Connecticut western news., 1882-06-07
VOL. XI.

! to purchase for GuSGchen, one or those delicious little tarts he saw in a shop window the other day. He stood irreso- lutely for moment, for it was his cus- tom to obey, strictly, his sisters in functions but the desire to procure a pleasant surprise for her overcame every scruple, and. buttoning his well-worn jacket around his slight frame, he took his violin and went out into the cold, pitiless storm.
 Fritz had purpose before him and paid no heed to the falling snow as he trudged along stopping to play an air whenever he could attract an audience, and counting eagerly the pennies thrown to him by the sympathetic pe- destrians who hurried by scarcely paus- ing to glance at the tiny musician.
 At last he reached the place where the tarts were for sale. He did not know how much they would cost, but after gazing longingly through the window at the tempting display of deli cscies, he ventured in and timidly asked for one, placing meanwhile, his hardly earned pennies in row on the coun- ter. He was frightened at his own boldness, for he had never been in so large shop before but the thought of Gustchen's pleased surprise gave him | courage.
 The proprietor, good natured Ger man, eyed the small customer, and, counting over the money, said:
 "This is not enough, my little man. " Then observing the expression of disap- pointment on the child's face, added, kindly "Play me tune on your vio- lin and you shall have the tart"
 Fritz gladly obeyed, and when he fin ished the air, took his coveted prize and crept out into the darkness again with oh such 8 happy little heart beating under his tattered jacket.
 He had been so absorbed in his mis- sion of love as not to notice how far he had wandered from home. As the child walked slowly along, his illy-cIad form was chilled and numb from the cold that had grown more intense as the pail of night settled over the city. Reach ing square where the lamps were gleaming brilliantly and sleighs filled with merry pleasure parties were dash ing along at a reckless pace, he paused, fully realizing the danger of crossing the broad thoroughfare but beyond it Gustch was perhaps waiting for him, wondering where he had gone. Taking | a frmer grip on his treasures, his vio- lin and the paper containing the tart, he attempted to pick his way between the passing vehicles.
 His eyes were turned in one direc- tion, and, in the blinding snow, he did not see the prancing, restless horses, terrified at the sound of the bells, that were coming nearer and nearer. Is there no guardian angel at hand to snatch him from the jaws of death The occupant of the sleigh saw the child's danger, and with hel culean strength made mighty effort to hold the horses back, knowing that one moment of time would prevent that little life from being extinguished forever. At the tightening of the curb the frightened animals made desperate plunge forward. Fritz turned, but it was too late to escape ; there was no elasticity in the stiffened, half frozen limbs when he attempted to spring aside. He was dazed with ter TOT, and stretching forth his hands called, "Gustchen Little mother ]" and the next instant was trampled under the horses feet.
 The animals, as if conscious of their fearful work, stopped suddenly. The driver jumped from the sleigh, and rais. ing the mangled little body, placed il tenderly on the seat, wrapping the fu1 robes around it, and turning the horses in the direction from whence they haG come, drove to fine house on one O the avenues near by. The family phy sician was hastily summoned, and pro nounced the child's injuries mortal The accident was reported at the near est police station, and from there tele graphed to the various precincts throughout the city, that in case thu lads friends should apply to the police they would be told where to find him Gustchen was alarmed when she re turned and found Fritz was absent Making inquiries of the neighbors, sh learned that no one had seen or heard c
 him for several hours. Frau Humle 3 remarked that she would probably fin, him at the station house, as she hear f. the police were ordered to arrest al
 street musicians. The girl, whose hear t throbbed painfully with an undefine s dread, went to the station house, wher
 news of the accident had just been re | ceived. The captain, pitying the lonely terrified child, advised her to have tn u father or mother of the boy go with he to the house where he was lyine @ wounded
 elf 1t is my Fritz whose life has bee y crushed out of him, he has no fathe no mother, no one on earth to care fo = him but me, she walled in tearle. |, agony.
 The address was given her, and sl y started out alone, with the mighty weigl e of an approaching desolation pressir
 heavily upon her. She was too mue O excited to be awed at the grandeur s the house, and when, in answer to e violent pull at the bell, the door W 1T opened, said, in trembling tones: o "My brother-a little musician " lost They told me"
 is 'Yes, my child. Come in, replied le kindly voice, and she was drawn into
 warm ljpht hall