The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-07-18
HAZEL CRosBY's VIOLIN

David Crosby was the new assistant
engineer at the big Lockwood Mills,
and he had lately moved his little
family to Groton, where he had rent
ed small house on Fountain street.
Many of the workmen employed in
the immense manufacturing plant
those from the West End-passed,
morning and night, to and from their
work, by the Crosby home.
Hazel, Mr.. Crosby's fourteen-year.
old daughter, was an invalid, and had
been such ever since bright summer
day, FIVE years before, when she had
-esllsAr fsA,e tautell lVahang tee granef. il.
mother who lived on a little farm in
western New England.
After the first few months of suf-
fering, Hazel had been able to be lift
ed into a wheel-chair, and during
warm weather she spent considerable
time each day in the sunshine out
side.
The new house at Groton was sur
rounded by wide veranda, and every
morning, before Mr.. Crosby went
to his work, if the weather permitted
he wheeled Hazel into a shady corner,
where she was able to amuse herself
by reading. or with her violin which
she dearly loved to play.
At first the physician thought that
playing the violin might be injurious
to his patient but she was careful to
practice but little at a time, and no
i'll effects seemed to result.
"I don't know what Z d do without
-you," and Hazel would stroke the
small instrument fondly. 1--WE can
talk to each other, and amuse our
selves when mother is busy, can we?"
In response to the gentle movement
ofthe bow across the strings, it seemed
to answer, eyes," to its little mis-
tress's inquiry.
One morning in early July, shortly
after the Crosbys had moved to Gro
ton, while Hazel was lying in bed
the window of the room being open
she heard the tramp, tramp, of the
mill-hands coming up the street on
the way to their work. Some of the
men were swearing at each other as
they walked heavily along.
"I-I wonder If they do that-al-
ways !" thought Hazel, with an ex-
preston ofpain on her face. Tits
a oxr,f,,I-tO cxuear co u,
The next morning Hazelwas awake
early, and she heard the same thing
again, only, as she thought, the oaths
were not so frequent as they had been
the morning before.
"I'm glad it isn't-quite so bad," "
thought the little invalid, sorrowful-
ly. "I don't see why they-do it -
For week Hazel had the same ex-
perience. Every morning as the men
went by, tneir dinner-pails III their
hands, they swore until they were
out of hearing.
"What makes them do it, papa
swear so?" asked Hazel as her father
csme into the room to lift his love
bundle"-as he called her-into the
wheel-chair.
"Who, dear?"
The men, papa-those who 60 by
on their way to the mill.
81 presume they vegot accustomed
to it Hazel, and don't think, often, oi
what they're doing. The poor fell
lows-they have hard time of it,
many of them. suppose they get
up in the morning all out of sorts,
and tired; and 1 guess that's partly
the reason"
"But can't we help them, papa
so they won't do it-swear so 7"
ST wish we might, dear but ]
fear it's hardly possible )" and Mr.,
Crosby gave Hazel a tender kiss, and
then started down the steps on the
way to his work. "Good-by, daugh.
ter !''
"Good-by, papa l'' And after thai
Hazel remained silent for long while
"I perhaps it-might stoI
them for a whi1e,'' said Hazel, al
last, stroking the violin in her lap.
"Will you do your part-to help?'
The violin did not answer, bu
Hazel knew II voiild.