The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19

than less careful musicians would.
| There was much music to arrange for
the service in the great cathedral, and
Father Bassini kept his protege at
work. Some of the masses were in
manuscript, and must be copied for
the different singers, and sometimes a
whole mass must be transposed tone
higher or half tone lower, because, for
sooth, the prima donna's voice ap-
peared to better advantage in the new
key.
Then Paoli would say to his wife:
Just think, Flosca, they must have it
transposedl 1t is too hight is too
low! Ma fois! If I were the organist
1 would play it in any key" and his
eyes would fill with tears as his
thoughts flew back to the happy days
in Italy, when he played one of the
grand organs. Yes, and to that blessed
day in st. Peters, when the Pope
had praised his wonderful playing and
presented him with a seal ring-a
priceless treasure which the musician
always wore.
Then Flosca would caress him and
say tenderly: Never mind, dear
Paoli, some day they will appreciate
your genius, and you will play here as
you did in Rome, Some day it will be
so, my Paoli." And with such encour-
agement the work was so much
lighter, the days so much brighter.
O'Rourke. the big policeman, took
strange interest in the little musician,
and every night would stop at the
shutter to speak a few cheering words
or to give a vivid description of the
latest brawl at the corner saloon.
Once, when the rent man was making
daily trips to the poor little home, and
Paoli would plead for more time
O'Rourke took the collector to one
side as he left the door with scowl
on his face and guaranteed the pay
ment of the amount due. The big
patrolman had a heart in keeping
with his huge form, and his admira-
ton for the ''plucky little Dago," as
be affectionately called him, was great.
One day Paoli, with many gestures
and much broken English, had told
his sad story to O'Rourke, and from
that time on the policeman was
friend indeed.
It was nearing the holidays, and
great preparations were being made
at the cathedral for the celebration of
the services of the Christmas season.
The singing was to be grander than
ever, and the music especially fine
Father Bassini called Paoli into his
study, and placed in his hands the
mass of a famous composer.
Here, Paoli, is our Christmas mass
1t is all manuscript, as you see, and
written for low voices. Transpose it
tone and half higher, and arrange
it for organ, with full orchestral ac-
compartment. 1t is a task to try all
your skill, my son, and you must work
fast Have it ready the week before
Christmas-and here is something to
keep your spirits up"-and the good
man pressed some gold pieces into the
trembling hand of Paoli, who fairly
flew home to Flosca, only stopping
long enough to tell the good news to
O'Rourke, as he encountered that
worthy abstractedly filling his pockets
at a corner peanut stand.
What joy it was to Paoli's heart az
he lovingly turned page after page o,
the great mass-and it was in Mo
zarts own writing, too! Late into the
night he poured over the manuscript
noting each chord and note of the ac
commandment. He must study it wei
If he would arrange it to his satisfac
ton, and the little musician could no
repress a feeling of pride to thinl
that he had been intrusted with th
precious task.
AS he scanned page after page h,
came to the prima donna's solo. Thi