Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-12-20


ings.
And so, mother, he sings. You should
hear him. The angels in heaven have not
swccter voices, " exclaimed Christine, and
the lad, taking up his Lutte struck the
chords lightly, then began to sing, while
the mother and daughter listened with
clasped hands and fearful eyes. As soon
as he stopped there was a knock at the
door Christine opened it fcarlessly, 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, l 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. l want
to see the lad who was in church with you.
Tell him Master kriegwinckel wants him
| minute.
This man was one of the most celebrat-
ed musicians of that time, not only in
Munich, where he lived, but throughout
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
have seldom heard such 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 l have never been
taught" said Maso sadly and humbly.
Il observed that. 1t is not your fault,
and it can be remedied. How old are your"
Fifteen on Candlemas day"
Very good. l have proposition to
make you. Have you relativesp'
"None l am all alone
Better still. l will take charge Of you.
I will 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 kriegwinckel, leader of the
choir in Munich
Maso bowed low, for having always been
interested in musical matters, and ever on
the watch for new songs, he had heard Of
Master kriegwinCkcl and had often sung
his compositions
II would be only too happy, master,
he stammered, but l am obliged to earn
my living. | have nothing
You will not need money. l will trent
you rs my own son, and you will earn
great deal moro 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 l heard your
voice through that window, but l must
leave Nuremberg tonight, Come. -
The boy took up his cloak and lutte, say
ing: 'Goodby, Christine! l will come
back some day. Do not forget me.
The girl chung to his arm and whispered,
Il shall never forget you. L thought at
first that you We're an angel, because you
sang like one and were as good as one l
will love you all my life.
Eight years passed.
The Christmas bells We're ringing mer-
rily, and the people, coming out of their
houses to attend the midnight mass, greet
! ed each other with Christmas wishes.
| Among the throng there was none who
received more sautes and friendly smiles
! than an elderly woman who leaned upon
the arm of a beautiful young girl, tall and
| ~
she carried the girls bright blue eyes,
rosy cheeks and golden hair We're seen, and
every passer looked at her with admira-
! ton.
Young girls nodded with friendly air;
apprentices, students and more than one
young gentleman in velvet cap and en-
broidered doublet bowed respectfully to
| the mother and daughter.
| These two were but simple working pco-
| pie yet all Nuremberg honored them. Ev-
cry one knew that Dame Gudule Dachs,
when left q widow with hey 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
h the town, her daughter had soon grown
celebrated for her taste in designing new
patterns, and now the widow owed noth-
ing and could hardly fill all the orders she
received from the richest ladies in the
land. The poor and the suffering we'll
knew the way to Widow Gudule's door,
and the fair Christine was never happier
than when attending to their wants. 1t
was thought that Christine had dedicated
herself to God and would soon take the
veil, for if she did not mean to be a nus;
why was she SO indifferent to the tender
glanccs, signs and words of the youns
men?
As the people entered the church the or
CANS pcalS rose to the vaultCd roof, an6
Widow Gudule, knecling at Christine
| side, heard her murmurrd prayer: 'Swce1
Saviour Jesus, protect him! Bring hin
back to us that | may tell him l have moi
forgotten him.
The mother smiled sadly, for she hae
had experi1ucoof the world, and she knc"