The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-05-05
GISELLA,S GIFT.

| 0xOI1hA0 . 01 L.
It was the child's life, the voice which
heaven had given her. She sang rs tn,
nightingales sing, with no thought tina
other birds held their notes to listen
but because it was her way of express
ing inner joy, and gladnes5 and happi
ness.
She could forget. in letting the clear
young voico soar upward to the blue
unfettcred sky, the daily toll. the home
drudgery, the querulous invalid mother
all that had made her daily existence
often very hard, well nigh impossible
to bear, but for the heaven-born solace
within her.
| One day, when she was but eleven
| years old, she had flown into her m 9th
| er's presence, her cheeks flushed, her
| eyes sparkling.
| The Herr Kapelmeister had heard her
sing. she said. and had stopped and
I asked who had taught, and who was
teaching, her; and VIXEN she had
| laughed and answered mo One," he
had drawn a long breath of amaze, and
| told her to come tomorrow, and every
morning, to the chapel and he would
train her voice himself. SO that, one day.
she should be a great singer, and have
the world ut her feet.
But, to her surprise, only anger
kindled in her mothers eyes as she
half-raised herself on her couch, in the
extreme of her Indignation.
"a singer indeedr she exclaimed,
scornfully. 'Ah, it is to this that loss
of fortune has brought me-that my
child should be thus insulted! A sing
er-one of those sirens who worked to
me-but what am saying?" and she
fell back white and fainting.
Gisella dared not refer to the subject
again, but she understood it all very
little-so little that she went to the
Kapelmeister, in the little German town,
and asked him what she should do.
He patted her fair, f1axen head. and
looked very thoughtful as he listened.
Let me hear you sing again. my
child" he said. simply. 'After, can
tell you best"
Unhesitatingly Gisella obeyed. Stand
ing by his side, under the shadow of
the grand old organ, before which he
seated himself, she let her voice ring
out to its fullest extent.
Tears were in the mans eyes as, tho
song finished, he drew her toward him.
at is heavens gift you possess. Man
has no right to stifie it. Your mother
is Ill. nervous. and irritable; it needs
not that she should be troubled. Come
to me daily; we will make your voice
all that is possible, then we will leave
it to its own future"
For FIVE long years the organist kept
his promise. Sometimes Gisella could
not be spared, sometimes her mother
was too ill to be left alone; but gener-
ally, through storm or sunshine, the
straight young figure wended its way to
the gray old cathedral, rs unfailingly IA
though keeping some lovers tryst-as
indeed it was.
It was all that made the home-life
bearable. The money they had for
their needs was growing less. her moth
er's necessities for luxuries greater.
The best old wines were needed, the
physician said. to keep up the wasting
strength; the choicest food, to tempt the
failing appetite.
Poor little Gisella! Her will was so
great, her power so feeble.
'.If we were back in France, my own
sunny France" her mother would say,
II might get we'll and strong again;
here / cannot even die"
Gisella could not remember the sad
day, years agone, when they had left
Il
wished to see its fatal shores again.
She only realized the hopelessness of
her present desire. From whence could
the money come to enable them TO leave
the humble roof that sheltered them,
take the journey, and still have enough
for the morrow's needs?
Sad and sorrowful, she one day sought
her master. to find him awaiting her
with strangely-radiant face. She
opened her lips to speak, but he si-
fenced her, pointing to song before
him, and trying to frown.
''Singr' he commanded, land your
best. I am impatient waiting for YOU"
Wonderingly she obeyed, and soon
forgot all but the Joy of singing. At
the last note, the man sprang to his
feet, when to her amaze, another form
came from behind the organ, and ex-
tended to her his hand.
my child" the master said, ''the
opportunity have so long been waiting
for, has come. This gentleman, man
of great influence i'm the musical world.
has come here at my request to hear
you sing. We will together listen to
his verdict"
ut is wonderful! wonderfulr' assent
ed the stranger, while his dark eyes
searched tho lovely, young, DluSmnS
face before him. 1.-TWO years more
study and she will astOnish Paris. Give
her to me for that time, and l will see
that she has every advantage, and
will take upon myself the care of her
future"
The eyes of the organist sparkled-
this was success beyond his anticipa-
tiOns; but Gisella was dumb.
"You say nothing, my child" said
the maestro. '.Does not my plan please
youp"
ut Is impossible, SIR" she answered,
then. my mother would never con-
sent"
"Your mother! With such talent,
she would not encourage its fostering?
You are 20 rich. then, that money is no
objecta"
'-On the contrary, sir, we are very
poor; but my mother would rather
starve, think. than have me appear in
opera Yet We need money SO very
much"
"And. spite of her effort to be calm,
her lip quivered, and tears trembled on
her long lashes.
'You need money SO muchp' contin-
- ~ zoe