The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1894-12-07

sVAk WY AIuIu uyur. Dcfe'6 n corpse III
de soui's repose. Hush yo' business si g now
and tex dis and 90 long. $3.50 s. : :,
Filippo was showed bodily from the
doorstep. He didn't understand Tho big
black woman, but he knew his organ
had been again insulted. He Ind q no
t a. OF throwing the copper back at this
thought Of Jocko and he slid the piece Of
money into his coat pocket Night was
coming on. "We'll try once more" lie
whispered to the old organ in-his own
tongue; another penny will buy ltl monk
some nuts" Filippo halted before il
group . Of children, they smiling ut him
PLAY us something lively, VIC want to
d4nce," spoke out a merry-yoiccd girl
tliippo smiled aud nodded at the girl aud
then he unshouldered his instrument.
For On monk" he whispered to lis or
ing out Baby Nine" A chorus of PRO
tests from the children caused the Ita1ian
% Oh, something lively; waltz" they ex-
Yes, q waltz" Filippo repeated. and
Danube" This was TOO too much for the
cehildren-they shrieked with laughter and
then ran away.
VcI ,riHtpo: AGAIN ne 1elt that PAIN
those other children on Fifth avenue had
laughed. He hadn't believed these POOR
children would he so cruel. An. we'll!
1t was the organ; nobody wanted it any
longer.
mo gooda," he sighed, mo gooda."g5$
1t was quite dark and the air had grown
quite cold. '.:.. > 1.7E. =.
.Da monka havva no gooda sup tonight,
one penny all l gotta, poor bambino!' -
When tilippo reached his door in Crosby
street he was faint and weary. He dragged
himself slowly up the many rickety stairs,
and Jocko, listening above for his mas
ter's return, failed to recognize his heavy,
labored step.
mo gooda, no gooda," ended Filippo,
referring to his old organ that he had
flung down iii the corner.
But little Jocko crept over to Where
the old music box lay on its face and tried
to raise it.. Filippo looked on sullenly.
mo gooda. Jocko, da organ is 10 gooda
more"
But Jocko was not satisfied. The organ
was his old friend and playmate. From
his earliest recollection, when the figures
danced to it's music, the organ had been
his friend. He would sometimes climb OF,
its top and dance in imitation of Elisa
and Beppo," the modern lovers who
adorned the front Flippo had always
laughed so heartily at such times and fed
little :locko with nuts or popcorn.
And then as ida monk'' grew older and
bigger his master would sometimes take
him to the street below and allow him to
grind the organ, much to the children s
delight. How funny "Baby Nine would
sound at :Jocko's hands coming in jerks
and squeals.
Jocko remembered all this and more.
He felt at this moment that his old friend
was receiving very bad treatment from
his master, and the little monkey some
how realized its injustice. He still tugged
1T the old organ, looking helplessly at
Filippo and uttering appealing little cries.
An; well, monk! Hayya your way. Me
setta de organ uppa, So"
And Filippo stood the instrument in it's
place in the corner. Jocko was given n
handful of nuts, purchased with the old
colored woman's penny. But somehow
ida monk" didn't care for nuts tonight.
He seemed to realize that his master was
in trouble and his usual good appetite
failed him. He cracked one nut, ate it
and hid the rest in masters coat pocket.
tho old organ stood propped up on its
crutch, and ran his little black paws ca
ressingly over its warped case. He
| looked at it tenderly and laid his ugly lit
tie head against it, as child does some
times on it's mothers breast, in token of
perfect faith and love. This action of
Jocko's aroused Filippo. 1t seemed to say
to him: '"rhe old organ may be mo good.
but to us it is an old friend, and we will
love and care for it just as we have al
ways done. Poor old friendv'
ner. 'Goodda Jocko! Goodda monk3 me
cover da organ uppa just da sama, poor
bambino, goodda monk!' And taking an
old, faded and ragged blanket from its
Sc
nightly habit, covered the organ closely
about. This satisfied Jocko. He felt that
now peace was once more restored tc
the home. "Da monk climbed into his
masters lap, and nesting close to his
breast was soon fast asleep. Filippo sat
on in the cold, with heavy heart and weak:
and himself in the future. The organ had
ceased to please and there was no money
left in the old handkerchief-the last coin
had been taken to buy the tallow candle,
and.and -. It was no use. Filppo
could not keep awake He was weary,
heart and soul, and sitting thus with ida
monk held close in his arms. FiliDpo fell
asleep.
The little candle burned low. In a
few minutes it's life would be spent, and
yocko and Filippo would slumber on in
darkness. But a slight gust of wind
that came through the crazy old shut
ters caught the tiny flame in it's death
struggle, and tanning it lightly with its
cold breath. sent it to meet the tattered
end of a fiimsy rag that did duty as
curtain at the attic window. Once, twice,
thrice it blew against it. The candle
sputtered, the flame was almost gone
The usual excitement followed. Cries
of women and children, curses and abuses
from the worthless fathers. shouts of
encouragement from the crowd in the
street and sharp orders from cool-headed
fremen.
Filjppo had been aroused by the crack
ling of timber. Instantly he realized his
perilous position, shut out so far from
escape, and so, catching Jocko to his
heart, the organ-grinder commended his
soul to God and prepared to meet death
bravely. The little attic was filled with
smoke, and Filippo, weak and unable to
resist it, lost consciousness. Outside the
brave fremen had worked swiftly and
well.
Presently at the attic window appeared
the head and shoulders of a red-shirted
fireman. He fought back the smoke and
leaped into the little room. lie quickly
raised the organ-grinder, and: with the
help Of other strong hands waiting to as
The cool air revived the man. He gazed
ut the crowd about him half stupidity, and
then with sudden rush of memory: he
cried aloud: ooh, savva mia Jocko! milo
bambino, savva, savva"
"Oh, savva mia Jocko!' walled Eilippo.
A little fuzzy brown face appeared ut
the window. 1t was Jocko. The flames
had subsidized now; they could no longer
reach him, but the building was in dan
ger of falling at any moment. The little
black paws beckoned to the crowd be-
low. Id ~;
ale is asking assistance said the
captain. "He deserves to escape, lie is
as plucky as Il soldier. Who'll bring the
little fellow DOWN. he asked, turning
to his 1iremen. Several volunteered. The
lightcst man assembled the ladder. The
crowd looked on breathlessly. Every
one knew it was the risk of 4 human life
to save that of a beast. Filippo stood
by, praying softly to himself, his eyes
fixed OH his little pet above. The fire
man gained the top and stretched forth
his arms to take Jocko, but the monkey
chung, to something near him and pulled
pleadingly Mt the fireman's sleeve. The
man on the ladder stopped over to see
what the monkey held SO tightly to, and
found an old hand organ, scorchcd and
blackcned. =s ->
"A brave act, my boy" said the cap
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