Middletown transcript., 1871-02-11
Stlrtt Storn.
The Story of a Poor Musician.


there lived poor musician. with wife and
child, or rather children, for he had six
Of them. His ipcome was very small On
Sundays he played the organ in tlc church
aud although the parish wns wonderfully
edited by the glorious sounds he cnticed
from the instrument with skilled hand it
never occurred to il to reward the modest
artist, He received for his profession of
.arganist twenty dollars II year, and with
this sum the worthy peasants thought he
ought to be satisfied
But the twenty dollars, although Wal
ther owned a small house. did not sub ice
to feed aud cloihc his large family. tn
summcr-iimc the little boys and girls ran
abou. barclootcd. and in winter time they
had t. be content with wooden shoes,
which. il they were little heavy, ut least
kept them warm and did nat need resell
ing, as leather ones d. Bat the children
must have clothes Frai Walhcr made
their garments Of gray linen. woven aud
spun by herself. in order tha, they might
not cost SO much; Lut even this simple
clothing cest money. anl many times a
year friend Walter seatchcd behind his
ear when his wife came aud represented
that Hans or Christian or l.uiic musi real
ly have new garmen., because the old
one was so torn that il could he patched
and picccd To longer Then they would
take connsc! together. and somehow or
other when their poverty reached its
height, help would come from the most
unexpected quarter.
In the long run. however, things went
hard enough with him, and many n
year he aud his wife went to bed hungry
and many MONDAY came when there was
nothing to eat but bit Of dry bread or n
couple Of potatoes sprinklcd with salt Ms
for drink they never had anything but the
clear. fresh water that flowed in u foun-
tain near the house
With all their poverty and MI their need
however. Walthers family we're always
cheerful, and they never lost, even in the
worst time, their faith in God, and their
hope for better future. The six chill
drcn bloomcd like red poppics. aud ibcir
simple mode of living kept them wei, 50
that not one of them was ever sick. Path
or Walthcr sat all day nt hard work max
ing jackets aud coats for the pcasantry,
and never complained that the time seem
cd long to him,
But he loved his art above all other
things. Often when he hal been sitting
ut work till far into the night. busy with
needle and shears, he would softly slip in
to the church. lock himself in and play
Whatever his mood inspired. The pastor
had often said. :" The organist in the cap
ital. who plays every Sunday 10 our gra-
cious prince and nehlemcn canno, possi-
bly, play so well MS cur Walther, aud i, is
sin and shame that such a man should
be so miserably of in our village" He
had often tried to persuade Wallhcr to go
to the capital. and ask leave to play in the
court church; but the modest man had
always refused.
"If God only lets me keep what have
/ shall be we'll content he would answer,
Here my music gives pleasure, but |
should only be laughed at at court"
At last. one wintry night, great noise
was heard in tho village. The night
Waterman blew powerfully upon his horn,
and the cry Of Fire. fire. sounded
fearfully through tho streets. Everybody
isprang out Of bed in terror, the men rush
ed into the streets, and hastily asked.
'..sWhcrc? whereof" "Walthcr's house !"
was the answer. snd everybody crowded
together. aud rolled like stream toward
tha abode Of the poor man. All were rea-
dy to help and to save; but. alas help
came too late. n
Z Walther stood not far from his burning
house, and looked sadly aud with folded
hands At the destruction the fire was max
'ine of his property. His wife and chill
dren stood about him, crying as II their
hearts wouM break. The father, though
Isotely ,tfoublcd. spoke 70 them some words
u eoG)bst. - Do not be afraid children,
and do not despeirl Oar dear Lord still
llss, nd ShA{ovcr He seuds upon us We