Year: 1859

ment he had been able to procure for a
month, he had accepted it tjoyfully although,
in his heart, he scarcely dared to leave his
invalid daughter even for an hour.


Putting out the lamp, and stealing with
noiseless steps from the apartment, he tap
ped at his landlady's door, and urgently
requested that she would go and sit with
the patient during the time he was COM
PEELED to be absent. This she immediate
| ly consented to, and our poor musician,
with heavy heart, left the house, and pro-
ceeded towards that of his patroness for
the evening.


The windows were one blaze of light
carriages were drawing up to the door, and
the street was in continued state of ex-
citement, when the quadrille player, with
his yiolin-case in bis hand, knocked modest
ly at the door, and passed almost unno-
ticed into the drawing room, where he was
met by the harpist, who had arrived about
three minutes before him. Many of the
guests were already assembled, and the
pretty daughter of the hostess, tripping up
to the musicians, by the desire of her moth
er, requested that they would instantly be-
gin. The quadrille was arranged, and the
signal being given, the poor violinist me-
chanically drew his bow across the strings,
and with heavy heart commenced the
Danois" set.


Happiness beamed on every countenance
near him. The little coquette who had
been the first to speak kind word to him,
was the observed of all observers, and in a
few minutes was entangled in a labyrinth
of engagements All unconsciously, the
eyes of the violinist followed her steps
throughout the evening. He fancied that
his daughter, and he felt that she might al
so have been thus surrounded by friends
and admirers, had she not been compelled
to earn her subsistence by her individual
exertions. Whilst our talents are cultivat-
ed as mere accomplishments, the most Law
| ish praise is bestowed on them once rely
upon them as means of living, and every
effort is made to deprecate them.


| Never had our violinist felt So complete
| ly alone as on this occasion In his own
room, miserable as it was, he could at least
enjoy sense of independence. Here, sur
rounded by pleasure, yet debarred from
the slightest participation in it, his misery
was increased by the contrast. He felt
that it would have been relief to him,
could he even have spoken to some one
but not one of the bright-eyed beauties who
stood near him even deigned him look.
He was az the party, but not of it--solita-
ry in the midst of society. He was to play
until he was told to stop, and then to stop
until he was told to play again. He was
let out for a guinea.


Slowly did the hours pass away. Two
three o'clock in the morning came; but
still had our violinist the instrument in his
hand, and still did he continue to play in
spring dance-tunes The thought of his
poor invalid daughter became now almost
insupportable, and when, at four o'clock,
the last waltz was called, feeling of Joy
took possession of him which it is impossi-
bic to describe.


AT length all was over, and he was al
lowed to depart. Having received his fee,
he placed his violin in the case, and thread
ing his way through the throng of depart
ing guests, walked anxiously towards his
lodging. Arrived there, tremor seized
upon him which he knew not how to ac-
count for, and when he had assembled the
staircase, and stood before the door of the
room, he could scarcely summon sufficient
courage to enter.


At length he recovered himself, and
slowly lifting the latch, cautiously stole in
to the room. A candle, placed upon a
small table near the bedside, was fickeriHg
in the socket, and on chair near the emp
ty fire place sat his landlady, with her face
buried in her hands The noise occasion
ed by his entrance caused her to rise, and
advancing to him, she motioned towards
the bed. Mechanically he followed the
direction Of her hand, and walked gently to
the side of the patient. Her countenance
was placid, and smile almost played upon
her features. Not trace of suffering was
discernible, even to has anxious gaze-but
she was dead She had expired whilst the
merry party was at the height of enjoy
ment-quietly, very quietly, said the good
hearted landlady, as if, indeed, she were
merely falling asleep.


The guinea earned by the father for
eight hours performance of lively music,
might, with strict economy, pay for his
daughters funeral