The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-24
yIOLINIST's CHRISTMAS.

He was old and feeble and poor-just
one of those examples of a man who
has lived too long. Slowly he wended
his way down the crowded street until
he reached that sign which marks the
border line of hope and despair for so
many human hsarts-the three balls.
Poverty shone from his threadbare coat
and worn shoes, it trembled in his old
hand, it quivered in his thin lips and
looked from his great, thoughtful,
hungry eyes.
Proud blood flushed the pallid fea-
lures of the old man as he approached
the broker. More years than man has
yet lived seemed Weighing upon the
bowed head, and not only the deep set,
hungry eyes, but every feature of that
patrician old face expressed the humill-
ty of despair. He was facing the hard
est trial that comes to the children of
nen-the self confession of failure.
There, on the ~pawnbroker's ledger
which, like the roll of. the recording
angel marks the downfall of many a
soul and suffering enough to redeem it,
was writ the name OF this old man. and
over on the shelf in a rough case lay
his Amati-the child of his old heart,
the mistress of his soul. Yes, he had
failed, and in the ever active, exacting
drama of the world there was no part
for him to play.
L haven't any money" admitted the
old man. But it's Christmas eve. and
me my old violin l will play you
Christmas Garcia rhapsody"
There was a pleading in the old voice
that would have opened a harder heart
than the keeper of the shop beneath the
three golden balls.
The night had grown old, and it lack
ed less than an hour of the day which
was to bring peace to the world. The
old musician shivered; it was the cold
of the world without and chill of a
heart within that Quivered from his
very soul.
The touch of a loved one brings to
life again all the glory of our dead
selves. Youth to old age-strength to
weakness-light to duh aching eyes
courage, ambition, love- laughter-al it
awakens. Gently the sacred prize was
were touched, as the old violinist drew
the bow that was so perfectly welded
to his master hand. The look in the
deep set eyes was less hungry now and
the hand was steady again. The hoary
old head was no longer bowed in grief
and shame, but dropped to touch the
bosom of his love
out on the night air fioated the joyous
notes of the .'Hosanna. Hosanna to the
Highest" Loudly they rang-and then
the echo, soft and silvery, quivered a
moment. It was the pulse of the soul
throbbing in one magnificent blending
of harmony. All the hunger and want
and notifying failure were forgotten,
and the SOUL young and strong in IT'S
glory. scared out in the tones of the
Christmas anthem
Then for moment came the shadow
of the present. The face became white
again and the old hungry light shone
from the eyes anew. All, how could he
ever have parted with this companion OF
his soul tried hours2 Food purchased
at this price would choke him now, but
hunger is a persistent foe. 1t viii wiring
from the heart almost any loved object.
You who know luxury or comfort, who
have never felt poverty's heaviest curse
real. desperate, despairing, aching
hunger-may not see this truth. but
there is nothing under Gods heaven
that twists the heart into distorted
shapes, destroys ideals and comoels us
/ to surrender that which our hearts
would bleed for under any other condi-
tons like hunger. It's fire strikes into
the heart and brain. and breaks a
spirit which could face any other IDEAL
and so the violin had lain silent for
many days.
Again the bow was drawn, though age
had crept up to palsy the feeble limbs
Softly the ''Nfiserere'' moaned from the
violin. ''Ah, I have sighed to rest me
deep in a silent grave gently trembled
/ the melody, while in a minor key the
obligato sent forth its wall Wonder
fully sad flowed the music from the old
violin
Then as the cathedral chimes rang out
the tidings that a Christmas day was
born, the Gloria il Excelsis Deo'' rush
ed forth in one magnificent soulburst
from the strings of the violin. The ole
hand was firm and supple now: inspira-
ton shone from the aged face
GLORY TO God on high the tones
seemed to soar beyond the sad old world
upward, upward until it seemed tc
touch the star studded dome and beyond
to the throne most high.
Peace on earth'-the benedictior
seemed to strike into every soul The
battle for earthly gain-the selfish pas
sions, the heartaches and sins-all al
were rgotten-peace, peace on earth
Fainter and fainter trembled the last
| glad notes.
: The snowy old head rested against the