Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20

a boy might be surprised at the amount Of
work he accomplished.
Curtis father was a poor musician. who
found 1t very hard to earn his five chill
drens daily bread. and his busy mother
also toiled from dawn till night and tried
to make some money by sewing
When our little friend came from school
he had barely time to put his books away,
before his little brothers and sisters f1ocked
around him. Curt was always ready. he
gave little Kittie her porridge If his mother
had not time. told the older children beau
tiful stories which he had learned at school
from his teacher. and if his mother needed
anything at the grocer's. butchers or bak-
er's. he darted off to get it.
Do you wonder that everybody liked
Curt7 His father loved him with special
was a very musical child. and his father
was delighted to hear him sing. in his bell
like voice, the songs he had learned at
home and at school. When the days work
was over the father took his old violin and
accompanied his darling.
This was to Curt the happiest time In the
whole day. His eyes rested on his father
as IL spellbound. and while watching him
he often forgot to sing and stood with his
mouth half open, listening to the notes
Oh, how he 1onged to play himself! Once he
had tried on his fathers instrument, but 1t
was too large and too heavy for him. II
he could only have little violin, how hard
he would try to learn. He had often ex-
replied: 1T costs too much money, my
child and We are poor"
But Curt was constantly thinking how he
could get an instrument. Even in his
dreams he saw beautiful vioIins lowering
around him. But as soon as he attempted
to choose one, he woke and they all van
ished.
Christmas was close at hand; in a few
weeks there would be merry-making in
huts and palaces.
ing prayers. Father. I don't want any
thing at Christmas except a pretty violin
on which can learn to play
II fear that won't come, my boy replied
only too glad to fulfill his sons wish
Write to the Christ Child" cried merry
little Barbara, Hes rich. isn't He,
father?"
These words made a deep impression
upon Curt. why hadn't he thought of
that himself? Hetknew that the dear Saw
Tor gives when He Is asked and that He
loves children! Yes. he would write, but
nobody must know anything about 1t.
When Curt came home from school the
next day he stood hesitating before Mr..
Liebrecht's paper store. He had saved five
whole pennies Should he use this little
property to buy nice sheet Of paper and
an envelope? For. of course, the letter
must look just right. At last he made up
his mind and went in.
Good morning, Curt" cried pleasant
Mr.. Liebrecht. What can 1 do for you,
my SOM"
Curt stammered his request for sheet
of paper and an envelope.
"Oho! you probably have an important
letter to writer? asked the shopkeeper,
smiling. peering at Curt over his specta-
cleS.
Curt blushed scarlet. as if he had been
caught in some piece of mischief
81 can guess. You want to send list of
wishes to your grandmother" said the
pleasant old gentleman. "Ill gladly give
you the paper for that.
Curtis eyes sparkled, he shook hands
gratefully and after carefully folding his
treasure he hurried home.
His mother met him at the door. II must
carry the washing home, Curt; take good
care Of the children
Willingly as the lad usually obeyed, It
was very hard for him today. he was so
anxious to commence his masterpiece at
once. His parents were both out, so he
would have been undisturbed.
He did everything IN his power to pur
baby Kittie to sleep. But he was obliged to
sing one song after another before her little
eyes closed. Then he turned to the other