The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-11-21
THE VIEWING STOR r
The Wonder-CalfId.

IN the tenement where ne AYeos
Rafael Josephski, the Wonder-Child,
was decidedly unpopular. Every morn
ing the high, quivering notes of his
violin smote the air and proclaimed
that he was learning a new concert
piece.
I'D like to be. after learning him. .
Mrs. O'Halloran would mutter. "Thir-
teen years old he is, and dresses like
six with thin sailors suits and long
hairI"
The boys of the neighborhood long
ed to annihilate him, but dared not be-
cause of his father, Israel Josephski,
tall, dark Russian whose long arm
could stretch out a-rubber-ltke
and deliver a blow with marvellous cell
Gritty. And Israel Josephski was his
fael went he went too, and all the
satisfaction the boys could get was to
follow them and jeer at a safe dis
lance.
But distance was no handicap to
Bernardo, the organ grinder, who lv-
ed In the tenement basement. He came
home in the twilight when Rafael was
practicing. and deliberately played all
the vehement jangling tunes of which
the organ was capable. The violin
kept on likewise, and after a few mo-
ments OF this clash and discord Israel
Josephski would lean out the window
and shout at the Italian and call him
"A dago NIT a monkey
ana Bernardo would grin, and reply
that Josephski had a monkey, too
a little sheeny monkey with Tonga
ha1r- Then the tenement windows fill
ed with heads. Bernardo and Joseph
ski We're at it again! And non-partici-
pants listened with relish and heard
Josephski invite Bernardo to come up
and nave his eyes put out and Bern
ardo,s equally urgent desire to have
Josephski come down that he might
pun his nose. Thus they wrangled till
supper fumes were waited on the air,
and the on-lookers disappeared from
the windows.
Later Josephskf would issue forth,
bound for the East side concert hall.
They were an odd looking pair-the
small, pale boy with the gaunt, fierce
eyed man striding at his side; Rafael
clad in his faded velvet suit, Josephskf
IN greasy evening dress, displaying a
shirt front of uncertain whiteness
where two glass studs twinkled for all
the world like real diments.' A man
can make himself believe almost any
thing. and even in the privacy of his
own room Josephski always spoke
solemnly Of mime gems
Josephski loved the concert hail and
all that pertained to it: The applause
the packed rows of benches. the dimly
Haring lights. and that moment of all
others when great frilled bouquet OF
wax paper roses was handed up to
Raphael over the footlights. 1t was al
" oS . lie same 0QHCn OF roses. ana
though Raphael twirled it carelessIy
enough on the stage, at home it was
kept reverently in a hat box for fear
that the gaudy flowers would fade
Many and varied We're the artists
Who took part in this nightly pro-
gramme, but it was always Rafael
who played the last piece, and when 1t
was done the women folk would crowd
around him and pet him and say that
he was real cute, and give him pennies
To NJ
in the background, crying: Ladies and
shentlemen, he is SO young, SO young;
Mine little baby boy. he is a sheniusl
Now you hears him sheap, but already
| makes engagements that he plays on
Broadway HE'S a wonder. mine
Rafael!" And going home at night
Josephsk clattered up the tenement
stairs talking loudly of his sons success
that everyone might know and envy.
To be sure there had been nights of
which the tenement knew nothing
nights when concert engagements were
not to be had, and Rafael and Josephski
trudged to a far end of the city, and
Rafael played on the street corners. On
be very hungry, and so cold that the
blue fingers could hardly hold the bow
The wind tossed his long hair, and
searched his scanty clothing till it's nip
brought tears to his eyes, and Josephslki
held out the tin cup to passers-by, me-
chanically mumbling Mine Rafael, he
is so young, so youngr'
But these times were now little more
than a memory. The concert hall be-
came the focus of all Rafaers activity,
and with ever increasing pride the
father read his sons name on the pro-
gramme, Rafael Josephski the Won
der-Chfld"
Rafael was SO dominated by his faith
er that he seemed quite passive out
wardly, though inwardIy he ragged.
While people kissed him and fondled
him, rebellion burned in his heart. h
hated his life, he hated his clothes, but
most of all he hated being Wonder
Child. He longed to so With the boys.
the mysteries of ash cans, Rafael was
forced to practice. While they were
having vigorous games of tag under the
lamp posts Rafael was playing in the
music hall. He knew that the boys
despised him, and he flushed darlxly
under the taunts of Giuseppe Bernardo,
who called him coward.
Rafael yearned to get even with this
son Of the organ grinder, but even If
he asserted himself how could the
other boys recognize valor and inde-
pendence when it went guised in
ridiculous velvet sailor suits and long
hair? And Josephsli, who pocketed
all his sons earnings, refused to buy
Yet deliverance was near, and came to
Rafael when he least expected it. One
night on the muddy steps of the con-
cert hall he found two dollar bill.
what you finds, Rafael?" said his
father.
.'Nothings," said Rafael. and slipped |
the money up his sleeve. Surely such a |
fortune could work miracles, and RAJ |
fael hardly slept a wink for thinking |
of 1t.
Next morning Josephsli was to
make some final concert arrange
menss, and Rafael awaited his depar- |
ture with bated breath. 1t was not in |
vain that he had lain awake ali night |
plotting and pianningi And as soon
as his father was out of sight. Rafael |
knocked at Mrs. O'Halloran's door |