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

II hat, SIR That boy Is a genius.
"Humph-genius! Well, what's the 9TH
er name YOU called p
ooh y with laugh, 1--WE call him that
because he looks so much like the pictures
of Weber. And there are more than my
self who think that there is in that young
man the making of such another com
poser.
well, if there is. he'll make it,"
Ono chance now, =" said the other "They
have just lost their father The mother is
an invalid and there is brood of young
shavers to look out for. Poor chap has got
to drop music now and roll up his sleeves
to support the family. This is to be his
last concert. Mighty shame, tool !"
But enough of that dark old, box office
Let us go up stairs and hear Davy play.
Fine old Music Hall You are denuded
now of your chief glory-but let us see you
as you were.
An upper light, entering through hidden
windows, far alOft. falls on the fair old
temple with a classic touch, CLEANS softly
| over balcony and niche and bust, and
flashes back from the glass panels of the
gallery doors, girdling the walls twice
round.
But it was not that pearly brightness
fair and soft, nor the fine cheerful plan and
lines of beauty in the noble hall, that gave
it character of old, and breathed the spell,
long vanished now, but haunting us for
ever with its loss.
A mighty presence then abode therein,
that filed the eye and mind, and made a
very sanctuary of the place.
1t was the ajesty of the great organ,
| looming from stage to dome like black
cliff, with thundery gloom about its head,
/ oil III.
| filled with cathedral shade.
! How solemnly that hush and shadow fell
on that broodng statue of Beethoven,
standing, a dark sentinel. before the organ
mouth
Davy uncovered his head reverently as
he passed under the grave face of the great
master, and Draxy, whose little boot-heels
soon came clicking over the stage cast one
furtive glance up toward the statue, and
then skipped behind the pedestal in great
hurry, trotting up step or two toward
the organ-mouth, and cudding into ia.
miliar nook, out of Davy's way.
30 Davy !" she crooned, with little
SILVER, hes as bad as the baroness"
who is p said Davy, absently, unroll-
ing his music on projection of the pedestal
Ugh! That old black Beethoven, al
wrapped up in his cloak, and scowlng and
listening and thinking away"
Davy looked over at her and smiled
Then he gazed up with love and wistful
ness into the bending face ABOVE him.
1t made touching picture, the dark mas
ter on the pedestal, immortal, pulseless, il
bronze the beautiful lad at his feet, am
bilious, desperate, in living flesh and youth
Davy," whispered Draxy from hel
shadowy nook, let's play this is a darh
! nd fI,
dragons teeth gnashing at me- | am
princess chained to the wall and you mus
come in with your sword and save me-"
I'll come and make the dragon sing t.
you instead" said Davy, going to the or
gan-seat.
He ran his fingers down the keys Their,
was a soft rattle of ivory, but no othe
sound.
Haven't got the steam on, have thew q
said Draxy, proud of knowing all about
the domestic habits of the great organ.
Davy, reaching to press "A knob that rams
a bell far in some lower region, smiled
down at her bright little face, and ther
sat waiting dreamily.
DO you know" she prattled on, "whel
I'm out in the audience, at concerts, anC
the hall is full of people, and the gas il
lighted and the organ looks so black anC
big, never can believe l am so well &C
quainted with it and dare to cuddle up lik,
this against it"
Ssh y said Davy, catching the first wills
per of beloved, inspiring sound-the wine
beginning to fill the giant pipes.
1t comes in a low, murmurng rush, as i
from underground, now nearer, nearer
louder, faster, till it swels and rises with
painting sweep, up the huge holes in tina
great forest of brazen pipes, and fills thei
mighty sides as if to burst them.
Davy sat mOtionless and rapt, lost in tn
great EOlian roar. "Hear it breathe I" h
whispered; "hear it breathe !"
His fingers rippled down across the keys
Far above, in some high tree-top of tn
forest pipes, voice awakes in answer {
, his touch that fingers on the ear awhile, s
l soft, so sweet, so pleading. and then san
again into its nest of silence.
Now, farther still, and hidden in som