The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-07-18
TOwsON. Md, SATURDAY,
That evening, after Mr.. Crosby
had eaten supper, Hazel gently called
him RI her room

naQ eaten supper, 1aLel gently CdllSu
him to her room.
"Will-will you lift me into my
chair earlier tomorrow morning, pa
pa, than you have before?"
Certainly, if you wish it, daugh.
ter" and Mr.. Crosby took the little
white hand in his. ''But why?"
"My violin and I've got a-secret
a beautiful one, we think, papa, :"
mysteriously. "And we want to see
whether it will do what we wish it
it to. You don't care if I don't tell
you-now?"
"No, darling" and Mr.. Crosby
closed the window, for there seemed
to be too much draught in the room.
"We'll tell you in the morning.
Now 1 want to be in my chair early,
before any of the men go to their
work. And I want to be wheeled
out on the veranda."
"I'll see that you are, dear, as
sented Mr.. Crosby. "But I'm very
curious to know the secret-yours and
the violin's. I'm almost envious of
the little instrument, for you've told
it something you haven't told your
father"
"But the violin's part of the Sc
cret And you see that would have
to know!''
The next morning was warm and
bright, and very early-before the
men went by on their way to the mill
Hazel was up, and out on the veranda
in her wheel-chair.
81 must have my violin" shesaid,
smiling, after she had been snugly
tucked about with her warm rug. II
couldn't have the secret without
that p
so I've been told," remarked Mr..
Crosby, with a pretense of jealousy
in his voice.
Hazel didn't have long to wait be-
fore she heard in the distance, down
at the foot of Fountain street, the
monotonous tramp, tramp of group
of men on the way to their work.
"They're coming" she whispered
to the violin. "Now we must be
ready, you and l."
She gently drew the bow across
the strings TO ''try'' it. And then
she waited nervously.
The tramp of the workmen drew
nearer.
"They're most here now I can see
them!"
And, as usual, they were uttering
oaths as they talked-more so than
usual.
"Now," and Hazel raised the vio-
lin into position.
She began playing soft sweet air,
but very distinct was every note.
Presently one Of the men heard it.
"Listen - he commanded. The
men stopped. Sweetly Hazel played
an old familiar tune.
"I haven't heard that since mother
turning to one OF ms tomPan4ons.
Il can see her now, by the old
wooden sink in the kitchen ;" and
he brushed his face.
"S-s-h p said another.
The men waited until Hazel finish
ed playing, and then they slowly
moved on. At the end of the block
Jim Manley began whistling. The
men walked on in silence-no more
swearing that morning; the soft in
fluence of the violin music forbade it.
As the struggling groups went by,
one after another, Hazel continued to
play; and the little violin partner
never behaved better than it did that
morning. 1t did its part in carrying
out the 'secret."
Day after day, as long asthe pleas
ant weather continued, Hazel and
her violin were waiting on the wide
veranda, sometimes long before the
men came by. But never once since
the frt morning had she heard an
oath from a single workman on his
way to the mill.
Little by little they became ac-
quainted-Hazel and the rough but
always good-natured fellows; and
they came to miss her on wet and dis
agreeable days.
One morning Jim Manley hung
back after the rest of the men had
gone on and came hesitatingly
through the gate and up the veranda
steps. :.
''That little violin of yours, Miss, !"
he said, touching his cap, "has just
made us rough ones different kind of
men n we were. The days don't
seem long-now nor the work so
hard-when we hear the music in the
mornin'. It's thankful we all are ;
an we-love the little miss an her
violin"
The man then touched his cap
again, and hurried down the street.
"You see, you did it as much as
l." and Hazel held the violin low
ingly against her cheek for moment
after their caller had gone.
When she laid the little instrument
down again in her lap, one edge of it
was trife wet. "But we've had a
splendid secret" she whispered,
gladly.
A PHILADELPHIA lawyer main
| fair1c an admirable stock farm on the