[Where can we find a more touching manifestation of mutual benevolence than
the following.]
In New Jersey reside two gentlemen, near neighbors and bosom friends, one a
clergyman, Dr. B----, the other a "gentleman of means" named Wilson. Both
were passionately fond of music, and the latter devoted many of his leisure
hours to the study of the violin. One fine afternoon our clerical friend
was in his study, deeply engaged in writing, when there came along one of
those good-for-nothing little Italian players, who planted himself under
his study window, and, much to his annoyance, commenced scraping away on a
squeaky fiddle. After trying in vain for about fifteen minutes to collect
his scattered thoughts, the Doctor descended to the piazza in front of the
house, and said to the boy:
"Look here, sonny, you go over and play awhile for Mr. Wilson. Here is ten
cents. He lives in that big white house over yonder. He plays the violin,
and likes music better than I do."
"Well," said the boy, taking the "stamp," "_I would, but he just gave me
ten cents to come over and play for you!_"