Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-24

eat. and he almost forgot his mother.
The music seemed to carry him away
to another country, where there was
no snow, nor sickness, nor poverty,
nor tears. He thought how many
months his mother had denied herself
everything that he might learn to sing;
perhaps the church people would give
her little something, for really she
was 50 very, very poor :! The church
people were we'll able to pay som ething
and they ought to do it. He must
speak to them on the morrow
One of the singers whispered in his
ear:
"Look out. Tommy! Here comes
your SOLO"
How the organ caught up the bril-
liant music! He had hardly time to
open his book and stand up before the
symphony was over. How his silver
voice rang through the great church
The people listened in silence while he
sang from old Handlers "Messiah -
Rejoice. rejoice, rejoice greatly,
0 daughter of Zion!'
How like ''robin racing down brook
of music he ran throughthe sparkling
measures The music seemed to
spring in long roulades on the word
''reiolce," as if it were too glad for
words.
so daughter of Zion!
Rejoice greatly shout
q daughter OF Jerusalem !.
Behold thy King cometh unto thee.
Then it changed to smoother, sweet
er measures
"He is the righteous Savior,
And he shall speak peace"
How softly Iommy's llmpid voice
gave the words:
''Peace And he shall speak = Peace
What was the matter Had the
organ stopped? The church seemed
TO swim round and round, and the
angel in the window was dancing
madly! What
"Do you feel better, Tommy?" asks
pretty lady bending over him.
Better Where is this -
''This is my home. Dc you feel
better now?"
Such soft bed And the room-it
was so beautiful And the lady !!
Who was she
"Guess I'm dead. It's heaven,
sn't it -
The lady smiled. mo; it's only
my house. You tainted away in the
church, and brought you here in my
carriage"
"Oh [ remember. It's Christ
mas. Well, you see [ didn't have
any breakfast, and the cat is dead, and
mothers sick, and the church was so
warp, ard there was SO much music,
and was tired, and -
"We will not talk about that now.
You will not sing in chat church
again.
"Why not? [ like to sing"
"You are to sing in our church
after this. [ am the organist's wife,
and we are gazing to give you four
hundred dollars a year, and-''
"Four hundred dollars What an
awful lot of money. Oh now your
only joking a fellow cause it's Christ
mas day."
ooh Tommy's better, I'm sure.
Come, my boy, sit up There's your
breakfast"
It was all piece Of magic A
girl brought in tray with such noble
breakfast that Tommy didn't really
know where to begin. The lady took
the tray and the girl arranged the
pillows, and the royal feast began.
The lady talked and even sang a
Christmas song called:
'The boar is dead,
Lo h ere io his head.'
Tommy laughed till he cried. for it
was most amusing song But, in
the midst of the festivity, he stopped
abruptly.
''By cricky! [ forgot. There is
mother all this time, and she's had no
breakfast >
'Such language, Tommy [ am
surprised !"
Il forgot, ma'am. 1t slipped out
fore [ knew it. [ don't use such
words much; but then mothers sick,
you know"
"No; [ diden't know. Let US 90
home and see her.
So they did. They rode away in a
beautifully covered sleigh, and soon
reached Tommy's home. And they
made fire and thawed out the tea
kettle, and started the forlorn clock,
and called a nurse for Tommy mother,
and brought Christmas day right into
the wretched house. Tommy couldn t
believe it at all. IF it had not been
for the poor old cat folded up in her
rug, Tommy could not have believed
that he passed through such a doleful
experience that morning All seemed
so bright now. that the past was like
a dream.
Then they made Mrs. Sterry COM
Portable, and bhe lady took Toomy