The Irish standard., 1910-09-10

aeen Oh, what couldn't he do With
all that money! How he would study
how he would practise! He was the
happiest boy in the world! To his
illuminated fancy the girl had sudden
ly become an angel.
It was 12 o'clock that night before
Jacko was in bed. From an old He
brew music teacher who lived in a
single room near his own lodging
house he had taken his first lesson. A
fellow ledger had told him odd He.
berger could teach him the quickest of
anyone he knew That was exactly
what Jacko wanted-to learn quickly
for had she not said she would come
again soon?
AS the weather moderated Jacko
fetched his violin to the stand each
morning. Now when the shines were
slow he slimbed into the chair himself
and sat there porting over his exer-
cises. Occasionally when business had
been brisk he gave himself the lux
ury Of seat at the evening con-
cert on the pier.
1t was then Jacko attained the sub
lime height of absolute contentment.
He adored the leader. He thought him
the most perfect type OF great m,-
stefan the world had ever owned.
One night they played Jocelyn's
"Berceuse." JACKIE sat all through it
like something carved from stone. He
had never heard such music. 1t
seemed cry from his own heart
1t was the last number on the
program. At its conclusion the lead
er threw down his baton, the men
We're picking up their music and in
struments, the audience was pushing
its way to the boardwalk, and still
Jacko sat in his chair. Suddenly,
swept by wave of courage, he went
over to the bandinaster.
oh, sir!" he exclaimed, "what.a-
that nousic.-tell me what-a it was"
The leader, slender and ascetic look
Ing, with masses of coal-black hair
sweeping the brow and eyes, regarded
Jacko not unkindly. Which piece do
you mean?" he asked Then he wrote
the name for him on slip of paper.
Noting the look of JOY his act of kind
ness kindled in the eyes of the little
Italian, he wrote pass for two good
the following Sunday, when Jocelyn's
"Berceuse' would again be on the pro.
gram.
That night Jacko dreamed the band
master had asked him to play the
"Berceuse' at one of the Sunday con-
certs. When he wakened the applause
of the people was ringing in his ears.
and he was sitting up in bed bowling to
the audience of his dreams. 1t was
so real so beautiful-,Jacko could not
part with the memory of it.
Oh! If only the bandmaster would
really let him play. He was kind to
him that morning. Perhaps if he told
him how much it would mean to him
he would give him the chance.
1t was after the concert Sunday
that Heberger, to whom JACKIE had
confided his hopes, led the boy, trem.
bling in every limb, to the great
leader.
Again the bandmaster was kind. He
listened attentively to all Jacko had
to say, even smiling indulgently and
patting him on the head as he sug.
gested he play for him some morning
after the concert.
1T might be I'd put you on one Of
the Sunday programs. Who knows?"
he said.
Such days Of hard work tempered by
the joy of hope as followed JACKIE
spent his mornings at the stand A.
two o'clock he pulled in the shutters.
for after that the shines were few.
Then came long hours of practice that
carried him far into the night. Old
Heberger was heart and soul in the
spirit of 1t. He wanted JACKIE to win.
Thus the time rolled round to the
day the bandmaster had told Heberger
he might fetch the boy. They went to.
gether, Jacko, his several months
growth of hair scraggy fringe, carry
ing his violin, his threadbare suit
brushed and pressed till it fairly shone.
The music master was all smiles-a..
confidence
But the leader was cross that morn
ing. He thought he had been snubbed
by Van Wetzel, the great organist. 1t
hurt his pride. It ruff1ed his temper.
Van Wetzel had come to the concert
late. A young woman with him led
him to seat near the platform. The
bandmaster noted with pleasure the
organist's presence. He would speak
to him as soon as he had finished that
piece. But when he threw down his
baton and started towards them they
were making their way down the aisle,
formed by rows Of chairs, to the open
end of the pier beyond.
Used only to the plaudits, to the
adulation, Of the people, the leader
was piqued that the famous organist,
whom he had met the year before in
Boston. should have overlooked him.
Had he known that he was there on
his honeymoon. that the girl with him
had been his wife not quite a week,
perhaps he would have forgiven him
p,,f ha ~.