A Wooden Shoe

Toward the end oí september, ibó'J it was announeed arnong tho arüstk circles of Paris that Nicolo Pagan inhad fallen scriously ill,nt the conclusior of a grand concert givon by the illustrious violinist. Ho was attacked by a low interniitting fever, which refused to yield to tho remedies employed, and even gave rise to apprehensions for his life. Paganini, whose leanness was already almost spectral, now seerned to have his frail existonco suspended by a threac which the slightest shock rnight sever. Tho physicians unanimously orderec solitudes" absolute repose, and a strict régimen as to diet. In order to carry out these prescriptions, Paganini removed to the Villa Lntetiana, im the Fauborg Poissonniere. This excellent establisment, which no longer existe, was intended exclusively for the recoütion and cure of wealthy invalids, Á spaeious, comfoi'tablc house stood in alarge, park-like garden, wlrere cach patiënt could ramble at will, and enjoy oither solitude or society at his choice. A great c h-arm of this house was that evevy orie lived just as she or he pleased; in the eVehmg either reüring to the solitudo of his ap.irtmont or joiniug in th(j games, niusic and conversation held in the drawing-rOom. Paganini nnturally belonged to thoso who preforred passing the evenings in quietnesa and retirement. There was plenty of gossip in the drawing-room; t!ireo or.fonr 'consorious old maids feil on him Looth and nai!. "Ladie,": began one, "havo yousècL this great musician? íle salutes no one, and never speaks a word. He takes his bowl of soup in an arbor in tho garden, and then hastens away if any one approaches. Whatan oddity he must be?" "That's part of his malady," said another, "people say that thero is some terrible mystery about his lifo; soine love storv, I imagine." "iNot at aü, aduecl a third; "raganini is a misor; there's no mystery abou tliat. Do you remeinber that eoncer which was organized in favor of the families who had suffered froru the inundation at St. Etienne? The greai yiolinist refused to take part in ït becauso ho would have had to play gratuitously. Depend upon it, he fears that, were he to mix in our society, he mighi be asked for similar f a vors." Paganini guessed pretty vvell how he was received by his fellow boarders, but like Glalileo of old, he cared for none of these things. His health became gradually better, yet in the whole house he ncver exchanged a word with any one except Nioette. This was the housemaid who attended on him; a eheerful, innocent country girl, whose gay prattle, when she served his nieals, cftcn availed to dispel the cloud which habitnally darkened the brows of Paganini. Onu niorning Nicette presented herself with a sad, drooping countenance, and served breakfast without uttering a word. The musician, who was amusing himself with carving apiece of ivory for the handle of a dagger, noticed the change in the young girl and questioned her upon it. "What's the matter, my child? You look sad; your eyes are red; some misfortune bas befallen you, Nicetto," "O, yes! sir." 'Would it bo indiscreet to ask you wbatit is?" "No, sir, not precisely; but '" Paganini lixed his greatblackcyes on the girl's troubled counteuance. "Come," he said; "I sec how it is. After having made you a thousand promises he has quittedyou and yon no Jonger have any tidings of him." 'Ah! poor fellow! ho bas qultted me certainly, but it was not his fault." "How is that?" "Because in the conscription ho drew a bad number, and he has been sent away with a gruat long gun on his shoulder, and I shall nevcr him again," sobbed oór Nicette, ' as she burried her face in her white apron. "But, Nicette, could younotjurchase a substitute for liim?" "Monsieur is jesting," she said. "How could I ever buy a substitute!" "Does it cost very dear?" "This year men are tremendously dear, on account of the report thatthere is going to be a war. Fifteen hundrcd francs is the lowest price." The musician pressed Nicette's little plump hand between his long, sallow íingers, as he said: ; "If that's all, my girl.don'tcry; we'll see what can be done." Then, taking out his pockct-book. he wrote on a blank leaf: "Mem. To sce about giving a concert for the benefit of Nicette. " A month passed on, winter arrived, and Paganini's physieian said to him: "My dear sir, you must not venture out of doors again until af tor the month of Maren.'" "To hear isto obey," replied the musician. tiie winter a comparativo degree of health and strength returned to Paganini. Having no longer the pleasant, shady arbors of the garden as a refuge, he began gradually to linger a little in the drawing room After dinrer he used to throw himself on a sofa of crimson velvet and pass half an hour in turn ing over a volume of engravings or in sipping a glass of sugared water llavored with orange flowers. The old adíes of the society gossiped on about him and his odd ways.'but he affected not to hear, and certainly did not hoed them. Christmas eve approached. On the anniversary of the birth of our Lord a custom exists in