The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-12-25
A CHRISTMAS VIOLIN,
Selected.

He was only little street Arab standing amid
| the throng with his violin clasped tightly in his
arms The child was doing his best, but he did not
attract much attention he sang his simple little
songs People were doing their Christmas shop
ping, and were too busily engaged buying for their
own little ones to give thought to such as he.
But suddenly, cry of horror made them turn
and they saw the little fellow lying white and still
IN the muddy street. He had been struck BY heavy
wagon, and lay with one leg twisted and bent under
him IN cruel way, while in his arms he clasped his
broken violin.
An ambulance was summoned and the first re-
turn of consciousness found the child in little
white bed in the hospital sweet-faced Sister bend
ing over him.
Il am so glad to see you open your eyes, dear.
Try to drink this glass of water. Are you in much
pain now, my boy?"
The little fellow made an effort to keep back his
tears. "No, not much If my leg didn't hurt and
my head didn't feel so queer, I'd be real we'll
don't mind nothin' else as longs my fddle's all
right"
Il am sorry to say your violin is broken, dear.
But there! Don't feel so badly about it you know
you could not play now until you are well again.
Then we'll see what can be DONE Tell me about
yourself; what is your name?"
Johnny Smith, but they mostly calls me Jack
| hain't got no father no mother. They both
died last winter with the fever [ tried to keep the
baby, but she es couldn't stand it without mother
Say, are you an angelo"
"Oh, no. my boy; am only Sister Margaret
nurse sent to comfort and care for children like
yourself"
"Well, that's what angels do mostly, 'cordin' to
the pictures"
He pointed to the opposite wall, where hung
photograph of Luini's painting of the Holy Child
.soothed to rest by angel music. The instruments in
their hands recalled his beloved violin.
Sister Marg'ret," he asked, ''do you suppose
Santa Claus'll be around this year,"
ooh, yes, indeed; Santa Claus never forgets the
children in the hospital"
"And do you spose he'll send me another fiddle
if | write and ask him."
Il could not say, dear; but you may write if
you wish"
The Sister privately resolved to ask subscrip-
ton from some of the numerous visitors who called
She determined the little fellow should have his
violin II 1t possible but she did not think best
to tell him her plan. So she only said: Good night
my brave boy. Try to get little sleep if you can
On the afternoon before Christmas, visitors at
the hospital were amused at the sight of a bed in
the children's ward. The small occupant was living
in softest slumber with little smile on his face as
If dreaming of Christmas joys Above his head and
fastened to the brass rods of his bedstead there
hung a large piece of paper. 1t read
"Dear Santa Claus: Ny name is Johnny Smith.
the Teller that got run over and famed nv leg
an smashed my he'd but worsen' all busted nv fd-
ole an L WOulQ ike a new one. L put this
you wouldn't get stuck and give the fide to the
wrong teller. So no more from Johnny Smith"
Sister Margaret explained the circumstance to
the visitors, and more than one purse was opened,
as the owner was moved to give something toward
the little violin.
"Among the visitors was one who fingered by the
bedside after the others had passed on. She was
clad in deepest mourning, for her only child had
been buried only few weeks before She gazed
long and earnestly at the sleeping boy as if trying
to settle important question. At last she called
the Sister to her.
"Sister Margaret, if this child has neither home
nor friends, and is quite alone in the world as you
say, / think | shall adopt him"
''May God bless you and make up to you all that
you have lost" the fervent reply.
You can imagine Johnny's delight on Christmas
morning when he found beautiful violin lying on
5he chair beside his bed but when told he was to
i've in a beautiful home with one who would be
Kind mother to him, his JOY knew no bounds.
II jes know'd Sister Marg'ret'd fix things all
right fer me-" he said. "Shes an angel, that's
What she it."
Of course the neighborhood felt called upon to
it in Judgment on the wealthy Mrs. Edmunds. eff
he must adopt a child, why on earth did she not
ind some respectable boy whom she knew some
thing about, one who would be a credit to her. but