The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-08-03

my eyesight were better, / know moth
ing of violin by its looks; I have
never handled one. But my ear is
true, and I know well enough if it
screeches or sings; and | thought of
surprising my little daughter with
this when | go back to Leipsic." (The
boy flashed pleased look at Monsi-
eur. She is to begin practice this
autumn, and | should like her to
have an instrument of tone. Be good
enough to play something else, my
lad!"
Hamel handed Tony the violin, and
he obeyed. A soft haunting strain
sweetened the air of the little shop.
The stranger put on his glasses, and
striked his beard, smiling.
"Ah, yes, have heard that before!
1t is one of my brothers pieces, and
it proves your violin good one; for
the tone is very like his, and that is
excellent. The price, then, please?"
Hamel, with shrewd glance at his
Would-be purchaser, named a goodly
sum. Monsieur, took out his check
book and paid it unhesitatingly, re-
questing that the violin be cased and
taken to the carriage. But where was
the case? Among such huddle of
things it was possible to lose almost
anything. Tony, with regretful
look at the violin, reused himself to
search about.
pr7%S h1r ho1 cr1
grandfather" he said, wonderingly.
"Ah, maybe SO, maybe not! Who
knows? You are dreaming most of
the time, Tony, There! You will
break something, poking about so.
Keep quiet. will find it."
"Oh,' said gentleman, good-natured-
ly, mo need to hurry! Just send it
any time today,-Hotel R, Room 20.
l do not leave till night
Hamel, rising from his hands and
knees, dragged the missing case from
behind heap of miscellaneous mer-
chandise by the counter.
with many thanks, Monsieur, but
here it is" And he put the violin he
held inside of it.
Tony stood at the door, looking
away.
"Lepsic!" he murmured. Where
he is,-he that draws out violins
soul at will! Oh, if only had him to
teach me, I too should some day
play as he does!" The carriage dis
appeared, and Tony, signing, turned
into the shop again. His grandfather
came in after him, chuckling and rub
bling his hands together in highly
pleased manner.
"Ah, my dear Tony, that was bust
ness! You have no eye to that, my
son. A great pity? You might sue
coed me here, and be worth some
thing some day; but I'm afraid you'd
never think of such a neat little ar
rangement as that now.
: But how, grandfather" said the
boy. eff one wished to buy some
thing of me, I should tell him the
price; and if we agreed it would be
sold, as you sold the violin just now.
1t did not take much knowledge of
business for that"
"Eh, but it did not?" returned his
grandfather with a look that puzzled
Tony. ITO turn an ordinary, nice
toned little fiddle into a rare Cremona,
and that at an instant's notice, re-
quires quite business knowledge, l
think, my son!" And old Hamel
laughed softly.
"Why-what do you mean?" falter-
ed Tony, aghast. "You sold the gen.
tleman the real Stradivarius; it was
that I was playing!"
AYE, he bought the real article
there's no doubt about that. But it
occurred to me-for I always keep an
eve to business-that man who
knows no more of violins than wheth-
er they sing or screech could be
just as happy with a. nice little in
strument that sings very prettily as
with any other,-oh, quite as happy!
For a violin made yesterday, If it
sounded to suit him, would be all the
same to him as If it were old as the
hills and Of the most beautiful work
manship. You heard him, my dear!
Hence observe my management. BY
putting a nice-singing little fiddle
that lay close to hand, into the Gre
mona's case, content Monsieur and
profit myself a clear fifty napoleons
A quick bargain, and both sides
pleased. It takes business head fol-
that, Tony
Tony leaned against the counter
supplied.
You did that, grandfather" he
gasped; and then, like a swift wave
there rushed over him the memory Of
his dead mother, and their life In
Florence. She was poor little widow
ever since he could remember, but
they had been very happy together
and her one thought had always beer
to teach him what was right SO fal
as she knew, and help him to keeI
to it. Ever since he knew anything