The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-09-11
HE HAD PITY.

Jabez Wilson, whose 80 years of life
had been passed in single blessedness,
had little i'll common with tho rest Of
the world.
His faults were many and his virtues
few. His two redeemlng points-call
them virtues if you will-were generos.
ity yerging on weakness in individual
cases and love for music.
Late one night no came out of st.
James hall, buttoned his coat up round
his neck, dived his hands into his
pockets and made for home. On the
way he entered cafe and took cup OF
coffee.
As he slipped tho beverage his ear,
ever on the alert for music, caught the
sounds of voice that was at once rich
and melodious.
Jabez listened attentively for five
minutes, during which time the song
continued, with short intervals of
silence. At length it stopped altogether.
Jabez asked the waiter attending him
to fetch i'll tho person singing.
The waiter returned In less than O
minute ushering in young man OF
distinctly Italian cast of countenance,
whom he introduced as Luigi, tho bottle
washer.
"WeH, my man, you have an ex.
tremely flno voice. Did you know that
With duo caro- and rigid training there
ought to be both fame and fortune In
it. You would like to be something bot
ter than bottle washer all your life,
eh, my man?"
Luigi, i'll wondering sort of way,
nodded
'That's right-that s right, my man.
Hero is my card. Come and SEQ mo at
my house tomorrow at half past @,
want to have serious talk with you.
Can you conner"
Eyes, sir-that is, no, sir. Not to,
morrow. work till II every night dur.
ing tho week. "
ooh, OH Such is tho irony of fate, "
muttered Jabez Can you come on
Sunday?'
''Yes, sir, will come. I"
True to his word, Luigi, clothed IL
his Sunday garments, found himself IL
Mr.. Wilson's drawing room tho follow
ing Sunday evening.
Luigi, you have a most charming
voice. 1t is at present In what may
term an embryo form. Tho foundation
is thero in all its strength, and eou-
pie of years careful training will place
you without doubt in ono of the top.
most branches of tho vocal tree.
GU must make u point of oultivat-
ing your voice on overy possible occa-
sion, Luigi Avoid those articles Of food
which l shall give you list of. that
your vocal chords may retain tho sweet
ness, strength and fullness that now
mark them.
"Your clothes, too, arc unsuited to
tho pupil of "a vocal professor. You must
fit yourself ont like gentleman, Luigi.
You must exercise care and take q pride
i'll your personal appearance. In short,
be in every respect worthy Of your pro-
fession -
AS Luigi's profession was that of bot
tie washer at an Italian restaurant, he
naturally failed to see how no could
we'll give further evidence Of his occu-
patton than by tho suit i'll which he ap-
peared before this strange gentleman
And he said so.
"Dear me- OF course. / must explain
to you, Luigi, what propose to do. /
am too hasty. First and foremost, do
you like music?'
"I am an Italian" was the modest
reply.
"Grand. A most fitting answer. Now
we will come to business. Would you
like to give up your present menial o.
cupation and become, first, the pupil Of
a musician, and then master of tho
art you will excel in?"
"That is beyond my hopes, sir.
have no money"
Jabez Wilson threw up his hands,
"rhat's all right will see to that
little matter. Give me tho assurance
that you will put your whole heart into
the work have cut out for you and
will do your best. l ask for nothing
more F"
A few days later Luigi left his situa-
ton and became the protege of Mr.. Will
son. To say that Luigi was grateful
would be to put the feeling he evlnced
terms He could find no way of express
ing his gratitude beyond making him
self as perfect in his art as 1t became
possible for him to do
Luigi" said Mr.. Wilson one day,
1T am delighted to tell you that it is
now beyond tho capabilities Of English
masters to teach you further. 1t remains
for tho ,,,oetaru Of vDry rafipo land IN
instill into you that little required to
render you their equal, If not their SUI
perior l have decided therefore to take
you to Naples, where we will spend the
next year or two.
For the first time since their odd ac-
quaintance Luigi failed to hail an an
nouncement for his benefit with any
sign of pleasure or satisfaction. He
looked gloomy and hesitated to speak.
"You have always been extremely
kind and good to mo, Mr.. Wilson. I
cannot by any possible means express
my gratitude. But the suggestion you
have made, although entirely for my
good, fills me with pain. 1 cannot
leave England, because-because l am
going to get married.
"The dickens you arel" roared tho
Infatuated bachelor, mad with rage.
"This, sir, is the way in which you
show your gratitude. You Italian dog,
you scoundrel, YOU
He stopped short. What an idiot he
was. Luigi was only flesh and blood,
and young blood at that.
Luigi" he began after the silence
of the moment. ais this girl Of yours
suitable partner to accompany you on
your upward career through life2 You
will stand at the head of your art, and
you will move in the highest circles of
European society.