Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-09-13
STATE JOURNAL, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 49, 1876
Carlo, the Organ Boy.

Six months ago Carlo had pleasant home |
among the hills away off in the city of |
Genoa, in Italy, where grapes festooned the |
rocky terraces, and the olive tree grows in |
every sheltered nook. But now the wide |
world must he Carlos home, for death had |
laid both his parents in the grave the vines |
and the olives were no longer his, so leading |
his little sister by one hand, while the other |
supported an old-fashioned barrel organ, he |
crept down into the busy city. Nobody, |
however, seemed TO notice poor Carlo, or the
footsore little Maria, as he tried to earn a
morsel of food by singing a soft Italian air
in the principal street. At length the chill
dren found their way to the quay, where a
ship was Just loading with fruit for Eng
land and Carlo resolved 10 ask a gentleman
who stood watching the sailors as they lifted
in boxes and barrels, If he would be so kind
as to give him something to buy bread for
the little Maria. The captain said he did
not think much of beggars, but if he would
help to roll those barrels ON board he would
pay him for It, Carlo was delighted, and
finding a sheltered place for his sister, ran
off to work.
At night the captain praised Carlo for
his diligence, and told him there was an
empty berth for a cabin-boy in his ship.
With tears the boy told his sad story, and
said that he and his sister must stay together
| The captain was rough man who neither
wanted babies nor barrel organs on board
his schooner but there was peaceful
| home in England where gentle lady lived
who had left the sunny land Of Italy to be
his wife, and little fair-haired boy, whose
dark eyes were so like Maria's that, brush
ing away rising tear, he told Carlo that he
might work his passage to London, and they
would stow away Maria and the music into
some corner. Carlo soon became a great
| favorite, and the voyage was beguled 10y his
merry tunes and the gambols of the orphan
| girl. In the BAY of Biscay, the poor little
girl was taken i'll and died, and was buried
beneath the waves. Carlos heart seemed
buried, too he became so reserved and
quiet that he had not word to say to any
body. As soon as the schooner reached
London, Carlo took his barrel organ and
went away, no one knew whore.
At the close of the summer, Carlo wan
dered to a little fishing village on the south
ern coast. lie wanted 10 look at the sea in
which his little sister slept. Tired and sad,
he sat to rest on some steps which led to a
pretty cottage in the middle of garden.
By-andby little boy about three years old
opened the garden gate, saying Freddy
Harding will give his bright penny to buy
poor boy bread" A lady now appeared, and
one glance at the poor organ boy assured her
that he had come from her native Italy.
fastening back to the cottage, she brought
him food, added sixpence to her childs gift,
for which the poor boy thanked her in
broken English. The lady thought of her
beautiful land, and its sad ignorance of the
blessed book which made her so happy
Drawing a small Italian Testament from
her pocket, she spoke to the boy in his na-
tive tongue. Little boy, you are far away
from friends if you can read here is a
book which will tell you about a friend
always near, even about the good Saviour,
who died that poor sinners like you and |
! might 90 to heaven" Carlo listened with
wonder, turned over its leaves when almost
, on the last page a line caught his attention
''And the sea gave up the dead which were
> in it," With many thanks, he placed it in
his bosom. Day after day passed. Carlo
!. wandering up and down among the people,
getting a crust Of bread or drink of milk
I. in return for his music, and reading his New
a Testament when he could.
One morning he was passing 10y the garden
5 where he had first seen his little Friend
Freddy. The gate opened, and the child
l. hurried down the steps alone. Drawn 10y
{ some bright flowers growing in a field, he
y crossed a railway line to reach them. A
s. minute more and he would have been crushed
a to death. His mother ran-saw all, but
y could render no help, and her wild cry wa.
'" lost in the noise of the train. Carlo haC
d rushed to the spot, and in one moment flung
Is the child on the green bank, and threw him
lie self violently backward to escape the wheels
ID The danger passed, the mother, first claspinl
u her child to her breast, hurried to the spo
he where his noble delverer lay. lie was re
III moved to the cottage, and although severel
1T stunned, he was not seriously injured by hi
e. heroic deed. | need not tell what care tn
'e lady bestowed on him, or how Captain Han
III ding himself came home aud found his los
a cabn-boy. In that happy English HON
ne Carlo found the Savior, and when the caE
~ tain went to sea again, Carlo was his con
y panion for many voyage and Capital
Ut Harding loved him as son. " Blessed ar
IN the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
40 Christian at Work.