Ellsworth American., 1876-06-22

|
"shall we not pray also TO our great saint,
John Nepomucene. to assist usY'
Yes, tp ST. John Nepomucene ans
wered Frederica
! Then do YOU begin, sister, and | will
follow" answered the boy.
The little girl then said her prayer and
ended by asking for the nterccssion of the
Bohemian saint, the little boy repeating
the prayers after her; and both were so
erapestly engaged with what they were
about, that they did not perceive a man, Of
somewhat advanced age and of noble and
| distinguished appearance. who stood at
/ some little distance from the tree beneath
which they knelt.
Our prayer Is finished, brother said
the little girl.
| And granted too" said Wolfgang, ris-
| ing in his turn.
Already" :" exclaimed his sister.
"Yes, | thought OF something while you
were praying" answered Wolfgsng.
Then st. John Nepomucene must have
whispered it in your ear" replied his sis
ter.
II do not know whether 1t was st. John
! Nepomucene, or not; but this is what came
into my head: Iou know have little
talent Tor playing on the plano; but. in-
deed. If mamma had not so often said that
We must not be vain, | should say that |
do not compose badly. Aud you, Freder-
ca. though you have not 40 much power
over the instrument a have. yet for your
age you do not play go III
There's conceited child" said Fred
erica.
DO not interrupt me- dear Frederics, sr
| shall forget what thought Of Now let
us set out some fine morning, and walk,
and walk long way. Sometimes We shall
come to a castle, and then. Frelerica, you
shall begin Ia sing, and somebody will
come To the gate and then the people OF
the castle viii say. 'Oh the poor children.
aud ask ~ 20 come Ia and rest ourselves;
and then shall 60 to the piano"
III there i one" Interrupted the little
girl.
A il there were uni,pianos everywhere
in these days" answered the boy. But
YOU provoke me with your Interruptions.
| LAY then | shall 10 10 the piano. | shall
gr; up on the stool, and shall play, and
play. aud everybody will bc enchanted.
They VIII embrace us. and give IL sweet.
meats and piaythiugs, and 10 you they Will
give neck lacrs and ribbons; but we shall
not take thcm, and shall say, Pay us. II
you please, that We may take the money
to papa anu mamma
''Ah. you little rogue. how ambitious you
are cried Frcdcrlca, throwing herself on
her brothers neck.
But that, not all. said WoiigAng; "lct
me finish ms story. "Ihe Kin. will hear
Us talked about, and send for ~. shall
wear beautiful coat, aud you viii have q
beautiful dress. and We shall 20 10 the
king'- palace. There they viii take Us into
a saloon full OF beautiful ladies. the like of
whom was never seen. and gentlemen all
Ia embroidery, and furniture all gilded,
aud piano. such pilnol the case all
made OF pure gold. with silver pedals. and
keys ol iinc pearls, aud diamonds every
where. Then we shall play, and the Court
will be delighted. Aud they will surround
u, and caress IA. and the king viii ask
me what / should like, aud shall say.
Whatever you please, King. And then he
viii give me a castle, ana | shall have pa
pa and mamma to live there. and
\ burst of laughter interrupted, In the
midst oi HI recital, the intrepid young
performer on the piano. olf.ang fright
cued. looked at his sister, then, turning
hi- eyes, he perceived the stranger, who,
hidden behind a tree near To the two chill
dreu had not lost 4 word OF their conyersa-
tion. Fearing that hc was discovered, he
approached them. saying:
DO not be afraid, my children; | wish
only TO make you happy. am sent to you
by the great saint. John Nepomucene."
At these words the brother aud sister
exchanged a look, and then turned their
eyes again upon the pretended messenger
OF the SAINT. This survey was doubtless
satisfactory; for the little boy. running
towards him. took hold OF his hand. aud
with a charming simplicity, exclaimed:
".ih, 30 much the better; are you going
TO grant me my wishes:
"No, sir not all at once" answered the
stranger; tiren seating himself on the
% ~ tnfr
Wolfsang stand before him. while his sis
ter. older and more t.mid, kept a little
aside he said. Il shall give you whatever
you wish. on condition that you answer
me truly all the questions | am going to
put To you; | warn you beforehand, that
il you tell lie, shall know it,
sir. you must know that never told a
lie in my life" replied Wolfgang. little
offended.
That is what we shall see" said the
stranger.
What is yosr fathers nameT'
leopold Mozart"
And what is his employment"
'iie is mditre de chdpeHe; he plays on
the violin and on the piano; but best on
the violin
is your mother alive .till:'
Yes, sir
How many children are there OF you?'
A. the little boy remained silent, ms SIS
ter answered this question.
There were seven OF us. sir; but now
we are only two, my brother and myself"
And your father is poor. my dear childy
said tbs stranger to the little girl.
.Oh. yes; very poor, sir. See" She
said, showing the morsels of bread, which
neither she nor her brother had touched.
this i all the bread there was in the
house. Papa and mamma have sot kept
any for themselves. Every time that mann
ma gives us our breakfast. and says. Go
and eat it in the fields, my dear children
it is that we may not see that she has not
any for herself"
Poor children" said the stranger, great
ly moved. Where do your parents live?'
Up there on the hill, sir, in that little
cottage that YOU see the roof from here"
said Wolfgang.
did not that house belong to Dusseck:"
asked the stranger.
"A musician. like our father-yes. sir"
said the little gil.
Poor children" repeated the stranger.
drying a tear. "Tell me, when saw you
both praying, what did you ask fory'
Me, sir?' said the little girl. Il asked
that | might know the way to earn some
money for my parents, SO that my brother
aud may not every day have to breakfast
alone. Wolfgang tells me that he has
thought of a way to get money. but am
afraid
.sIf what wolfgang says is true. that
you can both play SO well on the piano. il
is very likely you may earn money, and l
may be able to help you
"My brother is so good a musician" said
the little girl, "that not only he can play
at first sight any piece that is presented to
him. but he composes pretty little pieces
hesides DaDa saws So
And what age is your brotherT'
six years old. sir; and am eight"
And this child composes alreadyT' ex-
claimed the stranger.
Does that surprise you?" cried Wolf
gang, laughing. "Come to our house, sir,
and you shall see."
The stranger drew out his watch reflect
ed for a moment. and then said, in a tone
half serious, half jesting, MY dear chill
dren. the great Nepomucene, that rcvered
saint of Bohemia, orders me to tell you to
90 home to your parents, stay at home all
Hav baf trnh al no