The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-03-21
A WHITE LILY.
Beu1lnlscence of Parepa.

Reu1nlscence of Parepa.
,,,a season of music was closing. Sat
lad with praise Parepa Rosa drew her
lam non around her shoulders, and stepping
Mo"i the private entrance OF the Grand
was about TO enter her carriage Wheh
Na9 oeo mi ladi.n in low pleading ac-
.lnts, arrested her attention. 1t was
celrfhe shrunken, mishapen form of
0ltff o FIin. the Italian street singer,
n 4;th his old violin under his arm; but
WV, u. face ~upturned in the gas-light,
..hopah pale and pinched, was as deli
IT. ~, cIlt as a cameo, while the eager
,."";stfnl LIGHT in the great, brilliant eyes,
No nuiver of entreaty in the soft Italian
'taicl held her for a moment against her
>aorts pndeavOr to save the annoyance
If hearing a beggar's plea.
"nWeIIn said the great singer, half inn
,atipnt. vet full of pity.
i:.W0uid mi Iadi please?' in sweet
hrokan English, and the slender brown
lands of the dwarf held up q fragrant
IiIy, with a crystal drop in its golden
30 YOU mean this lovely flower for
n,Dof A passionate gesture was his
answer. Taking the flower, Parelra
bent her stately head. you heard me
sing?"
Mi Iadi. | hid under the stair. Twas
Yesterday | heard the voice. Oh, mi
iadi, I could die! The words came
hrokenly from ~quivering lips, passion
atelv in earnest. The loud voice OF the
world she had just left had never shown
Parepa Rosa the power OF her grand
voice "a she saw it now IN these soft,
dark eyes atiame, and in the sobbing,
broken words, mi ladi, OH. my ladI-l
could die.n
"Child,H and her voice trembled,
meet ME here tomorrow at 81 and
holding the lily caressingly to her cheek
she stepped into her carriage and was
driven rapidly away.
1t was Parepa Rosa's last night. III
a box near the stage sat little Elm, IKE
one entranced. Grandly the clear voice
swelled its triumphant chords and rang
amid the arches with unearthly power
and sweetness. The slight frame OF tn
boy swayed and shook. and q look 81
rant. 50 intense, came on his face, yol
knew his very heart was stilled. Ihel
the wondrous voice thrilled softly, lik'
the faint sound Of bugles in the earl,
morn; again it's sweetness stole over yol
like the distant chimes of vesper bells
Encore followed encore. The curtain
rolled up for the last time, and as slmpl..
as possible the manager told the audi
ence of last nights incident and an
nounced that Parepa Rosa's farewell
them would be the simple balled wa
bled many a bitter day through the cit
streets by little Elfin, the Italian mus
elan.
Loud and prolonged was the applause
and at the first pause, sweeping IN VIII
roval grace, came our queen or sons
Al her breast was the fragrant Ill,
Queen, too, by right Of her beautiful, 81
tanned ~womenhood, as well as by tn
power of her sublime voice, she stood
moment, then san clearly and SOFT
the ballad with the restain OF "FareWel
sweet land.n Accompanying her can
the low sweet wall of little Films Vlohl
There was silence in that great house
the close; then a shout went up tht
shook the mighty pillars.
A whisper being heard that Parel
Rosa meant to educate the boy muslca
". the generous hearts OF a few opene
the gates of fortune for little Elm. L
day he is great and famous, tine p(
violinist,n and they call him to play
fore princes. ),
Parepa Parosa. God called thee IN tt
nerfcct ~womanhood, but thy voice llv
in our hearts, and at the last great df
it shall be written in shining letters
thy name. "Inasmuch as We did 1t un
the least of these, ye did it unto me"
81. Louis Republican.