The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-12-21


ing To poor old woman who MAS clean
Ing tho floor
What YOU doingg9 pipcd Draxy in her
friendly way.
Faith, darrlin.n said the old woman,
strengthening up and holding ono hand to
her back, It's claiming up bit am,
shure, "
oh, " said DraNy peeping into the bias.
kct of torn scraps, 4 suppose You ARE tho
janitress
"Jinnethress, is itq Faith, thon, per
haps that is 1t. scrooh the fues and
stairs beyant outside and picl, tho stool
they throw down In hero
Draxy looked at her thoughtfully
THAT Is too hard" she said at longth In
n decisive littlo tone What nils your
poor back"
God bless ye, dnrrlin, and kape ye
long from tho same IT'S rhumatis dear,
and me ould homes arc craokln wild 1t.
livery tuiino l rise mesolf from piolsln mp
these little cards.
Poor woman Who makes you do
such hard work." said Draxy, beginning
In another aisle 10 pick up torn checks
and programmes.
Me ould man is bcdrld this five year,
and the littlc childthor-the grandchild-
'''Nit NhA iiAl' WIN WV pun ihhAiltE III
hiven-God ho meroiful to her swate soul
! works to kapo tho little childthcr."
"Oh, Pm real sorry for you," said
Draxy, coming back to tho basket, with
her skirt held up like an apron and filled
with scraps
"Ah, God bless her What's this, at alp
Is 1t pielin up the cards ye are, darrling
Look Mt that now. All, go and sit down
wild ye, miss, dear. Shure, We mustn't bo
doin the loikcs of that.
No, I'm just going to help you. l
was hero last night, and So you sec made
part of this litter, said DraXy.
WHY she exclaimed again directly
"Thoy stick into this mating SO. And
it's miles and miles mp and down these
rows of seats. "
And away went Draxy, picking up
scraps for dear life and saying ia herself
that she would never tear TIP and scatter
checks or programmes again as long rs
she lived.
So tho poor ohnrwoman and tho little
maid went up and down, hard ut work
while the soft Christmas twilight fell
without, and the great fuguo rolled and
Numbered from the organ.
Oh, what IA thing 1t wns to hear the
mighty rumble of that giant bassi You
could feel 1t shake the floor beneath your
feet 1t mado the balconies yihrato and
trcmhle, and sometimes tho great hall
seemed almost to rock and roll with sound
Then, whom IL ended. there was such
silence That the slow ticking Of tho great
clock seemod like the heart heats Of tho
place, which you could hear because 1t
was "a still.
Davy had finished praoticing, and his
Iu1C LII
wondering why he did not come out and
call her. ;5ho began TO look often toward
the stage and then at the great clock face
on the balcony.
IIark Could that have boon strain of
music, or was u the sad sad voice of some
ono grioyingY
Draxy md tho old woman turned ut tho
first san4d and Locked t2Yard the organ
great fuguo was rolling through the hall
But something drew thom nearer 60 this
magical strain, mud they crept toward IL
step by step
What Is Dayy playingY oh, what Is
this that Is making tears fall fnst on tho
two faces 1t has drawn so ncar2
II was music that wns never written
music that was never hoard boioro and
will not be heard again, for Dnyy IL in
This Is his farewell 10 music and 10 all his
hopes and dreams The organ erlevea for
him. Tho master on his pedestal listens
sadly aud soens almost to stir with pity.
At last there comes II piteous strnin,
then a Wild crash across the keys, and
Dnyy has flung his head down ON his
arms Tho music Is ended.
"Goodby goodbye no whispered, kiss
ing the yellow keys whore his faco lay hid
don
"Oh, Dayyl" sobhed u little voice, and
Drnxy'a arms were around his neck, her
soft, wet check pressed close to ha Just
then II grulf old VOICE said:
Come, comet This won't dol stop
this sniycingN'
An arm that seemed too fatherly and
gentle to belong To such voice took In
Dhvy and DraXy at once ~ they aat ON
tho organ sent, and seemed to hug thom
and shake them at the Same time.
"Como What's the mnttcr here sayy"
Where he had dropped from WINS the
mystery. Had no been hiding in some
recess of tho organf
impossible TO say. But there ne was,
looking very GRIM except about tho oyos,
which were kind, and-was IL possibleY-
had suspicious wctncss about them, In
spite Of his orders against sniyelinR.
Davy turned around, palo and dazod-
scarcely aroused yct from his dream.
"Sirl" he said, half proudly, half sadly,
What are you crying aboutf" demand
cd tho old gentleman.
"Cryiugi" repeated Dayy, with flash
ing eyes. "I'm not oryinRl'
lie drew himself erect, and tho color
rose In his checks
"Ahl Spirit, too-ehf'' said the old gen
tlomnn exultantly
Then ho wheeled suddenly ON Druxy.
what are you crying about, them" he
demanded in II terrible tono
"Bo.bocauso / want tot" said she, stiff
eninR her littlo neck
con- because you want 10, eh2 Como
herol"
Draxy came rather deilanty, I am
afraid But then he did seon such an in
terferlnR old gentleman.
Now look at nel9 lao ordered.
Draxy looked right into his eyes Some
thing that sho saw There must have reas-
hurcd her, for pretty soon she smiled,
though no was pinching her ear.
50 you're the Kind of little girl who
helps poor old ladies with lame backs
when you 500 them hard at work, arc
your" said he.
Draxy stared with surprise, but answer
ed never word.
rs she2" no asked again, turning to
tho old woman, who stepped back in u
hurry, but recovered herself and courtesiod,
saying:
"She Is, sirl God bless herr"
and you're tho Kind OF fellow who
takes caro- OF his mother md tho lttlo
brothers and listers are your the gentlo-