The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-10-04
CHILDREN'S CORNER.
CARTS Duty.

Unefe Is no nelf) Tor 1t. NOW your Door
father is gone | cannot afford to have
you taught. | must get you place
somewhere as GRAND boy, and you
must try and earn trife for your
self. "
Carl sighed heavily. He was but a
child, but the dream of his little life
had been to be musician like his
father; and now that father was dead,
his mother would have to work hard to
keep herself and him, and of course,
no lessons were possible.
Mrs. Schmidt was an English woman
but she had married German violin
ist IN regular employment III London,
and Tor some years they had lived very
happily. But Frank Schmidt, never
in good health, had suddenly been
! struck down by an epidemic then
raging in the city, and soon the poor
woman was widow and her boy faith
erless.
1t was only about fortnight after
the funeral that Carl and his mother
were sitting together, and Mrs. Schmidt
made use of the words with which this
story opens.
Carl went to bed that night more
to his mother 1t seemed very hard,
that with a strong love of music, and
longing for the life and work of mu-
mere drudge-a little errand boy, car
rying parcels for a small tradesman,
and every day getting further and fur
Their from reaching his desire. But
the poor child did not suffer his grief
to take the form of grumbling Young
as he was, he knew that duty should
be done cheerfully; and he was too
loving son to add to his mothers
troubles by any selhshness of his own.
SO he fell asleep at last with his eye
lashes wet, but with resolve III his
brave young heart to do what was
right. You might have smiled, per-
haps, but you would not have laughed,
could you have heard the concluding
sentence of Carls prayer-a prayer
which he had said just before his weary
eyes closed III siumber: 90, Lord
Jesus, help me to be very good, though
| am only to be an errand boy, and
am never to learn music"
A week later. Carl Schmidt got
situation as erraud boy to neighbor-
lug baker, where he earned eighteen
pence per week. His duties were many,
though not very difficult. He went
out III the cart with the bakers man
when the bread was taken around to
peoples houses; he cleaned the win
doWs of the shop, he washed the coun
ters, and swept the floor, and sometimes,
when both master and man were out,
| be served any customer who happened
to come in for bun Or a penny roll.
We cannot say that Carl liked this
sort of work, Lut he tried to take an
interest in it, and to do it faithfully :;
and so he was coBtented and happy, as
everybody is who cheerfully does his
duty.
| The baker was . bachelor, and as he
had some nice rooms over the shop, he
was in the habit of letting them to
dodgers.
Just before Carl entered the baker
service, one of those dodgers had gone
ard now another came, looked at the
rooms, and took them. To Carl's
great delight he turned out to be Ger
man; and one day, as the boy was run
ming up stairs for something that his
master wanted, he heard a sound
which sent the warm blood mounting
to his very temples, and made his
heart throb wildly with Joy. 1t was
| the tone of violln-the new ledger
was violInIsti
Carl longed to throw himself down
outside the musicians door, and listen
to the practising; but his time was not
his own and he must not do this with
out leave Back he went to his master,
who he astonished by his excited
looks.
ooh, sir, =" cried the boy, :" the new
lodger is violinist, like my dear
father; just heard him play -
Well, what of that" said the
baker.
Only, sir, replied Carl, 1" if yon
would be SO good as to let me stay a
few moments after my work is done,
so that | may hear him practice, |
should be SO happy, and SO grateful. "
''Oh dear, yes, said the baker, kind
ly, you may begin tonight, if you
| like"
SO that evening Carl placed himself
outside of the new lOdger's door, where
he sat down on the floor with his head
In his hands, and listened for the vio-
lin. The music began at last, and
every note brought rapture to Carl's
sensitive ear The thrilling melodies,
some of which he knew SO well, drew
tears to his eyes, and once, as the mu-
sic paused, he forgot himself as far as
to sob aloud
In an instant tie door opened, and
the musicians face appeared.
Why, what are you doing here, my
LII, i Il IL A /.
too Poor little man, who has been
scolding you2"
No one, sir, y sobbed Carl e.
am not crying for that. 1t is your mu
sic, that beautiful fiddle, which has
made me cry"
Herr Rubner, for that was the mans
name, laid his hand on the child's
shoulder, and drew him into his room
Now tell me-" he said, 81 why YOU
love music so much, and what mad.
you cry .
In few words Carl told his little
hIstory-hIs fathers profession, anC
that fathers promise that his child
should follow 1.-THE long cherished
hope of one day becoming a musician
the fathers death, and the povert,
of the bereaved home, and the giving
up of all the fondest wishes that haC
made the future so bright
Herr Rubner listened silently to all
then drawing the child nearer to hin
he said, g Tell me, my boy, would you
still like to learn the violin2"