Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1868-08-11
"The Honest Little Musician. "

"a story, a story; a true story,
please, Aunt Kate!' was the exclam-
alton of groupe Of merry children,
clustered round the school-room fire
one dark winters afternoon, when
work and play were both over for the
day. The request was too earnest
and unanimous to be refused; and in
deed, long and frequent practice had
made compliance with it very easy, so
Aunt Kate took the arm chair prepar-
ed for her and began.
"My story shall be Of little boy in
France" D."
"But is it really true story ?"
Eyes, really true"
"All right then, Auntie; please go
on"
| just at the time CLsat the Terrible
war between Charles [. and his peo-
pie was raging in our island, a young
monarch reigned in France, widely
known as the Grand Monarque,' tho
it is hard to understand Why Louis
XIV. should be called great, as surely
there is nothing so utterly mean as
selfshness and cruelty. At his gay
court few were SO powerful as the
Duke Of Guise; and few, if any, so
beautiful, gay, and witty as his cousin,
the Duchess Of Montpensier, better
known as Madamoiselle; and with
both those grand personages my little
boys story is connected.
Baptiste LuIli was born in Flor
ence; his parents, poor but respecta-
BILE, both died while he was yet young
his mother when he was but a few
months old From her he inherited
an intense love and great talent for
music. His father lived till the boy
was six years old, and then died, leav-
ing him, as his only inheritance, the
remembrance of his true and loving
words and good example. BE hon
est, be truthful were his last words.
BE honest; trust IN God, and he will
take care of you And poor Baptiste,
in the midst of sorrow, and poverty,
and temptation, was honest and truth
tul, Often his only lodging was on a
door step. He was too young to work,
yet he never stole. One thing besides
his words and example had his father
left him-an old violin; with this he
earned his bread, though often it was
but dry crust or handful of olives.
On it he played from door to door,
and the servants seldom turned him
away without breakfast or supper
1t was, besides, his loved companion,
his comforter, and his sole possession.
"One evening, as he sat dreamily
playing at the door of the principal
inn in FInran"n the sweet and nlain-
| tive tones attracted the attention OF
the Duke of GuiSe, who had stopped
there for refreshments for an hour, on
his return from Naples to Paris. He
spoke to the child, was as much pleas
ed by his frank and modest answers
as by his music, and when called into
supper, threw louis dor, the very
first gold coin our boy had ever touch
ed. 1T is gold it will make me rich
| shall have new coat, and not 60 to
bed Supperless for many day, were
his first thoughts. 1t is mistake !;
it must be; that great man could new
er mean to give me gold for that mu-
sic. 1t is not mine, and | must give
it back, were the second.
"The temptation was strong-how
strong we who were never friendless
and hungry can hardly imagine; but
he remembered his dying fathers
words, and resolved, 4 may be poor,
but | will never be dishonest.
"But how return it? In vain he
begged of the dukes servants to let
him speak even for moment to him ;
they only pushed him roughly aside.
The carriage was at the door; another
minute,and the duke had taken his seat
in it; another and he would be gone.
In desperation the child sprang on the
doorstep, favored by the darkness, in
the hope that when the carriage stop
ped, as surely it would stop, he should
, manage to return the gold to its right,
full owner. Then only he remember
, ed he had left his one friend. his loved
violin, behind him, and bitter tears
rolled down his cheeks at his sad
loss e; but it was too late now to change
his plans; besides anything but dis
honesty; and on and on they went
Baptiste with difficulty keeping his
place on the step, till at length, to his
, Joy a halt was called. Eagerly be
a watched, earnestly he begged for al
interview; but again his efforts were
= useless, the carriage was again just
on the move. Too tired longer tC
! stand on the step, yet determined not
to give up, he spied basket slung
! under the carriage containing favor
. ite dog. He crept deftIy into it; the
dog seemed glad of company, and to
q gether they lay there, and slept anc
/ slept on till the sun was high in the
heavens, when they awoke in all the
:, hustle and noise of an arrival in the
courtyard of the inn at Turin.
Perseverance is nearly sure to bt
rewarded besides, fortune favors the
brave So our little hero did gair
y admittance to the dukes presence, ant
told his little story, and laid the loui
Il dor on the table. Amused and sur
Il prised with the honesty, the courage
ii and the everance of the child, ht
n spoke kindly to him, told him th'