Newark post., 1911-09-27
THE WONDER CHILD"

nome along t1e DeHdWdIe, d little
child was born in far away Ger
many. His father, like Jacob Of
old, was very fond of this young
est son, and wanted to help hin
become a great man. He himself,
was called surgeon, but in real
ity he was only servant OF the
upper class, who pulled teeth, bled
persons who were not feeling well,
etc.
The first words this little child,
who was named George Frederick
Handel, ever pronounced, were in
song-for he sang before he
talked. The toys he liked were
the ones that made a noise, such
as drums, horns and flutes.
AT first the father laughed at
this childish iondness for music,
but soon he grew alarmed. He
thought IF my son should grow
up musician his position in the
world will not be much better than
mine. | must see that he studies
law"
He ordered everything on which
music could be played to be taken
from the house, and forbade the
little boy to play at the homes
where music could be heard. He
was not allowed to go to school
or anywhere that music was known
TO be. .r
The boy continued to whistle
and beat tattoos on the table,
which led his father to threaten
cutting the fingers off.
One day little George, with the
aid OF his nurse, found an old claw
ichord which the two of them hid
in the garret. They wrapped the
, strings with cloth so as to muf.
fie the sounds. Whenever the
child had any time to himself he
was to be found in the old garret
teaching himself to play.
After time sounds were heard
in the darkness of the night. No
one could tell what they were or
whence they came. People called
the Handel home haunted house.
Have you ever seen the picture
OF the discovery of the sounds 1t
shows the father holding Ian
tern high, which fills the old attic
with light. Seated at The old spinet
is the little barefoot child who
has stolen from his bed to delight
in the production o. the sweet
mus;csl sounds. He looks up in
surprise, as his father, followed
by the entire household, disturb
his happy thoughts.
Shortly after he was discovered
at his favorite pastime in the old
attic, the father was called upon
to make journey to visit his son.
who was a servant in the Duke
castle. George Frederick hat
heard OF the wonderful music one
could hear at that palace and sc
longeh to go. He followed Lis
father from room to room as nc
prepared to make the journey
hoping he would be told he might
go. When The coach door had
slammed and shut his father in.
SIDE, the boy decided he must &c
Ile ran as fast as his strong little
limbs would carry him in the dl
rection the coach had gone. Ht
did not think OF the heat or dus
as long as he could keep the car
riage in sight and when the frs
stop was made appeared befor
his father and asked to go along
They were so far from home ant
the boy looked so tired and worl
out that he was lifted to the broat
com ortable seat and allowed t.
ride the rest Of the way.
The old surgeon was very bus
man while at the castle. His lit
tie son had to look after himself
SO we can easily guess where h
was to be found. He fost no TIL.
in making friends with the mem
bers of the Dukes choir, who al
lowed him to go to the chapel wit
them. Sometimes they lifted hir
on the organ bench and told hir
he might play.
One day the owner Of the cas-
tie came to the chapel. AS he err
tered the door he stopped an
said: "Hark who is making sue
sweet music?' Going few ster
farther he saw before the organ
child of only seven years. H
called the boy to him and 500
had heard the story of how h