The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1881-06-21
GIFT.

1t was the child's life. the voice which
heaven had given her. She sang rs the
nightingales sing. with no thought that
other birds held their notes to listen.
but because 1t was her way OF express
ing inner joy, and gladness and happi-
ness.
She could forget, in letting the clear.
young voice soar upward TO the blue.
unfettered sky. the daily toll. the home
drudgery. the querulous invalid mother
ALI that had made her daily existence
often very hard, well nigh impossible.
to bear, but for the h~eayen-born solace
within her. ItfiA 1851 ttit.
One day, when she was but eleven
years old. she had flown into her moth
eyes sparkling.
The Herr Kapelmeister had heard her
sing, she said, and had stopped and
asked who had taught. and who was
teaching, herr; and VIXEN she had
laughed and answered mo one," he
had drawn n long breath of amaze, and
iold her to come tomorrow. and every
morning. to the chapel and he would
train her voice himself, SO that, one day, 4,
she should be a great singer, and havo
The world at her feet.
But, to her surprise, only anger
kindled in her mothers Dyes as she
half-raised herself on her couch, in tho
extreme of her indignation.
"a singer indeedr she exclaimed,
i~cornfully. "Ah. it Is to this that loss
pf fortune has brought me-that my
child should be thus insulted! A sing
br-one Of those sirens who worked to
me-but what am / sayingP" and she
ell back white and fainting.
Gisella dared not refer to the subject
igain, but she understood 1t all very
sttle-so little that she went to the
Kapelmeister, in the little German town.
and asked him what she should do. !.
He patted her fair, flaxen head. and
BOXED very thoughtful a ho listened.
Let mo hear you sing again, my
child" no said. simply. ''After, l a
lell you best"
Unhesitatingly Gisella obeyed. Stand
ing by his side, under the shadow Of
The grand old organ, before which no
coated himself. she let her voice ring
tut to it, fullest extent.
Tears were in the mans eyes as, the
ong finished. hc drew her toward him.
at II heavens gift yon possess. Man
las no right to stife It Your mother
Q i'll, nervous. and irritable; It needs
rot that she should be troubled. Como
to me daily; we will make your voice
all that is possible. then we will leave
1t to its own future"
For five long years the organist kept
his promise. Sometimes Gisella could
not be spared, sometimes her mother
was too i'll to BIO left alone; but gener-
ally, through storm or sunshine, tho
straight young figure wendell Its way to
the gray old cathedral, as unfailingly as
though keeping some lovers tryst-as
indeed it was.
1t was all that made the home-lifo
bearable. The money they had for
their needs was growing less. her moth
er's necessities for luxuries greater.
Tho best old wines were needed, tho
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.
"lf We were back in France, my own
sunny France" her mother would say,
Il might get well and strong again;
here l cannot even die"
Gisclla could not remember the sad
day, years agone, when they had left
! France. because her mother never
wished TO see its fatal shores again.
She only realized the hopelessness OF
her preset desire. From whence could
the money come TO enable them tNleavc
the humble roof that sheltered them.
take the journey, and still have enough
for tine morrow's needs?
Sad and sorrowful. she one day sought
her master, to find him awaiting her
with strangcly-radiant face. Sho
opened her lips TO speak. but he ST.
fenced her, pointing to a song before
him, and trying 10 frown.
''Singr' he commanded. .and your
best. IN impatient waiting for YOU"
Interchangeable obeyed, and soon
forgot all but the joy of singing. Al
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 l have so long been waiting
for, has come. This gentleman, a man
of great influence in the musical world.
has come here at my request TO hear
You sing. W. will together listen to
his verdict"
ut is wonderful! wonderfully assent
ed tho stranger, while his dark eyes
searched the lovely, young, blushinc
face before him. 1.-TWO years moro
study and she will astonish Paris. Give
her 10 me for that time, and 1 will sec
that she has every advantage, and !
will take upon myself tho care of her
future"
The eyes of the organist sparkled-
this was success beyond his anticipa-
tons; but Gisella was dumb.
You say nothing, my child" said
the maestro. docs not my plan please
your"
'It is impossible, SIR" she answered,
then. my mother would never CON
sent"
"Your mother! With such q talent,
she would not encourage its fosteringP
You are SO rich, then, that money Is no
objectP"
.'On the contrary, sir, we arc 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.