She had no time to think what a remarkably good
bow it was for sixteen years' disuse. The tan leather case might have
impressed her as being in fine condition also, had she been in a state
to question anything. She did remember to ask for the bill and she was
gravely presented with a slip calling for four strings, one key, and a
coat of varnish, total, one dollar fifty. It seemed to Elnora she never
could put the precious instrument in the case and start home. Wesley
left her in the music store where the proprietor showed her all he
could about tuning, and gave her several beginners' sheets of notes and
scales. She carried the violin in her arms as far as the crossroads at
the corner of their land, then reluctantly put it under the carriage
seat.
As soon as her work was done she ran down to Sintons' and began to play,
and on Monday the violin went to school with her. She made arrangements
with the superintendent to leave it in his office and scarcely took time
for her food at noon, she was so eager to practise. Often one of
the girls asked her to stay in town all night for some lecture or
entertainment. She could take the violin with her, practise, and secure
help. Her skill was so great that the leader of the orchestra offered to
give her lessons if she would play to pay for them, so her progress was
rapid in technical work. But from the first day the instrument became
hers, with perfect faith that she could play as her father did, she
spent half her practice time in imitating the sounds of all outdoors and
improvising the songs her happy heart sang in those days.
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