The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-04-05

The season Of music Was closing. Sati.
ated with praise, Parcpa Rosa drew her
fur wrap around her shoulders and stop
ping from the private entrance Of the
'Grand" was about TO enter her carriage
when "Please mi ladi,' in low. pleading
accents, arrested her attention. IL was
only the shrunken. misshapen form Of lit
tie Ehin. the Italian street singer. with his
old violin under his arm; Int the face up.
turned in the gaslight, although pale and
pinched. was as delicatley cut rs . cameo
while the eager, wistful light in the great
brilliant eyes. the quiver OF entreaty in the
soft italian voice, held her for moment
against her escorts endeavor TO save her
the annoyance Of hearing beggar's plea
"WellY' said the great singer, half i'm
patient, yet full Of pity.
Would mi ladi please9' in sweet bro
ken English; aud the slender brown hands
Of the dwarf held mp a fragrant white lily.
with crystal drop in its golden heart.
"Do you mean this lovely flower for
me?" Apasionate gesture was her answer.
Taking the flower, Parepa Rosa bent hea
stately head. "You heard me singa'
"Mi ladi, hid under the stair. Twas
yesterday heard the voice. Oh, mi ladi,
mi ladi, could diel' The words came
brokenly from the quivsring lips, passion.
ately in earnest. The loud voice Of the
world she had just left had never shown
Parepa Rosa the power Of her grand voice.
as she saw it now in these soft, dark eyes
afame. and in the sohbing. broken words,
mi ladi, OIL my ladi could die.
"Child," and her voice trembled, "meet
me hero tomorrow at ive." And holding
the lily carelessly to her check, she STEP
ped into her carriage and was driven away.
1t was Parepa Rosa's last night. In o
box near the stage sat little Eliin, like one
entranced. Grandly the clear voice
swelled its triumphant cords, and rang
amid the arches with unearthly power and
sweetness. The slight frame OF the boy
swayed and shook, and look so wrapt
SO intense, came on his face, you knew |
his very heart was stihed. Then the won
derous voice thrilled softly, like the faint
sound Of bugles in the early morn; again |
its sweetness stole over you like the dis
tant chimes Of vesper bells. Encore after
encore followed. The curtain rolled up |
for the last time, and as simple as possible
the manager told the audience Of last
nights incident and announced that Pare
pa Rosa's farewell to them would be the
simple ballad warbled many bitter day
through the streets by little Elfn. the
Italian musician.
Long and prolonged was the applause,
and at first pause, sweeping in with royal
grace, came our queen Of song. At her
breast was the fragrant lily. Queen too,
by right of her beautiful, unstained wo-
manhood, as well as the power Of her sub
lime voice, as she stood moment, then
sang clearly and softly the ballad with it's
refrains OF Farewell, sweet land" Ac-
her. came the low sweet
wall of little Elfn's violin. There was
sslslce in that great house at the close,
then q shout went up that shook the
mighty pjilss4. a whisper being heard
that Parepa Rosa 1psant W educate the
boy muscisn. the geperops Asafts Of few
had opened the gates .oi fortune for theft
little Elm. To-day he is great and fs.l
nous, "tbe boy violinist," and they call
him to play for princes.
Parepa Rosal God bless thee in thy
perfect womanhood, but thy voice lives in
our hearts, and at the last great day 1t
pball be written in shining letters on thy
nas4e; "Iuasmuch as ye did it unto the
least II these, 20 did it unto me-