The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-12-21
ruin and death and of his own wander

ruin and death and of his own wander
ings.
And so, mother, he sings. You should
hear him. The angels in heaven have not
sweeter 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 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, l want to speak to your
brother, who has just been singing"
'IIo is not my brother" said Christine,
surprised.
mo? Well, it does not matter l want
to see the lad who was in church with you.
Tell him Master kricgwinckel wants him
minute.
This man was one of the most celebrat-
cd 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 tho
widow and then addressed Maso, saying:
"You have beautiful voice, my lad, an
unusually fine one am an old man, but
l havo seldom heard such avoico as yours.
You understand what you sing, too, and
you love music. You have all tho markings
of II great artist, but-you do not know
how to singh
'That is because / have never been
taught" said Maso sadly and humbly.
Il observed that. 1t is not your fault,
and it can be rcmcdicd. How old are your"
Fifteen on Candlemas day.
Very good. i have proposition to
mako you. Have you relatives
"Nonc / am all alone.
Better still. l will take charge of YOU
/ will take you back to Munich with me.
l will teach you music and singing, and
in three or four years-you will see! Kings
and princes will invite you to como to
court and sing for them, and l shall have
tho honor of giving tho world another
great musician. Perhaps you have heard
of me. am Kricgwinckel, leader of tho
choir in Munich"
Maso bowed low, for having always been
interested in musical matters, and ever on
tho watch for new songs, he had heard of
Master Kriegwinckel and had often sung
his compositions.
II would be only too happy, master, q"
he stammercd, 'but L am obliged to earn
my living. have nothing
You will not need money. L will treat
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 / heard your
voice through that window, but l must
leave Nuremberg tonight. Come"
The boy took up his cloak and Lutte, say
ing: "Goodby, Christinel l will come
back some day DO not forget me- p"
The girl chung to his arm and whispered:
/ shall never forget you. 1 thought at
first that you were an angel, because you
sang like ono and were rs good as one.
will love you all my life. ~
Eight years passed.
Tho Christmas bells were ringing mer-
rily, and the people, coming out of their
houses to attend the midnight mass, greet
cd each other with Christmas wishes.
Among the throng there was mono who
received more salutes and friendly smiles
than an elderly woman who leaned upon
the arm of beautiful young girl, tail and
slender as n reed. BY the light of the torch
she carried the girls bright blue eyes,
rosy checks and golden hair were seen, and
every passer looked Mt her with admiru-
ton.
Young girls nodded with n friendly air,
apprentices, students and moro than ono
young gentleman in velvet cap and em-
broidercd doublct bowed respectfully To
the mother and daughter.
These two wero but simple working poo
pie, yet all Nuremberg honorcd them. Ey-
cry one knew that Dame Gudulc Dachs
when left widow with her child to bring
up aud her husband S debts to pay had set
about bravely to perform the task. She had
become tho most successful cmbroiderer
in the town, her daughter had soon grown
celebrated for her taste in designing new
patterns, and now the widow owed moth
ing and could hardly I'll all tho orders she
received from the richest ladies in the
land. The poor and the suffering well
knew the way to Widow Gudulo'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