Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-11-24
TIE Little Musician.

How many of the readers of Young
People ever think of the great results
that may flow from one little act of
kindness? /
More than fifty years ago the IA
nous singer Madame Malibran was sit.
ting in her room in one of the great
hotels of London. She was very tired,
for she had just been holding a large
reception, during which some of the.
greatest people in England had visited
her; Word was brought her that a lit
tie lad wished to. speak with her. In
spite of her fatigue she gave orders that
he should be admitted. [
A little faxen-haired fellow of soma
ten years timidly entered the room. and
taking a roll of paper from his pocket,
said: madame, everybody tells me
that you are sogood, SO very good, to-
the poor. 1 do not come to beg, mad
anne, though we are so poor that my
dear mamma, who is very ill, has to do
without both food and medicine. I
thought if you would sing my little
song at one of your concerts perhapst
somebody would buy it, and 1 could
get the wine and medicine the ioctori
has ordered"
Tears stood in his eyes as he made his
request, and as Madame Malibran took
the manuscript and rapidly hummed the
lines over, they rolled slowly down his
cheeks.
"Did you write this music, a littla
child like you?" !,
Eyes, madame"
The lady took from her purse a coin
and q no,.N and ,ouoccal f1a,, s-{1 %b11
boys hand.
"Run home as quickly as you cam
she said, "and get for your mother all
she needs, and this evening come to my
concert, to which the ticket will admits
you" {
Pierre did as he was told, and when
evening came he went to the theater,l
presented his ticket, and was taken to-
a seat away down neal the stage. The
lights, the warmth, and the bright col
ors, to say nothing of the crowd of
handsomely dressed gentlemen and
ladies, bewildered and dazzled him, and
he could only think: sob, if mammal
were but here, I should be S % happy!"
Presently he glanced at the platform,
and there stood his lovely lady. She
began to sing, and little Pierre's heart
throbbed as if it would burst as the
familiar notes of his own little fell
upon his ear. Its simple melody
touched the audience, too, and it was
sung again, and at it's close the house
rang with applause. (
How the rest of the concert passed
Pierre never knew. He staid until it
was all over. and then hurried home:
and told his wonderful news.
Several days after, Madame Malibran
called upon Pierre's mother and told
her that a London publisher had offered
three hundred pounds for the song,l
which offer she had accepted, and pour
ing into the astonished woman's lap a
pile Of notes and gold, said:
MADAME, your son will n day be-
a great composer. Thank God for thel
gift He has given him."
Pierre and his sick mother mingled
their tears and thanks to one who
seemed to them like an angel sent from;
Heaven. With the money thus obtained
Pierre was enabled to pursue his mu-
steal studies, andin after-years verified
the great singers prediction, and be-
came one of the most talented compos-
ers of his day.
What might little Pierre's fate have
been if a cruel servant had sent him
away from the great singer door, or if
Madame Malibran had refused to listen
to his timid little appealp-Harper's
Young People