Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-07-12
THE STORY OF A PooB MUSICIAN.


tuG SIVnI W ~ rOOo mOStSthNs
Translated from the German, BY the author Of
"susis's six Birthdays"
In village not far from the capital,
there lived q poor musician with wife and
ckild, or rather children, for he had six of
them. Things went hard enough with
him and he was not wanting in many cares
occssioned by his numerous family. Bis
income was very small. On Sunday he
played the organ in the church. and al
though the pan. n was wonderfully edited
by the glorious sounds he enticed from
the instrument with skillful hands, II new
er occurred to il TO reward the modest ar.
tist. He received for his profession Of
organist twenty dollars year. aud with
this sun the worthy peasants thought he
ought to be satisfied.
Walther, for such was the name Of the
musician, was satisfied with it, and il new
or occurred to him to ask the aus,ere viii
lsge magistratesfo for an increase to thisscan-
!, ty salary. Even IL they had withheld his
yearly twenty dollars, he would still have
gone on playing Sunday after Sunday in
the church; for to sit at his beloved organ.
and to let its harmon nious tones bear his
soul away as on wings to bis God and
Saviour, was his most heartfelt pleasure,
bis deepest delight.
But the twenty dollars, although walther
owned small house. did not suffice to
feed and elothe his large family. TO be
sure il was not necessary to buy shoes aud
boots for the children. for in summer time
the little boys aud girls ran about bare.
footed. and in winter they had to content
themselves with. wooden shoes. which, If
they were little heavy, OF least kept them
warm, and did not need re-soling, as leather
ones would do. But the children must
have clothes. Frau Walther made their
garments Of gray linen woven aud spun
by herself, 10 order that they might not
cost so much; but even this simple cloth
ing cost money. and many times in the
year friend Walther scratched behind his
ear when bis wife came and represented
that llans or Christian or Lottie must
Z really have new garment, because the
old one was so torn that il coad be pieced
and patched no more. Then they would
take counsel together, and somehow or
other, when their poverty reached its
height, help would come from the most
unexpected quarter. On account of bis
gentle, lind disposition, tine villagers were
very fond OF WaIther, aud though il never
occurred to them to raise his salary, which
would have been the proper thing, yet,
when he had played unusually we'll, they
= would send him gifts that often helped
him in bis most pressing wants.
These however. would not have hin
dered WaltLer and his family from suffer
ing with hunger, il besides his art he had
not also learned trade. aud that was the
trade of tailor. Besides, he Often played
ut weddings and other festivals ia the
village, and this brought ia some money
which was Of great service to his family.
slnthe long run, however, things went
hardly enough with him, aud many time
in the year he aud bis wife and his child
rem had to go to bed hungry, and many a
MONDAY came wAen there was nothing TO
eat but biz of dry bread, ORR couple Of
potatoes sprinklcd with saIf; as for d,iuk,
they never had anything but the clear,
fresh water, that flowed into fountain
near the house.
20 With all their poverty and oil their
need, however, Walther's family were al
: ways cheerful, aud they never lost, even
in the worst times, their fai:h in God, and
their hope for q better future. The six
children bloomed like rcd poppies, and
their simple mode Of living kept them we'll.
4. so that not one of them were ever sick.
Father Wallher sat all the day hard ut
= work, making jackets aud coats for the
peas antry aud never complained that the
time seemed long 10 him. And he did
not dcspise his trade, by any means. al.
though he could play on the organ so we'll;
"for," said he, tart brings tne in but little,
and trade stands on no golden but only a
silver foundation, but without il We should
long sgo have gone to ruin
f0s but he loved his art above all things
; Often when he had been sitting ut work
ill Far into the pight busy with needle
and shears, he would slip softly into the
church, lock himselfin, aud play what
ever his mood ihspired> In such still
hours he played most beautifully; aud il u
hbelated traveller was passing he would Of
ten stand by the church aud listen 10 the
: heavenly sounds that, full Of strength and
.e sveetness, pealed forth from the house Of
God. The pastor bad often said, "The
prgsuist in the capital who plays every
Sunday to our gracious prince and noble
men, cannot possibly play so we'll as our
Walther; aud II is sin and shame, that
such man should be so miserably of la
our yirsge,' he had often tried to per.
! suede WsIlher 10 90 to tho capital, aud
ask leave to play in the court cburch and
the modest man had always refused, aud
could not be persuaded TO leave the vii
lage.
food only let's me keep what l have,
i shall be content" he would answer.
my music gives pleasure. but
should be laughed at at court. No. no,
Herr Pastor Do not try to tempt me to
such bold undertaking.
.t And the good tailor, sexton and organ
list staid at his post, aud troubled himself
very lutte with what was going on in the
world. t4
.cAt iast, one wintry night, q great noise
was heard in the village. The night watch
man blew powerfully upon his horn, and
the cry Of "6rcl frel' sounded fearfully
through tho streets. Everybody sprang
out OF bed full Of terror; the men rushed
into the streets, and asked hastily, "where9
where7'' "wafthers housel'' was the
answer, and every body crowded together,
and rolled ike n stream toward the abode
- l.t.