Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1893-12-20

Ny fathers creditors took everything ex.
cert my lutte. % left Florence, end now
I earn . little money by singing in tho
streets, but often have to sleep in the
open air and without supper"
As they entered the church Mao do(fed
his hat reverentially, dipped his fingers
into the holy water font and touched
them to Christine's. Then the two chill
dren knelt down in hcshadow Of great
pillar which rose to the high archedroof.
At the end of the nave stood the. altar,
cleaning with wax lights and flooded
with the rising incense; priests, acolytes,
and choristers were engaged with the
Christmas service, and one could see the
fluttering white SUPPLIES and the gilt
ter of gold and precious stones on copes
and stoles.
The 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, 80 clear and SO sweet that every
one near turned to look at him. A tall man
wrapped ina great cloak left his place,
and coming nearer to the lad listened
attentively, with his eyes fixed upon
Maso's face rs long as he continued to
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. snow
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
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
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;
mo: Well, it does not matter. Iwant
to see the lad who was in church with
you. Tell HIM Master KriegwinSkel
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 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 a great artist. But-you
do not know how to singh"
"That is because l have never been
taught" said Maso sadly. and humbly.
Il observed that. It 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 relativess"
'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 iOthree or four years-you
will see! 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. I 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
Won as NV own son, and YOU will earn a
great deal more than your living when
have taught you music. It 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 mp 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: Il shall never forget you.