The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1904-12-23
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V|OlIN|ST'S CHRISTMAS !

e was old and feeble and poor-just
one of those examples of a mar who
has lived too long. Slowly he wend-
ed his way down the crowded street un-
ill he reached that sign which marks the
border line Of hope and despair for SO
many human hearts-the three balls.
Poverty shone from his threadbare coat
and worn shoes, 1t trembled In his old
hand, 1t Quivered In his thin lips and
looked from his great, thoughtful, hungry
eyes.
Proud blood flushed the pallid features
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 humility Of de-
SPAR. He was facing the hardest trial
that comes to the children Of men-the
self-confession Of failure.
There, on the pawnbroker's ledger,
which, like the roll Of the recording an
gel, marks the downfall of many a soul
and suffering enough to redeem 1t, 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.
II haven't any money" admitted the
old man. But it's Christmas eve, and
il you will allow me to sit here and lend
me my old violin I will play you a Christ.
mas 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 1t lacked
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 the 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 dull aching eyes-courage, am,
bition, love, laughter-all 1t awakens
Gently the sacred prize was lifted-rev
erently its keys and strings were touch
ed, as the old violinist drew the bow
that was so perfectly welded to his mas
ter hand. The look in the deep set eyes
was less hungry now and the hand was
steady again. The hoary old head wal
no longer bowed In grief and shame, but
dropped to touch the bosom of his love.
Out on the night air f1oated the joyou.
notes of the "Hosanna, Hosanna to thu
Highest" Loudly they rang-and thel
the echo, soft and silvery. quivered a mo
ment. 1t wa the pulse of the soul .nrob
bling In one magnificent blending of har
mony. All the hunger and want ant
Notifying failure were forgotten, ant
the soul, young and strong in its glory
scared out in the tones of the christina
anthem.
Then for a moment came the shadow
! of the present. The face became whit,
again and the old hungry light shon,
from the eyes anew. All, how could h,
ever have parted with this companion o
,rhis soul tried hours? Food purchase.
at this price would choke him now, blu
hunger il q persistent foe. 1t will wrin,
from the heart almost any loved object
You who know luxury or comfort, VIII,
have never felt poverty's heaviest ours
real, desperate, despairing, aching hun
! germany not see this truth, but ther,
Is nothing under Gods heaven that twist
the heart into distorted shapes, destroy
ideals and compels us to surrender tina
which our hearts would bleed for unde
any other conditions like hunger. 1t
fire strikes into the heart and brain, ant
breaks q spirit which could face any 9th
er ideal end 80 the violin had lain silen
for many days.
Again the bow was drawn. though ag
had crept up to palsy the feeble limbs
Softly the 'Miscrers" moaned from tn