Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-12-23

der the dark statue.
What is Davy playingl Oh what is this
that is making tears fall fast on the two
faces it has drawn so nearl
1t was music that was never written
Music that was never heard before and
will not be heard again. For Davy is in
spired. He is playing from his own soul
This is his farewell to music and to all his
hopes and dreams. The organ grieves for
him. The master, on his pedestal, listens
sadly, and seems almost to stir with pity.
The little maid and the untaught old
woman are sobbing aloud
At last there comes a piteous strain
then a wild crash across the keys, and Da-
Wy has flung his head down on his arms.
The music is ended.
Good-by-good-b yl' he whispered kiss
ing the yellow keys where his face lay hid
den.
80 Davyl" sobbed ptiful little voice,
and Draxy's arms were around his neck,
her soft wet check pressed close to his,
while the poor old woman behind them
wiped her eyes on the hem of her gown,
and said
Don't cry, darrlinsl What is the mat
ter, at allf Don't cry, miss, dear, and
sir Oh, but the music broke me HART, in
toirelyl Don't ye cry, darlinsl"
Just then a gruff voice said
Come, comet This won't do. Stop this
snivelling!"
An arm that seemed too fatherly and
gentle to belong TO such voice, took in
Davy and Draxy at once, as they sat on
the organ seat, and seemed to hug them
and shake them at the same time.
Come! What's the matter here, say"
Where he had dropped from was the
mystery. Had he been Kidding in some re-
cess of the organi
Impossible to say. But there he was,
looking very grim, except about the eyes,
which were kind, and-was it possiblel-
had a suspicious wetness about them, in
spite of his orders against snivelling.
The little girl sprang away, very much
frightened, and stopped crying at once.
Davy turned around, pale and dazed-
scarcely aroused yet from his dream.
Sir" he said, half proudly, half sadly.
"What are you crying abouti' demand
ed the old gentleman.
Crying" repeated Davy, with flashing
eyes. I'm not crying"
He drew himself erect, and the color
rose in his cheek
'Ahl spirit, too-ehi" said the old gen
tleman, exultantly.
Then he wheeled suddenly on Draxy.
What are you CRYING about, thenl" he
demanded in terrible tone.
"Be-because want tol" said she, stiffen-
ing her little neck.
oh Because you want to, ehl Come
here"
Draxy came Rather defiontly, l am
afraid. But then he did seem such an in
terfering old gentleman.
Now look at mel" he ordered
Draxy looked right into his eyes. Some
thing that she saw there must have reas-
sured her, for, pretty soon she smiled,
though he was pinching her ear.
80 you're the kind of little girl who
helps poor old ladies with lame backs, when
he.
Draxy started with surprise, but an
swered never a word.
us she :" he asked again, turning to the
old woman, who stepped back in hurry,
but recovered herself and curtesied, say
ing:
''She is, sirrl God bless heri And
yourself, too, for gallant gentleman, and
long life to you, sirrl"
"And you're the kind of fellow who
takes care of his mother, and the little
brothers and sisters, are you - the old
gentleman went on, turning to Davy.
You're the sort of chap who wears thin
clothes all winter, and gives up his music
and buckles down, trying to be a father to
the family, are youT" Davy colored and
looked away.
'Is he 2" persisted this monotonous old
gentleman, turning to Draxy.
For answer she just put her arms around
her brothers neck and gave him a rcusiug
little kiss.
"Well them" said the old gentleman,
conclusively, lit happens that | am the
boys and girls Sometimes l send the boys
off to study music, and look after the lit
tie sisters and the babies till the boys get
| back"
The looks of Davy and Draxy were a
sight to see!
my name is Maxwell" went on the old
| gentleman, quietly. Il have heard about
! you down stairs, and I've been here some
time, myself. Now I've got a boy. would
like to have him study music abroad-in
| Europe. He doesn't want to go, however.
At this the brother and sister exchanged
glance, but they were dumb. and trem-
bling.
And, " said the old gentleman, mysteri-
ously, 'Ive got some money that does
want to go"-here he laid a great kind
hand on Davy's shoulder-'I'm going to
send you with it, sir"
Draxy screamed, and running into Mr..
Maxwell's arms, Rugged him wildly with
frantic JOY.
Davy gasped, gripped the kind hand, and
then, it was no use, broke down.
"Hullo! Perhaps you're not crying
now!' roared Mr.. Maxwell, pleased as he
could be.
"Sir-Mr. Maxwell-do you really mean
it Oh, will work so hard and pay you
back every cent, and-oh, Mr. Maxwell,
you don't know, sir, you don't know"
Davy wrung that great hand once again,
bereft of words.
"Well, let's see." Then said Mr.. Max
well, Come here, old lady. So the old
man is laid up and the children cold and
hungry, are they 2"
God help us, SIR! IT'S thrue, then"
and the rheumatism is pretty bad ehF
"Dade an it is, SIR, May yerself nlveI
know the loikes of it,"
"Wel, cheer up, old LADY, I'll see what
we can do for you. Wen make a merry
Christmas for the children, after all"
Oh, where, in the great city, was such a
scene of joy, as there in the shadow of the
organ under Beethoven's statue, on thai
Christmas eve2
Eloquent were the blessings of the poor
old woman, deep and almost unspeakablC
the thanks of those two young souls, trem
bling for joy, while with no less deligh
glowed the warm heart that had bestowed
such happiness.
And as the little group stood under thu
statue of the master, he seemed listening
with solemn gladness, to the music of thos'
grateful voices.
For of all music on this earth, the sweet