The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-23
PETR0'S ANTHEM.

!
! and she could keep him no longer for moth
! ing. He thought the grief in his heart
/ would burst it; neither voice nor tears
] would come; he gave one look around him
| and then went out, bare headed and empty
handed.
Hewas a very little fellow, with short,
/ dark curls clustered about a sadly sweet
face, with large, deep eyes that told you his
! story without need of words.
On the doorstep Petro sank, his head in
his arms, and SO for long time he re-
manned without moving. A small, sorry
looking kitten, coming inquisitively along
the hall, was stopped in her way by this
little heap Of humanity. She paused mo-
ment, and then made gentle dab at it
with her paw; not attracting his attention,
she became more bold, and brushed by the
little shoulder, softly purring, with that
dumb look Of sympathy in her eyes which
raises the animal so near TO the human be-
ing. But Petro did not move Then puss,
still purring, climbed upon his arm, crept
underneath his wrist close to his dropping
head, where, curling up, she nestled. Pc
tro lifted his head and saw her: took her
up in his armS-to her great discomfort
held her tight to his breast and burst into
tears.
''Ahl milo piccolo," he sobbed, "vieni sui
mic cuora" (Ah! my lutte one, come to my
heart), and rocked himself to and fro on
the step. By degrees he became calm and
softly sang, under his breath, snatches of
melody his mother had sung over-he flow
er stall in that dear faraway land And
later, when coming crowd of noisy boya
threatened his peace, he gathered the kitten
miscellaneously into his arms, and, start
ing up, trudged on, straight ahead-any-
where.
In large church an organist was sitting,
dreaming, at the organ. It was late in the
afternoon of busy day; the stained glass
was growing deeper tinted, somber and in
distinct; only one window showed clearly,
and that was in line with the sinking sun.
Besides the colors in this window were
Eghter-againsta pale blue sky the figure
of the Good Shepherd in robe of white,
holding a small eve lamb tenderly in his
arms. 1t stood out from the surrounding
dlmnesS and gloom, and even caught the
eye Of the tired man at the organ. "Beau-
tlful window" he murmured half aloud,
and then with sigh ran his fingers over
the keys, running one familiar strain into
another, or composing out of his own
mood through his finger tips. And the
melody stole through the great church,
sweet and lovely, filling the shadowy nave
and aisles and chancel-stole way down to
tiny figure standing awe struck just in
side the doors, and filed his little heart to
OVERLOOKING.
Petro had heard in the street outside the
faint sound of the organ, and, hungry for
the music he loved, had dared TO push be-
tween the half closed doors into the church
There opposite the window of the Good
Shepherd he stood, rGpt and mOtionless,
with the kitten clasped tightly in his arms
and bathed in the soft colors that fell upon
him; he seemed q little reflection of the sun
iuumined figure in the memorial window.
Petro was drawn nearer and nearer to
the music, and slowly and softly he went
up the long aisle his head barely reaching
to the top of the old fashioned pews Only
once he stopped to rearrange the kitten,
which was slipping down, and had been for
some time in imminent danger of death by
suffoCatiOn; then he went on A great
longing came to him to sing, and, as if in
answer, the organist commenced to play
only an ave Maria" often sung, but it
was the same .Petro had sung in the little
church at home, the same he had heard in
the great cathedral, and suddenly he
opened his lips and sang himself again:
! "A-ve-Mar-i-a A-ve-Mar-ia!
O-ra-pro-nO-bis =
on to the end. He let his arms fall and
freed the kitten! How his heart beat! how
his breast swelled a. he sang, with two big
tears ready to fall from his full eyes.
The Organist had half turned. startled at
the first note. but had continued playing,
fearing the singer would stop when he did
The child, however, seemed unconscious of
his surroundings, singing in his clear, sweet
soprano through the last repetition:
"A-ve-A-ve-N ar-i-a'-
and then he stood motionless, hands
clasped, eyes wet, behind the organist.
+ The man drew him toward him, and his
own voice was not of the strongest as he
asked who had taught him to sing.
My mother, in Italy. before she died"
Petro said, with a faint smile, which
touched the musician inexpressibly. He
had picked up English quickly after his ar
rival In America, and now could speak it
well, and be answered few questions about
his short life earnestly and quietly.
The organist was impressed strongly by
his story, and ran his fingers over the keys
of the organ for a few minutes without
speaking, trying TO think of some>way to
help him. He could not himself offer him
a home, for his own household was already
crowded; but he would take him back with
him for the present until some other plan
could be determined on.
He had made up his mind already that
Petro should sing at Elster.
It was when they started 70 leave the
church that Petro remembered puss. In
great distress he comnoncea an arduous
search for her, and she vas finally found
at the foot OF the pulpit fast asleep. The
organist was much amused at this and
said he should tell the rector Of the effect
of his pulpit even upon dumb animals. He
himself did not al first see the need OF tax
ing the kitten with them. but Petro wished
1t so strongly he CONSENTED At the end OF
the aisle, where he had stood Ehan he first
entered the church, PstrD pause4- IL must
hare been the simplicity OF the window
that attracted him. liz had seen much
more splendid ones in Liza own art perfected
country. Perhaps he coaid understand
this figure better Than tLoSs magnificent
rlitered and scsPtered fiG;TTcs OK the starred
glass and painted frepoes IN his birthplace.
THAT window IS in memory III little
boy" said tho oTganist, "a little boy like
you. The LORD TOOK him CD into his arms
and his mother is lei3 here alSne. and she
gave that window in memory OF him
Tears came into the caiiG's eyes.
HAS he him so?'' he asked, pointing to
- - -
for an answer. be added: ''Bua Petro, be Is
alone, and his msther. he hes so.n His
fingers closed tightly about the hand Of the
ors-a,,,st and theE passed On out through