The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-03-22
A Renaissance of Parepa Rosa.

"A hemlnlScence OF Parepa Rosa.
The season Of music Was closing.
Satiated with praise, Parepa Rosa
drew her fur wrap around her Shout
ders, and, stepping from the private
sntrance Of the Grand" was about to
enter her carriage when "Ploase, mi
laid" in low pleading accents, arrest
ed her attention, 1t was only the
shrunken. EEnpen form Of little
Eltin, the ~ street-singer, with
his old vioiIn 0iitler his arm; but the
face upturned in the gaslight, though
pale and pinchcd, was as delicately
cut as a cameo, while the eager,
wistful light in the great, brilliant
eyes, the CULVER Of entreaty in the
soft Italian voice held her for mo-
ment against her escorts endeayar to
save the annoyance OF hearing q beg
CARS plea.
"Well," said the great singer, half
impatient, yet full Of pity.
"Would mi ladi please?" In sweet
broken English, and the slender
brown hands Of the dwarf held up a
fragrant lily, with crystal drop in its
golden heart.
DO you mean this lovely flower
for mel" A passionate gesture was his
answer. Taking the flower Parepa
Rosa bent her stately head. "You
heard me singH"
uni ladi, l hid under the stair
Twas yesterday l heard the voice.
Oh, mi ladi, miladi, l could diep The
words came brokenly from quivering
lips passionately 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 aflame,
and in the sobbing, broken words,
"Mi ladi, oh, mi lapi, could dep
Child" and her voice trembled,
inject me here tomorrow at g." and
holding the lily caressingly to her
cheek she stepped into her carriage
and was driven away.
1t was Parepa Rasa's last night. In
a box near the stage sat little Elm
like one entranced. Grandly the
clear voice swelled its triumphant
chords, and rang amid the arches
J with unearthly power and sweetness
The slight frame of the boy swayed
and shook, and look so rapt, so in.
, tence, came on his face, you knew his
veay heart was stilled. Then the
wondrous voice trilled softly, like the
faint sound of buglcs in the early
} morn again its sweetness stole over
+ You like the distant chimes of vespel
bells. Encore after encore followed
| The curt ain rolled up for the last
time, and as simply as possible the
, manager told the audiance OF last
nights incident and announced thai
, Parepa Rosa's farwell to them would
> be the simple ballad warbled many !,
bitter day through the city streets b.
] little Elm, tho Italian musician.
e Long and prolonged was the ap
$ plause, and at the first pause, sweep
ing with royal grace, came our queer
of song. At her breast was tho fra
grant lily. Queen, too, by right o
her beautiful, unstaincd womanhoo,
:, as well as by the power OF her sublim,
voice, she stood a moment, then san,
clearly and softly the ballad with it
refrain of Farewell, sweet land
! Accompanying her came the low
sweet wall of little Films violin
:, There was silence in the great hous
g at the close, then shout went OH
that shook the mighty pillars.
A whisper being heard that Parep'
Rosa meant to educate the boy music
ally, the generous hearts Of fe,
!, opened the gates OF fortune for it'll
Elfin. To-day he is great and famous
"the boy violinist," and they call hir
!, to play before princes.
!. Parepa Rosa God called thee in tn
perfect womanhood, but thy voic
= lives in our hearts, and at the las
! great day it shall be written in shinin
: letters on thy name :"Inasmuch as y
did it unto the least OF these, we did
unto me-"