The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-12-20


maidens, the clear high notes of the
young men and the strong, deep ones of
their elders combined TO produce har-
monies both powerful and sweet. Maso
could not keep silence. Suddenly his
voice rose above the rest, and it was so
full, so clear and so sweet that every
one near turned to ltok at him. A tall man
wrapped in great cloak left his place,
and coming nearer TO the lad listened
attentively, with his eyes fixed upon
Maso's face as long as he continued 10
sing. Neither Of the children noticed
the stranger.
After they left the church Maso led
Christine into provision shop. and not
allowing her TO spend her only coin
purchased ham, fruit and pastry for her,
and then, seeing that she shivered in the
cold night air, he took off his own cloak
and put it round her shoulders. Now
i will take You home" he said. And
when they reached her door she asked
wistfully: "Will you not come in and
have supper with us, as if you were my
brother? Mamma will be so glad"
Maso followed her in and was well
coined by the Widow Gudule. While
his childhood's home in Italy, which had
been opulent, but sad, because mother
less, of his fathers ruin and death and
Of his own wanderings.
''And so, mother, he sings-you should
hear him! The angels in heaven have
not sweeter voices" exclaimed Chris
tine, and the lad, taking up his lutte,
struck the chords lightly, then began to
sing, while the mother and daughter lis
tened with clasped hands and fearful
eyes. AS soon as he stopped there was
knock at the door. Christine opened
it fearlessly, for there was nothing in
that poor home for robbers. Outside
stood the tall man who had been in
church. He recognized the child and
smiled as he said:
my dear, want to speak to your
brother, who has just been singing"
HE is not my brother, said Christine,
surprised.
NO? Well, it does not matter. want
to see the lad who was in church with
you. Tell him Master Kriegwinckel
wants him a minute"
This man was one of the most cele-
brated musicians of that time, not only
in Munich, where he lived, but through
out the music loving world. Little
Christine, however, knew nothing about
him, and thinking that the stranger
merely wished to compliment Maso upon
his singing she babe him enter. He
bowed politely to the widow and then
addressed Maso, saying:
You have beautiful voice, my lad
an unusually fine one. / am an old man,
but have seldom heard such a voice as
yours. You understand what you sing,
too, and you love music. You have all
the markings of great artist. But-you
do not know how to sing"
"That is because 1 have never been
taught" said Maso sadly and humbly.
81 observed that. 1t is not your fault,
and it can be remedied. How old are
your"
Fifteen ON Candlemas day"
Every good. l have a proposition TO
make you. Have you relatives?"
''None. am all alone"
Better still. / will take charge of
you. Twill take you back to Munich
with me; l will teach you music and
singing, and in three or four years-you
will seel Kings and princes will invite
you to come to court and sing for them,
and shall have the honor of giving the
world another great musician. Perhaps
you have heard of me. L am Krieg-
winckel, leader of the choir in Munich"
81 would be only too happy, master"
Maso stammered, but 1 am obliged to
earn my living. have nothing
''You will not need money. Twill treat
YOU as my own son, and you viii earn a
great deal more than your living when l
have taught you music. 1t is agreed, is
it not? All, it was not for nothing that
1 watched you in the church, followed
YOU out and after losing sight of you in
the crowd searched for you until heard
your voice through that window. But l
must leave Nuremberg tonight. Come. F"
The boy took up his cloak and lutte,
saying: "Goodby, Christine, will come
back some day. Do not forget me-"
The girl chung to his arm and whis-
pered: II shall never forget you. l
thought at first that you were an angel
because you sang like one and were as
good as one. Twill love you all my life. "
"Then ask your mother to kiss me
good night. 1t will bring me luck" he
said, and the Widow Gudule, clasping
him in her arms, prayed that heaven S
blessings might always follow him. As
he turned away he handed his purse to
Christine, saying:
1.-THE master says l shall not need
money, so here are my days earnings.
/ have had very good day, and they
will help you until your mother can
work again"
Eight years passed.
The Christmas bells We're ringing mer-
rily, and the people, coming out of their
houses to attend midnight mass, greeted
each other with Christmas wishes.
Among the throng there was none who
received more salutes and friendly smiles
than an elderly woman who leaned on
the arm of beautiful young girl, tall
and slender as a reed. BY the light of
the torch she carried, the girls bright
blue eyes, rosy cheeks and golden hair
were seen, and every passer licked at
her with admiration; young and old
greeted her s1nilingly, even portly bur-
gomasters murmured as they met her,
s'God bless that sweet young creatureT'
while the poor people exclaimed aloud,
"God bless the widow and her daughter
for their goodness and charity TO usr'
These two were but simple working
people, vet all Nuremberg honored
them. Every one knew that Dame
Gudule Dachs, when left a widow with