The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-23

tea for the crowd, and while he was there
he asked for pen and paper and wrote a
letter to The Telegraph saying that he
would guarantee to rid London of her or
gan-grinders.
Then the fairy godmother put II into
the heart of each hand-organ man in the
metropolis to wish that he might secure
the services of sweet voiced boy with
a harp. That was her first step The
next she put into operation on the fol-
lowing day just as they were sitting out
to visit Kew Gardens.
She gave Tom Tucker the fairy harp
and told him 40 wander about the streets
of London singing plaintive melodies
The harp, she said, would accompany him,
whether he played 1t or not, but she sug-
sested that he run his fingers over it, so
that people would not be too astonished.
harp that plays itself is none too com
mon these days.
Tom, who liked nothing better than to
sing, and who had all of boys love for
an enchanted harp, was pleased beyond
words He Immediately slung the harp
over his shoulders and walked down High
Holborn toward Chancery lane singing
in the sweetest voice imaginable. The
enchanted harp played an accompani-
ment that might have been written by
schumann it was so entrancingly beau
tiful, and yet 1t had a fairy quality that
no earthly composer has ever been able
to get.
Robin and the rest Of the Animated
Wax Works followed Tom at the dis
lance OF a block curious to see what
would happen. Well, of course, the
passers by were delighted. There are few
people no do not like good singing. and
Tom had voice that would have gained
him the position of soloist in any boy
choir on earth. But although he was fol-
lowed by the multitude he did not en-
counter an organ grinder until he was
half way to Fleet street In Chancery
lane.
You should have seen that man. He
was in the middle OF a dance tune, and
flve or six poor little boys and girls were
Dancing in time to 1t when the sweet
and melancholy strains of Toms voice
and harp filled the foggy air. In mo-
ment the organ man stopped playing,
slung his organ over his back and fol-
lowed Tom, trying to get close TO him.
but, owing to the fairy influence, he was
MOI able to approach nearer than nun
dred feet In the rear The organ man
held out his hands appealingly and said
in Italian, Come to me, pretty boy l
would speak to you. We will play to-
gether." But Tom did not hear him. He
too was enchanted by the fairy, and all
he was conscious OF was the SURPRISING
sweetness OF the harp accompaniment
and his Joy In singing. One tune after
another hoated out Of his delicate throat
and sim he wandered along with
Creamy look on his face that made every
man and woman who saw him fall IN
love with him. He looked like a little
seherub and London was the better for
his music.
AT Temple Bar there were a man ana
woman with a big piano-organ. They'
100 followed him at distance and call
el 10 him IN their native tongue.
- and down the streets Tom WANDER
ea. The day grew older and the crowds
grew more dense. and as time went on
every third man was an organTgrinder.
West End and East End. through streets
oo,3ered with palaces and through the
NMtechapel district sauntered the pref
boy singing like a lark ana never ur-
nlB and behind him the mob OF appealing
organ men grew larger and larger.
ny nlEhtfall every organ-grinder IN the
'} was following him. ana. thanks 70
' iairy not one Of them but thouRnt
.nai Dee WAS the only man who Wa1 nfier
WI boy The fairy had made them az
Nalhle 70 each other. The police, VINO
''" What Was being done went elons