Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-04-15
Little Pierre.
The Children's Museum.

| idlfiCIlccS ICIlCIf DOy, sat lluIll lllllIl
, by the bedside of his sick mothe
, There was no bread in the close
and for the whole day he had nc
tasted food. Yet he sat hummins
, to keep up his spirits. Still at time
he thougetO of his loneliness and hun
ger, and he could scarcely keep tn
tears from his eyes, for he kney
nothing would be so grateful to hi
poor invalid mother asa good, swee
orange, and yet he had not a penn,
in the world.
The little song he was singing wa
his own-one he had composed witt
air and WOrdS-fOr the child was
genius.
He went to the window, and look
ing out saw a man putting up ;
great bill with yellow letters, an
nouncing that Madame Malibral
would sing that night in public.
80, if could only go ~ thought
little Pierre; and then, pausing 1
moment, he elapsed his hands; hi
eyes lighted with new hope. Run
ming to the little stand he smootheC
doWd his yellow curls, and taking
from a little box some old stained
paper, gave one eager glance at his
mother, who slept, and ran speedily
from the house.
"Who did you say is waiting fol
me?" said Madame to her servant.
81 am already worn out with com
pany."
"It is only a very pretty little boy
with yellow curls, who says if he
can just see you he is sure you'll not
be sorry, and he will not keep you
moment"
so, well, let him comev ~ said the
beautiful singer, with a smile; 81
can never refuse children"
Little Pierre came in, his hat un-
der his arm, and in his hand little
roll of paper. With manliness, I'M
usual for child, he walked straight
to the lady, and bowling said:
81 came to see you BECAUSE my
mother is very sick, and we are too
poor to get food and medicine. 1
thought that perhaps if you would
only sing my little song at some of
your grand concerts maybe some
publisher would buy it for small
sum, so could get food and medi-
cine Tor my mOtnef.
The beautiful woman rose from
her seat. Very tall and stately she
was. She took the little roll of pa
per from his hand, and lightly
hummed the air.
"Did you compose ?'' she asked
-"you "a child And the words :?
Would you like to come TO my con-
cert ?" she asked.
SO, yes ~ and the boys eyes
grew bright with happiness "but /
couldn't leave my mother"
care of your mother for the evening,
and here is a crown, with which
you may go and get food and medi-
cine. Here is, also, one of my tick
cts. Come tonight that will adj
nit you to a seat near me-"
Almost beside himself with joy,
Pierre bought some oranges, and
many a little luxury besides, and
carried them home to the POOR inva-
lid, telling her, not without tears, of
his good fortune.
When evening came, and Pierre
was admitted to the concert hall, he
felt that never in his life had he
been in so grand place. The mu-
sic, the myriad of lights, the beauty,
the flashing diamonds and the rust
ling ofsilk, bewildered his eyes and
brain.
At last she came, and the child
sat with his glance riveted on her
glorious face. Could he believe that
the grand lady, all blazing with
jewels, and whom everybody seem
ed to worship, would really sing
his little song?
BreathIess he waited. The band,
the whole band, struck up a little
plaintive melody +; he knew it, and
clapped his hands for joy. And o,
how she sang it? 1t was so simple,
so mournful; many bright eye
dimmed with tears, and naught
could be heard but the touching
words of that little song-O, so very
touching!
Pierre walked home as if he were
moving in the air. What cared he
for money now? The greatest sing
er in all Europe had sung his little
song, and thousands had wept at his
grief.
The next day he was frightened
at visit from Madame Malibran.
She laid her hands on his yellow
curles, and, turning to the sick wo-
man, she said:
"Your little boy, madame, has
brought you fortune. was offer
ed this morning, by the best pub
Usher in London, f300 for his little
song, and after he has realized GER
tain amount from the sale, little
Pierre is to share the profits. Mad
anne, thank God that your son has a
gift from heaven"
The noble-hearted singer and tho
poor woman wept together. AS to
Pierre, always mindful of Him who
watches over the tried and tempted,
he knelt down by his mothers bed
side and uttered simple but, elO-
quent prayer, asking Gods blessing
on the kind lady who had deigned |
to notice their affiiction.
The memory of that prayer made !
the singer even more tender hearted
and she who was the idol of Eng
lands nobility went about doing |
good. And in her early, happy |
death, he who stood by her bed and |
her pillow, and lightened
her last moments by his undying |
affection, was little Pierre of former
rich, accomplished, and
the most talented composer of the
day