Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-09-05
HE HAD PITY.
Educating a Singer and the Grati-
tude He Displayed in Return.

HIS faults were
many and his virtues few. His two re-
deeming points-ca1 them virtues if
you wi1l-were generosity verging on
weakness in individual cases and love
for music.
Late one night he came out of st.
James hall. buttoned his coat up round
his neck, dived his hands into his
pockets, and made for home. On his
way he entered cafe and took a cup
of coffee.
AS he slipped the 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 81
lence. AT length it stopped altogether.
Jabez asked the waiter attending him
to fetch in the person singing.
The waiter returned in less than a
minute ushering in a young man of a
distinctly Italian cast of countenance,
whom he introduced as Luigi the bottle
washer.
well, my man, you have an extreme
~ fine voice Did you know that? With
due care and rigid training there
ought to be both fame and fortune in
it. You would like to be something
better than a bottle-washer all your
life, eh, my MANI"
Luigi, in wondering sort of way,
nodded.
That's right, that's right, my man.
my house tomorrow at half-past six. 1
INIT RI hora So1I r
Can you Gomez"
''Yes, sir-that is, no, sir. Not to-
morrow. / work till eleven every night
during the week.
''Oh. oh! such is the irony of fate, :"
Inuttered Jabez- Can you come on
Sunday?"
Yes, sir. will come"
True to his word. Luigi, clothed in
his Sunday garments, found himself in
Mr.. Wilson's drawing-room the follow
ing Sunday evening.
Luigi, you have a most charming
voice. 1t is, at present, in what may
term an embryo form. The foundation
is there in all its strength, and couple
of years careful training will place
you without doubt in one of the top
most branches of the vocal tree.
You must make a point of cu1tivat-
ing your voice on every possible occa-
sion, Luigi. Avoid those articles of
food which I shall give you list of,
that your vocal cords may retain the
sweetness, strength and fullness that
now marks them.
Your clothes, too, are unsuited to
the pupil of vocal professor. You
must fit yourself out Like gentleman,
Luigi You must exercise care, and
take pride in your personal appear
ance-in short, be in every respect
worthy of your profession"
As Luigi's profession was that of
bottle-washer at an Italian restaurant,
he naturally failed to see how he could
well give further evidence of his occu-
patton than by the suit in which he ap-
peared before this strange gentleman
And he said so.
Dear me; of course. Unjust explain
to you, Luigi, what propose to do.
am too hasty. First and foremost, do
you like music?"
II 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
mental occupation and become, first,
the pupil of a musician, and then a
master of the art you will excel imp"
THAT is beyond my hopes. sir. 1
have no money"
Jabez Wilson threw up his hands
That's all right I will see to that
little matter. Give me the assurance
that you will put your whole heart
into the work have cut out for you.
and will do your best. ask for moth
ing more"
A few days later Luigi left his situa-
ton, and became the protege of Mr..
Wilson. To say that Luigi was CRATE
full would be to put the feeling he
evinced toward his benefactor in very