A certain Amateur, whose fondness for fiddling was his liveliest passion, had two instruments—his _best_, on which he would by no means have permitted his own father to draw a bow—and his _second best_. In the course of his business, which was commercial, he was preparing to quit England for South America, as super-cargo in a certain vessel, and to make a long stay in the latter country. Concern for his two violins—(he had no _wife_)—was uppermost in his mind. Should he commit them, along with himself, to the perils of the ocean’s bosom? Should he, suspending or sacrificing his own enjoyment, leave them behind, in the custody of friendship that might prove fickle, or negligent? Much he pondered—and much hesitated. At length, unable to endure the thoughts of a separation from _both_, he came to a resolution that was, at the same time, a compromise. He determined that he would take with him his _second best_, and tear himself away from his principal darling, his beloved _best_—_not_, however, to leave it behind—_that_ were _quite_ too much!—but to export it, highly insured, to the scene of his own destination, in _another_ (because, as he conceived it, a _safer_) vessel than that in which he was himself about to embark! FRIENDLY ADVICE TO THE YOUNG AMATEUR. First, let a rear-ward _attic_ of your labours be the scene— For, such seclusion best for you (and others) is, I ween. In comfort, there, assume a chair, and be therein at ease, And _not_ as if, un-garmented, you sat upon _hard pease_. Your fiddle in sinister hand, and in your right the bow, Scan, next, the dotted page awhile, or ere _to work_ you go. Firm as a forceps be your wrist, but flexile as an eel! And—for that struggling shoulder-joint—just teach it to _be still_; For, mark! the motion of the arm must be ’twixt wrist and elbow, Or else, howe’er you moil and toil, be sure you’ll never _well_ bow! To guide each movement of the bow—to give it vital spring— To send it bounding on its way—the wrist, the wrist’s the thing! Your bow’s relation to the _bridge_, must keep a just right angle, Or harshly else, and out of tune, your tortured notes will jangle. From _heel_ to _point_ that bow now draw, with action slow and steady— Then back again—and so repeat, till in such practice ready. The same in quicker time then try—and next proceed to draw From _middle_ (with a shorter scope) to _point_, and back, see-saw. This, too, in swifter time rehearse;—and then, like justice deal Unto the other half of bow, from _middle_ to the _heel_.