Ole Bull's Christmas Present

Christmas eve, a8 b tall, digniiled looking gentleman was walking leisurely along one of the by-streetí London, li at tent Ion was attra to a Uttle boy who was looking ín at a shop window in whleb lisplayed various articles (some ol them apparently second-hand) for sale'. - i iic gentleman, whose Long, thick nalr feil far below his iur cap, approached the Uttle boy, he saw that hls gaze was fixed upon a bpautlful-looking violln that in the center of the window. Upon coming nearer lie heard Jiim elnging a familiar melody in a pure, BWeet volee, which he accorapanied wlth rhytlnnk-al moveiiiciits of lus slender arma and fingere as if hè were playlng the violln. He rtopped to listen, quite charmed at the innocent, childlsh spectacle. .lust then the little boy looked up, and. abashed at belng observed, ceaaed hi.s performance. "Do you tliink yon could play as wél! upon that violin, if you had lt, as you can sing. niy little fellOW ?" "I don't know. Kir. but I would like to try," the boy replied. "Come wlth me," said the gentleman, and together they went tuto the shop. "Hou oiuch for the vio Uu in the window '.'" he asked of the shopkeeper. "Flve ponnda." Too much by half." said the jrentleman. "Show me something ch ap er." After being shown fivo or six other violins, whicb he rejected after merely glancing at them (the little boy'e big lilue eyes looking more and more wistful all the time), the shopke. hamled out a dlngy, antlquated looking violln, wit li the remark "Here'a au old flddle that 1 got of a sailor. It needs flxlng up a bit. but you can have it just as it is for .tl. Kis." The gentleman serutinized it closely, inside and out, remarked that it was very much out of repair, but said that he would give just L1 for it. which the shopkeeper, after some hesitation. accepted. and the nioney was paid him. "I'ut on B Btrlng in place of this broken one," said the gentleman; "and furnish me ;i good bow - I will pay ex i r:i for it." While this was being done, the gentleman looked down at the Uttle, pale, wondering face upturned to iii-, and said, "What is your name ?" The hoy (jviii-kiy responded, "Leo ! and my father rings the Chimes you hark, you can hear 'em now !" The gentleman listened for a moment or two and as the sound of the grand old bells died away, the shopman hamled liim the violin and bow ready íor use. After tualng the Instrument carefully, he unbottoned liis fur-trimmed traveling coat, and placin'g i l" violin under his chin, besan soíily and gweetly to play the mie wbich the Christmas in lis had just, rung out. For some minutes he continued to play, we a ving the air into every concelvable kind of vaxiation, and ended liy playing the melody oaoe more acconipanied ith harmonies and brilliant arpeggios. After the vioiin and bOW had been placed n I h" liox, lie hamled il to the bewildered boy, and pattlng him on iiis curly head, remarked as lie Imttoned up il is mea'. overcoal : ''Carry the violln home with you, and take good care of it ; it is worth '.loo at least. Learn to play the tune I heard you singing outside thé window. and as many more as you ca n. Teil your fa t her 1 o gel you a good teacher. You may keep the vi'ilin ; it is a Christmas present frora ole liull." He opened the door for Iiis little protege, and passed out intb the crowd just as the christmas bells rang out again thetr merry chime.