Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-03-06
HIS VIOLIN.

VI DpIIu&, assuvu9~ ~ =
coat is 20 very green" said Ledger, q
the old clerk passed near him.
THAT coat made it, first appearance
in the year /, I'm sure" laughed Bur
ton. ave never seen him IN any
other"
"Poor old chap. be must be awfully
hard up" said another, pityingly,
when Brooks was out Of hearing, but
be was instantly silenced by the
others.
"Oid Brooks" q he was familiarly
called by the Junior clerks was NJ
tie, clean-shaven man, with scanty,
lisht.brown hair, pale, watery Dlue
eyes, and a frightened, timid manner
| tIe had BEEN In Dombey 4 Sons employ
for years, but had never risen beyond
a very subordinate post, for the heads
Of the Arm were hard men, and BROOKS
was gifted with no great Intelligence;
he was only industrious and pains
taking, He was the butt Of the once,
and many were the ill-natured Jokes
made at his expense, but be needed
them as little as duck heeds water
Small, Insignificant man as he was Do
had q good heart, and the rusty green
coat frayed at the edges and worn at
the seams, hid a noble generous soul.
He seemed part and parcel Of the
place, and to have grown dull and
dingy with the Office walls. Always
the first to arrive and the last to DE-
part no one could picture the ONCE
without him, and | believe he was fond
Of 1t, little brightness indeed though he
found there.
1t was q bitterly cold night, and
when work was over the clerks hur-
ried away, turning up their coat COL
lars and thrustlng their hands far into
the depths Of their pockets. Old Brooks
had a long ride In an omnibus before
he reached his neighborhood, but once
out Of the bus, his whole manner
changed, bis timidity left him, and he
stepped forward briskly, bis face to
the wind.
The organ In church close by was
pealing forth the anthem for sunday
and Brooks stopped at the door to 10
ten. For an instant the mans race
was TRANSPORTED and his soul looked
out Of his eyes, while he held his
breath to hear. Truly, his brother
clerks would not have known him then
for they had never suspected the
music that was in his heart.
He could not play note on any IN
strument, he understood nothing OF the
laws Of harmony, and to listen to the
rich tones of the organ at st. Pauri
was his Sunday treat, which braced
and fitted him for the struggle Of the
week. 1t was very reluctantly thai
he tore himself away from the church
door now, but he caught sight Of Mi
wife at the corner and knew that she
was waiting for him. 80
; Summer or winter, she never failed
him. whatever the weather might be
The walk with her husband up the din
ugly street, after the days work was
done, was the great pleasure of bel
life.
Often the nclghbors smiled at tn
queer little couple, he with his glance'
Of bride at her, and she with her lool
Of trust in him. They had married late
in life, after each had been tossed AM
tumbled on life's wild sea. They hat
been dodgers in the same house anc
, often exchanged a word together a
!, they passed on the stairs. He felt al
intense admiration for the pale littl
. woman, so round-shouldered by con
, slant STOPPING over her dressmakln
. AS to look almost deformed, who wa
: always SO CHEEKY and SO patient wit
!. her aillng mother.
As time went on Brooks found man
opportunities for help In his own SIN
;. pie way, and became a friend to Dotl
" Admiration deepened into love, an
] when the mother passed at length
: her heavenly home the daughter foun
:. nm earthly one waiting for her, LII
= had been n hard struggle, but the
y love remained today undsminlshe'
y nav, II was stronger Arm In arm the
y passed the long row Of houses, a cor
~ monplace couple enough, but In the
facss what happiness, what love!
"a "Mary, how's Bernardo 1t was
:. ways his first question.
TX "Not very well, James; it's the co
40 tries him. He'll be better when Z
warm weather comes again, ana ne
winter he'll be quite strong
i. "Oh, yes" assented James, eheerll
=. "he'll be quite strong next winter
=. they had said before every year
=, their delicate boys life, and saying
~ believed It.
~ "Mary, by next week shall ha
~ sayed enough. Tomorrow week sh
'. ~ be home late, for I'll buy the vic
=. tlrst and bring 1t with me. Then
-, -. Saturday afternoon ! shall arrange
=. BERNARD to have course Of lesso
=. with Mr.. X. I've enough money
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