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

at the foot OF the pulpit fast asleep. The
organist WAS much amused at this and
said he should tell the rector of the effect
OF his pulpit even upon dumb animals. He
himself did not at first see the need of TAX
ing the kitten with them. hut Petro wished
1t so strongly he consented At the end of
the aisle, where he had stood when he first
entered the church. Petro paused IL must
have been the simplicity Of the window
that attracted him He had seen much
more splendid ones in his own art perfected
country Perhaps he could understand
this figure better than those magnificent
uttered and sceptered figures of the stained
glass and painted frescoes in his birthplace
"'That window is in memory of little
boy" said the organist "a little boy like
you. The Lord took him up into his arms
and his mother is left here alone, and she
gave that window in memory of him."
Tears came into the child's eyes.
HAS he him SOP" he asked, pointing to
the window, and then, without waiting
for an answer, he added: But Petro, he is
alone, and his mother. He has So" His
fingers closed tightly about the hand of the
organlst and they passed on out through
the porch
Petro's new life was very strange to him,
but he grew more and more accustomed to
it, and tried to show his gratitude in
bashful, boyish way He won the hearts
of all the family, and the organisms wife
even pleaded to keep him with them until
he grew old enough to care for himself.
He was one Of those little souls true
woman loves to guide and foster. They
had both watched him closely at first, for
it was not a little dangerous, this taking a
strange child into ones home; but the boy
] Ia, ,.I,p Il oe all
picion.
Every day he went with his new friend
to the rehearsal and made friends in a
quiet, odd little way among the other Choir
listers
So the few days before Easter passed
quickly by. Rumors 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
the sunshine through golden window be-
meath him made radiance about him, and,
with the scent of the lilies on the altar,
hoated over the boy like incense, while he
sweetly finished
But with the I'm leavened bread of sin
Ger i ~, sincerity and truth sincerity and
| truth aud truth
/ And the chorus seemed to catch the words
rapt in their beautiful music, and shouted
them in grander, mighter 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 robe, at the end of the
q A,
alone. He was not frightened The or
4 ganist had trained him well, and the boy
was unconscious Of everything save the
music He was to sing the first of the
4 special anthems, and the last Of the pre-
ceding responses had been said. He watched
for the signal, and when it came he only
clasped his hands a little tighter under his
Gotta, and lifted his head and sang:
Christ Passover is sacrificed for us.
His eyes were fixed on the window where
the Good Shepherd held the lamb in his
arms; it helped him to understand, and
the words came TO the listening cOngrega-
tiou with wonderful tenderness and mean
ing. AS he finished, quickly burst from
the throats of all the white ROBBED singers
the repetition:
Therefore, therefor 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 rs, 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 long sigh
and said, half aloud to himself: "Ah! that
voice was not given him for nothing"
His eyes wandered over the crowd of
familiar faces, all earnest and wondering
now, toward little woman who sat on
one side, underneath the window where
Petro once had 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 heavng, 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-ahl howy' 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 a square envelope with 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 few moments more he started to 20
out. His wife helped him on with his coat.
II am so glad" she said, land so happy
You're always helping some one, and me
most of all, you dear boy" She was lean
ing up to fasten the top button of his coat
hl.l int.