The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-01-28
eff they have QUE" interrupted the

where these daysl But you worry me
with so many Interruptions. AS was
saying, l will go to the piano, get up
on the stool and play, and play. Daniel
Everybody is enchanted. Then they
kiss us and give us candies and toys.
They will offer you collars and ribbons,
but you must not take them, and | will
say: Pay us, l pray you, so we can
carry the money to papa and mamma
"You have the spirit of lionl" said
Frederika, leaping joyously TO her
brothers neck; Z" | must kiss YOU"
Well, that is not ALL in compla-
Gently allowing himself to be embraced.
4" 1 beg that you let me finish my story.
The king will hear them speaking
about us and he will send for us. l
will put on my best clothes, and you
your prettiest dress and we will go to
the kings palace. They will make us
90 to the salon where there are beauti-
full ladies-more beautiful than we
have ever seen; the gentlemen in en-
broidered clothes; furniture all gold,
and pianol what pianol The wood
part pure gold; the pedals silver, the
keys fine pearl, there are diamonds,
too. We play. The court is enrap-
tured. They surround us and caress us.
The king asks me what | wish. He
gives me castle and l put papa and
mamma in it,"
A burst of laughter interrupted him
in the midst of his recital. Wolf
gang, very much frightened, locked at
his sister, and turning round saw the
stranger. Hid behind the tree near the
two children, he had not lost one word
of their conversation. Seeing that he
was discovered, he advanced and said:
Don't be afraid, little ones. de-
sire only your good fortune. 1t is the
great Nepomuk who has sent me-"
AT these words the brother and sis
ter exchanged looks and then gazed on
the pretended messenger of Saint Bo-
hemia. This eXamina alton was without
doubt in his favor, for the little boy adj
vanced towards him and took him by
the hand and with charming familiar
air said:
well so much better, you are going
to tell us what TO do.
"No, no, not now," replied the
stranger, taking a seat On stump of a
tree and making Wofgang stand be-
fore him during the while. His sister,
older and more distrustful, held herself
little aloof.
L will give you what you want" re-
piled he, "on condition that you will
tell me the truth-answer me truth
fully every ques ton | am going to ask
you. l will know if you are lying, so
warn you"
Mon sieur, / want you to under
stand never lie Do you hear?" Ie-
piled Wolfgang little piqued.
Well, we will see about that. What
is your fathers name?"
Leopold Mozart"
what does he do?"
He is master of the chapel; he
plays the violin and piano-but the vio-
lin better"
is your mother living?"
Yes, SIR"
How many children has she?"
AS the little boy remained quiet, the
little girl spoke:
"Tbere were seven, but now there
are only two, my brother and l."
"And is your father very poor, my
dear chid?" said the stranger to the
little girl.
Eyes, yes, very poor, Monsieur.
See," she said. showing him the piece
of bread which neither of them had
touched; "this is all the bread there
was in the house; papa and mamma
have none for themselves. Each time
that mamma gives us breakfast, she
says; Go and eat in the fields, my
dear Children so we cannot see how
they deprive themselves at breakfast. "
Poor children" said the stranger,
very much moved. Where do your
parents live?"
"Up there on the hill, Monsieur, in
that little house the roof of which you
can see from here" replied Wolfgang.
" Isn't that the place where Dusseck
lived?" asked the stranger.
"A musician, too, like my father
yes, Monsieur" said the little girl
Poor, poor children" repeated the
stranger, wipipg away the tears. "Tell
me, when l saw you both praying to the
great John Nepomuk, what did you ask
him?' =
81, Monsieur" said the little girl,
" | asked him to teach us the means of
earning some money for papa and
mamma, so my brother and | will not
be the only ones to have any breakfast.
Wolfgang told me he had found the
means, but am beginning to fear"
|" If what Wolfgang said was true,
that he is very skillful on the piano
and you also, perhaps he can put his
idea into execution and I'll do all in
my power to help you"
" My brother is such fine musician
that not only does he play at first sight
all you give him, but he composes very
pretty pieces; so papa says"
" How old is your brotherl"
" Six years, sir, and | am eight"
And does this child compose al
ready" exclaimed the pretended Saint
of John Nepomuk.
"That astonishes you'll" said Wolf
gang, laughing. ." Well, come to my
house and you can see for yourself"