The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1885-12-31
.roaanrs cnaurHAs.


nwas not house nor school house.
II vas high and dark like cavern.
On ono sids plaza vail vent up into
The dark somewhere overhead. On The
other stood . rou Of great wooden pipes
With black mouths al in line.l like the
mouths Of dsssons, With teeth ssd great
ears st The sidoA Beyond thsss - Z
piece Of heavy wood work. and further .
great arches stcod h ths dim light. Aad
in one place vas . bit Of colored light
sad part Of IN angels facs shining like
gold.
Close 10 the row Of black mouthed pipes
stood Tommy. tho bellows boy. II VA
ssn o'clock ia the morning and BE- vH
dragging the wooden handle mp and down
- fast - his little hands could move. Az
il went down his long yellow hair fell
over bic blus syes, and y i vent up. the
locks few back above bis broad. vhiss
forehead again. His task vas bard
one. Il was Christmas, The four sing.
srs Who stood in front Of the organ. sang
loag and loud. and he huge instrument
rsassd asd sinnns 6nssns - AA sonld
hssAly thisk.
Poor Tommy It was sorry Christmas
for him. Al the long rehearsal the night
before, bis arms and body had sched 90
that when he went TO bed be could hardly
sleep, and to-day there 10 . great deal o.
music They ars singing about the Christ
child. and peace and good vill 70 men.
The great pipes seem to thunder around
him. He would like to stop and listen,
only that little piece Of white lead before
him. that shows. whether there ID wind
enough in the organ. keeps dancing up
and down, and he must blow and blow or
the music will stop.
The anthems are long, so very long,
aud his arms aohe, and his head aches
with what seems TO him in his weariness.
the growls that roll out Of the dragons
mouth. Still they keep singing about
good will toward men, and Tommy tolls
away At the heavy bellows Ifthey would
only stop for . short time. On and on
flows the glorious music, and Tommy
pushes up the bellows with sigh and
presses it downlby hanging on to it by all
bis little weight.
Therel The choir had stopped. Now
there will be little rest while the minis
ter prays. The tired boy sinks down up
on the floor his head resting on one Of the
dragons ears upon the side Of the huge
organ. aud shuts his eyes. There is no
seat, not even stool, and he must cit on
the Aoor. He does not mean to sleep, on.
ly to est-rest that his poor little body
longs for. The organist will knock on the
wall when he . 70 begin again.
II was . very long prayer, and the
tired boy after trying in vain 70 keep the
heavy lids from closing over the weary
syes, isll fast asleep in the great dark or
gan loft.
Suddenly thsro WAS little knock on
the wall. Tonmy's head sank lower, asd
bis poor litsls blistsrsd hands fell listless.
y on the AooE.
Another snd loudsr knock. Tommy
paid no hsed ard the knockiss increased.
Then il vas quiet FOR smoment, and :
mans step was heard on the creaking
aoor Then Tommy received crael
blow on the head, and woke up to And tho
organist standing over him ready to strike
Asain.
He crept ont OF reach Of the threatening
hand and tried to get up, but his little
legs refused TO hold him.
Take hold of The levsr and blow for
vour life. or I'll
You'll whsti said asweet voice behind
him. sgS
Tommy locked up and saw the soprano
'inger beside the orgsnist Tommy gazed
IN the grand lady in her elegant silk, and
;hought that one Of the angels had stepped
lown from the painted windows.
For shamel said she. TO strike the boy.
Poor little fellow. be was tired and no
wonder. Think how you have used the
,rgan last night and to-day.
But the voluntary. II must go on.
There the prayer is over. What shall !
los Get up Hurry It's no time now
% rest.
Tommy got up aud took hold Of the
bellows handle to keep from falling down.
The orgspist slunk away but the beautiful
sdy remained. Tommy looked timidly
Up aud said:
vas tired ma'sm. and its Christmas
lay. and =
Here he began 70. drag up the heavy
,andls, and the music broke out in .
ierce roar and then died away with
yroan and squsAk--and that va all
hat Tommy knew sbout it.
The next thing be knew. he felt himself
,eld ia something soft and warm. He
opened his eyes. and the face Of the beau
,iiul LADY vas close to his. She vas hold
ng hin in her arms. He felt the soft
'ilk next his face. He wAs 80 tired, and
1 vas - sies asd vssmthas hs shut his
yea wbatvss M Was hs dead and
zone 10 hssvss? Was this one Of tho sn-
ysls his mother spoke about when she
vens awayi Perhaps u vas bis real
mother.
He opened his eysa- No. There vas
he organ. The great pipes were boom.
ng beside him. and oh. hov quserl The
snor man, With his white gloves vas
blowing the organ.
DO you fssl bettsr. my childi whisper
u the lady.
Yes'm.
And we're yon sicki
Nom. VS. 20 tired. There was .