The Nevada picayune., 1885-05-14
Parepa and Elhn.

Academy of music, was about to enter her carriage when Please, me ladie," in low pleading accents, arrested her attention. It was on l- ths shrunkcn, misshapen form of little Elfn, the Italian street singer with his old violcn under his arm, but the face upturned in the gas-light, though pale and pinched, was as delicately cut as cameo, while the eagcr, wistful light in tho great, brilliant eyes, the quiyer of entrsaty in the soft Italian voice. held her for a mo- ment against her escorts en deavor to save her the annoyance of hear ing beggar's plea.
 Well" said the great singer, halfimpatient, yet full of pity,
 "Would mo ladie please" in sweet broken English. And the slender, brown hand of the dwarf held up fragrant white lily, with a crystal drop in its golden heart.
 Do you mean thls lovely flower for mefo
 A passionate gesture was his an- swer.
 Taking the flower, Parepa-Ros sa bent her stately head: "Yon heard me sing''
 "Me ladie, l hid under the stair, Twas yesterday, l heard the volce' 0 me ladie, me ladie, 1 could die" The words came brokenly from uuivering lips, s,passionately earnest The loud voice of the world she had just left had never shown Par epa.Rossa the power of her grand voice as she saw It now Tn those soft dark eyes afame, and in the sobbing, broken words, Me ladie, o me ladie, I could die"
 "Childw and her voice trembled, "neet ne here tomorrow at five" And holding the lily carressingly to her cheek, tlrA stepphd into her carriage and was driven away.
 It was Parepn RoSSa's last night In box near %he stage sat little Effin like one entranched. Grand ly the clear voice swelled its tri- umphant chords snd rang amid the arches with unearthly power and sweetness. The slight frame of tho boy swayed and shook, and a look so rapt, 80 intense came on his face that you knew his very heart was stilled. Then the won drouc voice thrilled seftly like the faint sound of bugles in the early morn; again its sweetness stole over you like the distant chimes oi vespcr bella. Encore after encore 1 followed, The curtain rolled up for the last time, and as simple as possible the manager told the an- dience of last nigtt's incident, and announced that Parcpa-ROssa'' farewell to them would be the sim pie ballad warblcd many bite day through the city streets by lit, tie Elfin, the Italian musician.
 Loud and prolonged was the ap- plause, and at the first pause sweeping in with Teyal grace came our queen of song. At her breas was the fragrant lily. Queen, too by right of her beautiful, unstaineC womanhood, as we'll ss by the pow CT of her sublime voice, she stood a moment, then snng clearly and softly the ballad with it's refrain O Farewell, Sweet sLand;" accom- panying her came the low, swee wall of little Elfn's violin, There was'a silence in that great house at the close; then a scout went up that shook the mighty pillars. A whisper being heard that Par epa-Rosa meant to educate the boy unsteady, the generous hearts of q few had opened the gates O | fortune tor little Elfn. To-day he is great and famous, aud they call him to play before princes.
 Parepa Rosa, God called thee tc thy perfect womanhood, but thy voice lives in otr hearts, and al the last great day it shall be writ ten in shining letters on thy name; "Inasmuch ss ye did it unto one of the least of these, ye did it unto me."-Detroit Post.
 In the ruins of Pompeii there was found a petrifed woman, who instead of flying from the doomed