The herald., 1898-05-29
PAOLI, TIE MUSICIAN

In two small rooms on the ground floor
of rickety tenement lived Paoli, his wife
Flosca and their baby girl Anita.
They had not intended to live in such
q humble manner when they lefttheir
italian home a year ago-ah, no, they
were coming to America-to California,
another sunny Italy-to be happy and
make lots of money. For was not
Paoli's father prosperous fruit mer-
chant in the city so far away in the
west, and had he not sent them the gold
that would bring them across the sea
and land to him?
But Paoli arrived in San Francisco only
to find that the fruit merchant, his IA
Their, had been dead month, and all the
money of the deceased fruit dealer had
been used to defray the funeral expenses.
Every Gay Paoli would kiss his weep
Ing Fosca and little Anita, and tramp
the streets OF the big city looking for
something to do, he knew not what. His
countrymen were kind, but alas so poor!
and Paol would not accept aims. 1t
was work he wanted.
The weeks passed. The little hoard
Of money was almost exhausted, and
Pao1is shoes were worn out from much
weary walking over the hard cobbles.
And then, when sore and discouraged,
the tired musician would step softly into
the big cathedral and refresh his heart
and soul with the music that was so dear
to him.
It was one one Of these days that a
kindly priest, noticing the pale and hag-
gard face of thu stranger, and recognize
ing a countryman, stopped to speak a
word Of encouragement. In a few mo-
ments Paoli's sad story was told.
The interview ended by Paol's receiv-
ing an invitation to call that evening at
the study of the priest, who would give
him some music 10 arrange, and if the
work was we'll done there might be much
of 1t to do IN the future.
So the months passed and Paoli worked
hard with the music. He proved himself
70 be possessed Of rare musical genius,
although he was too modest and timd
to tell his benefactor at the cathedral all
he could do.
All day long he would write a. the little
dingy window-all day long and far into
the highland O'Rourke. the policeman,
would peer through the broken shutters
and speak kindly word to the brave lit
tie man bending over his work.
O'Rourle, the big policeman, took a
strange interest in the little musician.
and every night would stop at the shut
ter to speak few cheering words or to
give 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
Pao,i would plead for more time.
O'Rourke took the collector to one side
as he LETT the door with a scowl on his
eaoe anc guaranteed the pay. One day
Paoli, with many gestures and much
broken English. had told his sad story
to ORourile, and from that time on the
policeman was a friend indeed.
It was nearing the holidays and great
preparations were being made at the ca
thedral for the celebration of the services
Of the Christmas season. The singing
. was to be grander than ever and the
music especially fine. Farther Bassini
called Paoli into his study and placed
-. In his hands the mass of a famous com
poser.
Here, Paoli, is our Christmas mass
: It Is all manuscript. as you see and
written for low voices. Transpose it a
tone and half higher. and arrange il
for organ, with. full orchestral accom-
nanimert. It Is task to try all youl