Books › The yellow violin, 1902 › scan 22
Scan 22
The yellow violin, 1902
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 12. See the scan on archive.org.
1"I suppose the fellow who left it needs the money," was the answer. "I'm not an expert, but I know it's a pretty good one. Has to be sold—shall buy it myself, if no one else does. He wants five hundred dollars"—cunningly advancing a hundred for his own benefit.
3"Put it in a case," said the purchaser, taking from a long narrow pocketbook a roll of bills. "I'll take it home myself." His quick eye had told him that the instrument was almost priceless—but it told him also, something else—it had once, long ago, and in darker days, belonged to him, was an heirloom in the family. The new varnish did not deceive him, the grain of the wood, the peculiar carving on the neck of the violin, the name on the inside, the date, verified it. Many a time his hand had called forth the tenderest tones, wonderful chords, vibrant melodies. He knew his own.
5Meantime Marie, having sold all her papers, turned her steps homeward. She knew she had to expect only a cold supper and perhaps a scolding, because she was later than usual—but these she was inured to, and always received meekly, making her excuses. She had known too much suffering to turn her back upon the most meager surround-
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.