France very dear to its juvenile inhabitants. A wooden shoe is placed at the corner of the hearth, and a benificlent fairy is supposed to come down the chimney laden with various presente and dainties with which he filis it. It is calculated that, ono year with anothor, the Christmas wooden shoe onriches the trade of Paris with 2,000,000 francs. On the moruing of the 2-lth of December four of Paganini's fomale critic3 were in consultation together. "It will be for this cvening," said one. "Ye3, for this evcniog; that's settled." replied anothor. After dinner Paganini was, acconling to his custom, seated on the drawing soÍm, sipping his eau sucre, wlicij anuiL usual noise was heard in the corridor. Presently Nicette entered and announced that a porler liad arrived with acaso, dJrected to Sig. Paganini. "I don't expect any cast;." said he; "but I suppose he had botter bring it in " Accordingly a stout porter eutered, bearing a good-sized deal-box, on which besides the address, were tlie words, "Fragüe, with care." Paganini oxamined it with ome curiosity, and havitig paid the messenger óroceeded to open the lid. His long. tliin, but extremelv muscular fingere acconiplishcd this task without difficulty, and the company, whosc curiosity caused them soinowLat to transgress the bounds of good ii.an' ners, crowded around íd order to seo tho contents of the box. The musician first di ow out a largo paeket, enveloped in strong brown ' paper, and secured vvith several seáis, llaving opened this. a second and then I a thirü enveíope appeared, aud at lengt h the ouriouseyes of twenty persons were regaled witb a gigantic wooden shoe, oarved out of a piece of ash, and aluiost largo enough lo serve for a child's eradle. Bursts of laugbter hailed tho discovery. "Ah!" said Paganini, "a wooden shoe. Icau guess tolerably well who has seut it. Some of these excellent ladies wish to compare uie to a child who always expecUs presenta and never gives any. V ell! le it ,o. Wc w .-coif e caiínot íind some inethodof niakiiig this shoe worth its weight iu gold. So saying, and seareely saluting tho company, Paganini withdrow to his owu apartmeíít, earrying witl) hwu th case and its contenta. During three days ho did not roappear in the drawing room; Nicetto iulormed the company that he worked f rom morningtülnig;htwit)icarpcnter s tools. In fact, the musician, whoso hauds weie wondrously llexiblo and dextorous in other things besides violin playing, had fashioned a perfect and aoüotpus instrument out of the wooden shoe. Having enriched it with one silvër string, his work was coruplee. Noxt day a public notice appeared that on New Year's eve Paganini would givo a concert in tho largo hall of tho Villa Lutetiana. The great master announced that hc would play ten pioces, live on the violin, five on a wooden shoe. Tho prieo of the tickets was fixed at twenty-five francs each. Of these only 100 were issuod, and itis needlessto add that they were purchased by the elite of tho beau monde, who during several nionths;hadniissedthe pi asure oí hearing Paganini. The appointed ovening arnved;thc hall, furnished with eomioxtable „cliairs, was prepared and lightcd for the occasion, elegant equipages werij stationed along the Faubourg Poissoniere, and expectatiori was on tip-toe to kaow whattho announcement respeoting.the wooden shoe could possibly meau. At length .Paganini appeared, smiling, with Qvery appearanco of reucwnd hcalth,. and on his favorito violin played sumo of tbosc marvelous strains which ever failed to transport his auditors to the scventh lieaven of delight. Then he scized tlio shoe. which. in its ncw guise of a violin, still preserved soniewhat of its pristine form, and, his wholo beinu: lighted up with enthusiam, he comménced ono of those wondrous iruprovisations whioh captivatcd the souls of his hearers. This one represented tirst the departure of a oonscript, the tear, the wail'mg oL his betrcthed, then his stormy life in the camp and on the field of battle, and finally his return, accompanied by triuniph and rejoicing. A ruerry peal of wedding bells eompleted the musical drama. LoDg and loud were the thunders of applause; even the old iadies who disliked Paganini could not refrain f rom clapping, and bouquets, thrown by fair and jeweled hands, feil at the feet of the musiciau. In a corner of the hall, next to Ihe door, Nicette was weeping bitterly; the symphonjy of ihe conscript had gone straight to her iieart. At the end of the concert the reeeipts were eounted. They amounted to 2,000 froncs. l Here, Nicette,'1 said Paganini, "j'ou have 500 francs over the sum requim to furnish a substiíute; they will pa; your bridegroom's travelina: expenses.' Then af ter a pause he continued: "But you will wantsomething where with to commeneo housekeeping. Take this shoe-violin, or this violin-shoe, anc sll it for your dowry." Nicette did so, and receiviug from a rich amateur 6,000 francs from Paga niai's wooden shoe. It is now, we believe, in the posses sion of an English nobleman, who was formerly British Aiabassador at Paris