The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-01-01
he \ great bundle was in reality sleep.

ing child.
Yes, q child, and q little one-a DO.
OF not more than seven years, with elf
ish brown locks, and eyelashes which
swept the olive tint Of his cheek. AL
curled up in heap, in clothes which
man might have worn, 50 big and shape
less were they, with one arm under his
head for a pillow. and the other tightly
grasping . violin. Far had he wan
dered in the cold wintry air, until, at
tractcd by the light and warmth of the
great church, he had stolen in for shell
ter, and then rs his little ears drank in
the melody Of the rehearsing choir, and
the warmth comfOrted him, he fell fast
asleep. lie was dreaming now Of the
warm sunny land Of his birth: olive.
trees and orchards, purple clusters Of
the vineyards, dOnkeys laden with
oranges, and the blue sky Of Naples
shining over the blue bay. Their, in
his dream. an angel came floating down
ont OF the pure ether, waiting sweet
perfumes on its white wings, aud sing
ing-Oh! what heavenly strains!-till
his little soul was filled with joy; for the
angel seemed TO be his mother who had
died, and her kind voice again saluted
him: and he answered softly, "Madrs
Mia!"
''Poor child" said Mrs. Morton. soft.
~, lit seems pity to waken him, but
We must do il: he cannot STAY here all
night" The old organist touched him:
but his sleep was too sound for a touch
to arouse him, and Mrs. Morton had to
again and again lift his head and stroke
his little brown hand. before, with
amazed and widely fearful looks, he an
swercd them.
"WhO are you, child. and what are
you doing here?" asked the organist.
'.rm Toni. Toni" was the answer,
and he began to cry. 'Ob, please let
me go; the Padrsne will kill me-
why will he kill you, and why are
you l,cre?'
''lie will kill me because have no
money. lhave lost, also. my way"
''liave you no home, no mother?'
asked Mrs. Morton, gently.
mo, signora, no, madame, no moth.
or. We all live, Baptiste and Vincenzo
and /, with the Padrone. We play the
harp and the violin; but l was tired,
and | could not keep with the others,
and they scolded me, oh, so sharply!
and ! was weary and cold, and crept in
here where the angels sing, and it was
SO beautiful | could not 90 away"
The Organist muttered, ''Police," at
which the child again sobbcd violently.
''ies, to the station house, Of course,
he must go.'
But Mrs. Morton remembered the
three faces asleep on their pillows at
home, and As she looked at this tear.
dirty little gypsy, she said to
the Organist, IL will take care of him
tonight" So, under the stars. the
Christmas stars, cleaning SO brightly,
she led the little wanderer home.
All was still and safe in the little
house. mot y creature was stirring,
not even a mouse" The fire still
cleaned in the kitchen and the sitting
room, and it was the work of only q
lew moments TO divest the little mnsi-
cian Of his uncoutl. garments, to pop
him into the tub Of hot suds, to scrub |
him well, until his lean little BODY |
shone like bronze. to slip him into . |
to give him slice of bread |
md butter, and then to tuck him up OF |
The coy lounge.
The children slept like tops, and the
'ired little mother was glad to say hex
prayers, and lie down beside them.
The stars were still shining when she
woke; for Christmas. day would be q
busy one, and there were no moments |
70 lose. Already the milkman was at
lo0r. and the hands OF the kitchen
'lock pointed to six.
Hank! what was that?
A long. low. sweet sound, like 4 voice
Ealing her. She listened, and again it
'ame. "Glory to God in the highest,
md on earth peace. good will toward
men," SO it seemed to breathe. Then
! rose in gay carol, sweet gushing
thanksgiving, aud the children came
umbling down in their nightgOwns;
hey rushed to the door of the sitting
DOM, and there beside his improvised
'ed stood the young musician, playing
N his violin rs If all the world were his
ud'ence. His brown eyes flashed now
Nth light, and then grew dark and
cnder, rs he drew the sweet sounds
ut. The children gazcd in wonder.
nent: where had this child come FROM
al he dropped fronrthe stars? had an
NIGEL come among them? He played
n. and on, until, from sheer fatigue,
e put his instrument down. Then
eddie and Clover and Daisy came
bout him; they touched his hands, his
urly locks, his violin, to see if all were
cal. Then they whirled round the
Dom in mad dance of delight. for the
loiher had uncovered the tree, and it
as really Christmas morning.
All. what a happy day for poor little
oni! How nice he looked in Teddie's
othes! how gentle he was with Daisy!
Ow he frOlicked with Clover! and ]
hen Mrs. Morton came from church,
NV softly he played all his pretty
elodies for her! 1t was day of feast
I'd gladness; and when, to her surprise
ID pleasure. a committee Of church
,ople waited upon Mrs. Morton to
We her purse through the mcshes Of
hich glittered gold pieces, she said
zen and there that Toni should never
, to the harsh and cruel Padronc :
,ain. !
Perhaps some time as YOU listen to.a
Vect voice singing to the accompani- +
ent of 4 violin you may think of Mrs. q