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

!
in short time disarIned them of all suS-
| picion-
| Every day he vent with his new friend
to the rehearsal and made friends in
| quiet, odd little way among the other Choir
listers.
So the few days before Easter passed
quickly by RQmors of his protege and
his beautiful voice the Organist purposely
started, hoping to excite an interest which
might lead to something, and In his heart
| he had an especial hope, Of which, however,
| he said nothing.
| Not with the old-leav-en, neither the leaven OF
| NAL ice and wick ed ness
the sunshine through a golden window be
meath him made radiance about him, and,
| with the scent of the lilies en- the altar.
1o&ted over the boy like incense, while he
sweetly finished
But with tie IN leavcned bread Of sin
| Ger i ty, SINCERITY and truth, sincerity and
! truth ard truth
! And the chorus seemed to catch the words
rapt in their beautiful music, and shouted
! them in grander, mightier strains to all the
| church, the earth, the Sky!
! The day of the great feast came with its
music and flowers and gladness, and Petro
thought he had never been so happy as he
stood in his white roSa, at the end Of the
| first row Of the choristeFs, ready TO sing
alone He was not frightened The or
! ganist had trained him well, and the boy
was unconscious Of everything save the
music he was to sing the first of the
special anthems, and the last Of the pre-
ceding responses had been said. He watched
for the signal, and when it came ne only
clasped his hands a little tighter under his
Gotta, and lifted his head and sang:
Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.
His eyes were fixed on tho window where
the Good Shepherd held the lamb in his
arms; it helped him to understand, and
the words came to the listening congrega-
ton with wonderful tenderness and mean
ing. AS he finished, quickly burst from
the throats of all the white robed singers
the repetition:
Therefore, therefore let US keep, US keep, us
keep, the feast!
An echo of the last words died away from
the lips of the boys, and the voices were
hushed as, first softly, then rising clearer
and higher, Petro sang again.
There were many, fearful eyes turned
towards the little cloister when he had
finished, and the organist gave q long sigh
voice was not given him for nothing"
His eyes wandered over the crowd of
familiar faces, all earnest and wondering
now, toward a little woman who sat on
one side, underneath the window where
Petro once he'd stood.
She sat quite still, her eyes fixed longing
ly on the boy, who was standing, motion
less as she, with his lips parted and his
head thrown slightly back. She could see
his little breast still heaving while in her
own ears and heart there seemed to ring
again:
Sacrificed for US, for US, for me" she |
added; sacrificed for me. Let US keep the |
feast-the feast-ah! how" she asked, and |
drew the heavy black veil she wore over
her face and sank down upon her knees.
After service question after question was |
asked and answered about Petro, and the |
organist was content and awaited.
The next mornings mail brought him a |
letter which he seemed to have expected; |
it was square envelope with a small black |
seal upon it.
From Mrs. Holland" he said, in answer
to his wife's look of inquiry, and hastily |
reading, added: 1T is as hoped"
In a few moments more he started to go |
out. His wife helped him on with his coat. |
II am SO glad" she said, and so happy |
You're always helping some one, and ne
most of all, you dear boy!" She was lean
ing up to fasten the top button of his coat;
he bent down-and interrupted her. Then |
he laughed.
BOY! pretty old boy, at 70. What'u
be at SOY"
Still boy; always boy to me"
Late that same day he and Petro went |
into the library by themselves, and there |
he asked the little fellow how he would !
like to live with dear, kind lady, who |
would care for him and love him as If size !
were his own mother.
Docs she sell foUers?" Petro asked.
NO" answered the organist, smiling, |
''but she buys them. She is not poo.; she
lives in a large house. with beautiful things |
about her; piano"-the boys eyes were !
sparkling.
''Ohr' he exclaimed-tben suddenly his |
eyes grew sorrowful-''would | have tc |
leave yOuf'
His friend explained to him how it was /
impossible for them TO have him with them /
always, although they wished to, and !
should always love him. But this lady |
was kind and good. She had lost a little /
boy like Petro and was lonely She had /
heard him sing, and had seen him, and she |
wanted him TO come and live with her and /
try to love her.
Pc5ro Inin1dsiiiiJT Consented. He babe the !
family a rather fearful go0d-by and left .
with them, for remembrance, the one |
thing of his own he hal been fond of, his /
only possession, the kitten.
''This is your little Italian singer" said |
the or,1sniSt IN Mrs Holland and then he |
went away and left them together
Returning later, and going in unan-
nounccd, as he had been asked to DO, be in /
stinctiveIy stopped moment in the door
way of the room where he had left his /
charge.
nv other mother sang them 70 me" /
Petro was saying, slowly and sweetly, land /
now Petro viii sing them TO you" And,
listening, his friend heard him singing /
some Italian flower songs; they were the
same he had sang to the kitten that day he .
wandered into the church. De stood by I
the lady as he sang, leaning against the .
side of her chair; and when he had finished .
she clasped him in her arms, sE;l lie, stand
ing up on tip toe, reached his little hands (
about her neck and laid his cheek against
hers.
The organist turned and went out, clos
ing the door softly behind kim.-Willian
Clyde Fitch in Boston Traveller.
Not Fallen so Low as That.
An English magazine. in an article on
restaurants tells OF = New \ err speculaUor
who came to grief and went TO work as
waiter In : cheap eating house IN thaFt city (
To this waters table came q broken down,
seedy looking individual of an arisJocraCic, /