e Violoncello to Julia's accompaniment upon
the harpsichord?

A CINDERELLA VIOLONCELLO.

A somewhat curious change in the ownership of a Violoncello occurred
many years since. My father (Mr. John Hart) was walking along Oxford
Street, when he heard the sounds of a Violoncello, a Violin, and a
Cornet, which were being played in a side street. His curiosity being
excited, he became one of the group of listeners. The appearance of
the Violoncello greatly pleased him; it was covered with a thick coat
of resin and dirt, but its author was clearly defined nevertheless.
When the players had concluded their performance, Mr. Hart asked the
wandering Violoncellist if he was disposed to sell his instrument. "I
have no objection, if I can get enough to buy another and something
over," was the answer. The terms not being insurmountable, a bargain
was struck, and the dealer in Fiddles walked away, taking his
newly-acquired purchase under his arm. The itinerant trio, having
become a duet, gave up work for that day.

Reaching home with his charge, Mr. Hart was in the act of removing the
accumulated dirt of many a hard day's work from the Violoncello, when
Robert Lindley entered, and asked what might be the parentage of the
instrument about which so much pains were being taken. "A Forster,"
was the reply; and at the same time the circumstances of the purchase
were related. Lindley was much amused, and expressed a wish to possess
the rescued instrument, though it had been much injured. The price was
agreed upon, and the Violoncello thus passed from the most humble to
the most exalted player in _one_ day.

A STOLEN "STRAD."

It has often been remarked that to steal a valuable Violin is as
hazardous as to steal a child; its identity is equally impregnable, in
fact, cannot be disguised, save at the price of entire demolition. To
use a paradox, Violins, like people, are all alike, yet none are
alike. The indelible personality of the best Violins has been a
powerful agent in the cause of morality, and has deterred many from
attempting to steal them. We have, however, instances of undiscovered
robberies of valuable instruments, and notably that of the fine
Stradivari which belonged to a well-known amateur, an attache at the
British Embassy at St. Petersburg. The Violin in question was numbered
with the Plowden collection. I disposed of it to the amateur above
mentioned in 1868; it was a magnificent Violin, date 1709, in the
highest