Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-05-14


accost me but Tom Wilson. / do
not know which of us was most sur
prised.
"You here - he exclaimed.
tWhy, Mr.. Wilson, is this you?"
said /.
''May | ask what brings you to a
street like this alone?" asked he.
I hesitated little, then told him
the story of the broken vase. He
listened seriously, and when / told
him had found another to replace
the broken one, ne took the parcel
and said he would carry it, to pre-
serve it from accident.
1t was after luncheon when we
reached home, and Kate was in
most excited state of mind. 1t was
the day of the Wagner matinee Ma
turne was to sing, and we should be
late. 1t was no time for confessions.
So / started off at once, and Mr..
Wilson said he would 90 too. Mag
nificent as the music was, it could
not wholly crowd from my mind the
thought of the little italian cripple.
How l wished he could hear it.
After dinner that evening, l went
down from my room with the broken
vase and the new one in my hands.
[ told Kate of the accident, and was
about to tell her of my success in
finding another, when she said:
"Ohl that is always coming apart.
think it has done so a dozen times.
| stick it on with mucilage, but some
time l mean to have it thoroughly
mended.'
think my first sensation was one
of Indignation that my distress had
been so unnecessary. Afterward it
was a relief of course. | told them
of my trip down to Pine street, of
the queer little shop and the poor
little cripple. They scolded me we'll
for going alone to such a place, and
[ knew they were right. Tom said
he would 60 down the next day, and
see whether Luigi Capote would take
back the vase and refund the money,
for Kate would not keep the new one.
/ was so anxious to see the little
cripple again that l decided to go
with him. l really think Luigi was
glad to get his vase back again, for
there was something of the miser
about him. He restored my money.
which | confess was relief to me.
Then / asked if | night see Giuseppe.
he smiled as l asked this, and led
the way to the poor little room. Tom
followed us. There lay the child--as
pale, as dirty, as patient as before.
/ laid my hand on his, and, in ans
wer to his upward glance and smile,
kissed him again. This time flush
of pleasure overspread his wan face.
He spoke to his. uncle (for | had
| found he was a sisters child not
Luigi's OWN, and l presume he asked
if | would sing again, for the old
man turned to me with the request,
hesitatingly made that | would do
so. / at once complied, and sang
song after song to cheer the little
sufferer.
1t was most fortunate that Tom
was doctor, for after | had finished
singing he examined the little fellow
and said he would send him some
medicine. He did SO, and day after
day went to see him. | often went,
too, and really lost much of my in
terest in the festival from the greater
pleasure | took in these visits. |
prolonged my stay in New York part
ly on Guiseppe's account.
But Tom could not save the poor
little life. One day we found the old
man watching anxiously for us. He
said Giuseppe had eaten nothing
since the morning before, and was
sinking fast. 1t was too true, as we
saw ON entering the room. A ray of
sunlight came through the small, high
window, and rested on his white
brow. His breathing was labored,
but there was no other sign of dis
tress. How l longed to tell him of
the angel band who were waiting to
take him to the green pastures and
still waters of the heavenly land. But
my only resource was song. Tom
Joined me as | sang some old church
chorals, that were so full of meaning
that | felt sure the departing soul
would recognize it. My tears flowed.
but | kept my voice clear enough to
preserve the music. At last the eyes
looked into mine with joy unuttera'
BILE, and seemed to say that there
was heavenly music too, for he utter
ed some words which led his uncle
to mutter: "The angels are singing
to my boy Then gentle sob
and all was over. The soul of GUS
eppe had left its feeble tenement, ant
had entered the presence of Him wh'
said: .sOf such is the Kingdom o
Heaven
The funeral was very quiet, onl
: Luigi, Kate, Tom and / attending it
The old man would have no clergy
man but he let Tom read few vel
ses and then we sang
{; Rest spirit. rest
S | don't know how it was that ToI
and | became so dear to each othe
b during those days, but we seemed
s have been friends for years when b
% | +ool- NO bop,o 70 mamma and W OF