The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-12-29

AS they entered the church Maso dotted
his hat r~everentially, dipped his fingers
into the holy water font and touched
them to Christine's. Then the two chill.
dren knelt down in the shadow Of a great
pillar which ros to the high arched roof.
At the end of the nave stood the altar,
cleaning with wax lights and flooded
with the rising incense; priests, a~colytes,
and choristers were engaged with the
Christmas service, and one could see the
fiuttering white surplices and the gilt
ter of gold and precious stones on copes
and stoles.
Tie whole congregation Joined in
singing the carols. and the weak. broken
voices of the aged. the silvery ones of
the children. the sweet tones of the
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 neal turned to look at him. Atall man
wrapped in "A great cloak left his place,
and coming nearer to the lad listened
attentively. with his eyes fixed upon
Maso's face MS long as he continued to
sing. Neither of the children noticed
the stranger.
After they left the church Maso LED
Christine into a 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
1 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 vel
coined by the Widow Gudule. While
they sat at supper Maso told them Of
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
a 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 peer il
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.
mo? Well. it does not matter. Iwant
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 a beautiful voice, my lad
an unusually fine one. l am an old man,
but l have seldom heard such a voice as
yours. You understand what you sing,
too, and you love music. You have all
the markings of a great artist. But-you
do not know how to sing!"
"That is because | 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."
Very good. have a proposition to
make you. Have you relatives?"
None. lam 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 see! Kings and princes will invite
you to come to court and sing for them,
and l 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
Il would be only too happy, master"
Maso stammered, ''but am obliged to
earn my living. have nothing
You will not need money. will treat
you as my own son, and you will 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
watched you in the church, followed
you out and after losing sight of you in
the crowd searched for you until l heard
your voice through that window. But
must leave Nuremberg tonight. Come"
The boy took up his cloak and lutte.
saying: 'Goodby, Christine. l will come
back some day. Do not forget me-"
The girl chung to his arm and whis-
pered: Il shall never forget you. |
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, claspinc
him in her arms, prayed that heavens
BLESSINGS MIGHT alwavS follow hin, A.