dingy, antiquated-look-
ing violin, with the remark, Here's
an old fiddle that | got Of sailor.
1t needs fixing up bit, but you can
have it just as it is for 81 los. The
gentleman scrutinized it closely, In
side and out, remarked that it was
very much out of repair, but said that
he would give just 81 for it, which
the shopkeeper, after some heslta-
ton, accepted, and the money was
paid him.
Put on a string in place Of this
broken one" said the gentleman
"and furnish me good bowl will
pay extra for it"
While this was being done, the gen
tleman looked down at The little pale,
wondering face upturned to his, and
said, "What is your nams2"
The boy quickly responded, LEO I
and my father rings the chimes-if
you bark, you can hear EN- now
The gentleman listened for moment
or two, and as the sound Of the grand
old bells died away, the shopman
handed him the violin and bow ready
Tor use. After tuning the instrument
carefully, he unbuttoned his fur-trim-
med travelling coat, and placing the
violin under his chin, began softly
and sweetly to play the tune which
the Christmas bells had just rung out.
For some minutes he continued to
play, weaving the air into every con-
ceivable kind Of variation, and ended
by playing the melody once more, &C
companied with harmonics and bril-
liant arpeggios. After the violin and
bow had been placed III the box ne
handed it to the bewildered boy, and
patting him on his curly head, re-
marked as he buttoned up his great
overcoat: Garry the violin home with
you and take good care of it it is
worth G100 at least. Learn to play
the tune l heard you singing outside
the window, and as many more as you
can. Tell your father to get you a
good teacher. You may keep the Vi
olin; i.is Christmas present from
Ole Bull" He opened the door for
his little proteg., and passed out into
the crowd just as the Christmas bells
rang out again their merry chime.
81 guess" remarked the salesman in
th. department store, as his Chinese
customer went away, "Wop Lee is
making arrangements for his Christ
mas. He has bought rat trap"