The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-12-27
T0MMY'S CHRISTMAS.
BY CHARLES BRAISARD.

Such a queer place
1t was not house nor a schOOl-house.
1t was high and dark, and like cavern.
On one side plain wall went up into
the dark somewhere overhead.-On the
other, stood row of great wooden pipes
with black mouths all in line, like the
mouths dragons, with teeth and great ears
at the sides. Beyond these was a piece
of heavy woodwork, and further on great
arches stood in the dim light And in
one place was bit Of colored light and
part Of an angels face, shining like gold.
Close to the row of black-mouthed
pipes stood Tommy the bellows boy. 1t
was ten o'clock in the morning, and he
was dragging the wooden handle up and
down as fast as his little hands could
move. AS it went down, his long yellow
hair fell over his blue eyes, and as it
went up, the. locks few back above his
broad, white forehead again. His task
was hard one. Il was Christmas. The
four singers who stood in front of the or
gan, sang long and lond, and the huge
instrument roared and tfandered SO that
he could hardly think.
Poor Tommy. 1t was a sorry Christ
mas for him At the long rehearsal, the
night before his arms had ached 80 that
when be went to bed he could hardly
sleep, and to-day there is great deal Of
music They are singing about the Christ
caild, and peace and good will TO men.
Tne great pines seem TO thunder around
him. He would like to stop and listen,
only that little piece of white lead before
him, that shows whether there is wind
enough in the organ, keeps dancing up
and down, and he must blow and blow
or the music will stop.
Toe anthems are long, 50 very long,
and his arms ache, anu his headaches
with whst seems to him, in his WEAKNESS
the growls that roll out Of the dragons
mouths. Still they keep singing about
good will toward men, and TomDy tolls
away at the heavy bellows. Ifthey would
only stop just for short time. On and
on flows the glorious music, and Tommy
plshed up the bellows with sigh and
presses i. down by hanging on to it with
all his might.
Therel The choir had stopped. Now
there will be little rest while the min
is.er prays. TIE tired boy sank down
upon the floor his head resting on one
OF the dragons ears upon the side of the
hdge organ, and shut his eyes. There is
No seat, and he must sit on the floor. He
does not mean to sleep, only to rest-rest
that his poor little weary body longs
for-The organist will knock On the wall
when he is TO begin again.
1t was very long prayer. and the tired
boy after trying in vain to keep the
hsavy lids from closing over the weary
eyes, fell fast asleep in the great dark
organ loft.
Suddenly there was little knock or
the wall. Tommy's head sank lower,
and his poor little blistered hands fell
listlessly on the floor.
Another and louder knock. Tommy
paid no heed and the knocking increas
ed. Then il was quiet for moment
and a mans step was heard on the ereak
ing hoorl Then Tommy received cruel
blow on the head, and woke up to fine
the orsanist standing over him ready tC
strike again.
tie crept out of reach Of the threaten
ing hand and tried to get up, but hi;
little legs refused to hold him.
take hold Of the lever and blow 70
your life, or Ill"
"You'il what?" said a sweet voice be
I hind him.
Tommy looked up and saw the so
prano singer besides the organist.-Tom
my gszed upon the grand lady in he
elegant silks, and thought that someho'
one of the angels had stepped down from
the painted windows.
"For shame r said she, ''to strike
little boy. Poor little fellow, he was tired
and no wonder. Think how you hav
used the organ last night and to-day"
"But the voluntary. Il must 60 on
Therel The prayer is oser.-What shal
do? Get up. Hurry! It's no tim
now to rest"
Tommy got up and took hold of tn
belloss-handIe to keep from falling dow
The organist skunk away, put the beauti
ful lady remained.
Tommy looked timidly up, and said:
Il was tired, ma'sm, and it's Christina
day"
Here he began to drag up the heay,
handle, and the music broke out in
fierce roar-and then died away with
groan and a squeak-and that was a
Tommy knew about it.
The next thing be knew he felt him
self held something soft and warm. II
opened his eyes, and the face Of beauti
ful lady was close 10 his She was hold
ing him in her arms He fels The sol
silk next her face. He was 30 tired, an
! I was 20 nice and warm that he shut hi