The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-07-01
PETR0'S ANTHEM.

Petro was alone in the great city of the
New World The man who had brought
him across the broad ocean, so far away
from sunny Italy, had deserted him, and
now the woman who had let his master
their lodging told him money was money
and She could keep him no longer for moth
ing lie 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
He was very little fellow, with short,
dark curs 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 inquistively along
the hall, was stopped in her way by this
little heap OF humanity She paused "A 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
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 arnls-to her great discomfort
held her tight to his breast and burst into
tears
All milo piccolo, he sobbed, "vieni sui
milo cuore" (Ahl my little 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 her flow
er stall in that dear far away land And
later when a coming crowd Of noisy boys
threatened his peace, he gathered the kitten
miscellaneously into his arms, and, start
ing up, trudged on, straight ahead-any
where.
In "A large church IN organist was sitting
dreaming, at the organ, 1t was late in the
afternoon Of a 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
lighter-ag'linst a pale blue Sky the figure
of TIM Good Shepherd in robe of White,
holding small eve lamb teuderly in his
arms IL stood out from the surrounding
dimneSs and gloom. and even caught the
eye Of the tired man at the organ. Beau
tiful window, he murmured half aloud,
and then with Il sigh ran his fingers over
the keys, running one familiar strain into
another, or composing out of his own
mood through his finger tips Aud the
melody stole through the great church,
sweet and lovely. filling the shadowy nave
and asles and chuncpl stole way down to
tiny figure standing awe struck just in
side the doors aud filled his little heart TO
overlooking
Petro had heard in the street outside the
faint sound of the organ, and, hungry for
the music h loved, had dared to push be
tween the Ia II closed doors into the church
There oplu>lte the window of the Good
Shepherd he stood, rapt and mo;iouless,
with the kitten clasped tightly in his arms
and bathed i'm the soft colors that fell upon
him, he seemed little reflection of the sun
illumined 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 heud barely reaching
TO the top of the old fashioned pews. Only
once he stopped 60 rearrauge the kitten,
which was slipping down, and had been for
some time in imminent danger of death by
sutfocation, then he went on A great
longing came to him to sing, and AS if in
answer, the organist commenced to play
something ramiliar.to the child 1t was
only an ave Maria" often sung, but il
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-veMaria Ave Maria
Ora pro no-bis''
on to the end lie let his arms fall and
freed the kittenl How his heart beati how
his breast swelled as he sang, with two big
tears ready 10 fall from his full eyes.
The organist had half turned, startled al
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-ye-A-ve Nar-ia"-
and then he stood motionless, hand,
clasped, eyes wet. behind the organist
The man drew him toward him, and his
own voice was not of the strongest as h,
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, II,
had picked up English quickly after his ar
rival in America, and now could speak i
well, and he answered a few questions abou
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 few minutes withou
speaking, trying to think of some way t
help him. He could not himself offer hin
home, for his own household was already
crowded; but he would take him back Will
him for the present until some other plan