Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1893-12-21

tened with clasped hands and fearful
eyes. AS soon as he stopped there was
q knock at the door. Christine opened
it fearlessly, for there was nothing in
that poor homo 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" 4" said Christine,
surprised.
mo? Well, it does not matter. Iwant
to see the lad who was in church with
you. Tell him Master KriegwinckeI
wants him 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 bade him enter. He
bowed politely to the widow and then
addressed Maso, saying:
"You have beautiful voice, my lad
an unusually fine one. l am an old man,
but have seldom heard such voice as
yours. You understand what you sing,
too, and you love music. You have all
the makings of a great artist. But-you
do not know how to singl"
"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."
every 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; / 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. am Krieg-
winckel, leader Of the choir in Munich. !"
II would be only too happy, master" I"
Maso stammered, "but l 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
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 heard
your voice through that window. But
must leave Nuremberg tonight. Come. :"
The boy took up his cloak and Lutte
saying: "Goodby, Christine, will come
back some day. Do not forget me-"
The girl clung to his arm and whis-
pered: 81 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. It will bring me luck" he
said, and the Widow Gudule, clasping
him in her arms, prayed that heavens
blessings might always follow him. As
he turned away he handed his purse to
Christine, saying:
"The master says | shall not need
money, SO here are my days earnings
I have had very good day, and they
will help you until your mother can
work again.
Eight years passed.
The Christmas bells were 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 a 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 nasser looked at
her with admiration; young and old
greeted her smilingly, even portly bur-
gomasters murmured as they met her,
"God bless that sweet young creaturep
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, yet all Nuremberg honored
them. Every one knew that Dame
Gudule Dachs, when left widow with
her child to bring up and her husbands
debts to pay, had set about bravely to
perform the task. She had become the
most successful embroiderer in the town,
her daughter had soon grown celebrated
for her taste in designing new patterns,
and now the widow owed nothing and
could hardly fill all the orders she re-
ceived from the richest ladies in the
land.
As the people entered the church the
organs peal rose to the vaulted roof. and
Widow Gudule, kneeling at Christine's
side, heard her murmured prayer:
'sSweet Saviour Jesus, protect himl
Bring him back to us that may tell
him / have not forgotten himl"
The mother smiled sadly, for she had
had experience of the world, and she
knew that with young people remem-
brance often fades. Every Christmas
eve Christine had said, Suppose he
should come tonighti" and when her
mother tried to explain how unlikely it
was that the youth who for asingle hour
had been their guest should ever think
Of them again the girl only shook her
head and answered. He will come"
The widow was growing uneasy, for
her daughter was 16 years old.
Suddenly, just as the priest turned
round to administer communion to the
faithful, voice in the choir rose above
the organs strains, and Christine's face
was transfgured as she whispered, 1T
Is her
Oh, that beautiful voice-powerful,
impassioned. yet as sweet as if it came
straight from heavenl
"Glory to God in the highest and
peace on earth" it sang, and Christine,
carried out of herself as she listened,
wept softly and wondered whether it
were not indeed an angels voice! With
q saddened look in her soft blue ~ =.
R a.