The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-28
THE LITTLE STREET SINGER.

Billy and Betty had the. muInps. Bet
ty took them the evening of the very
day mother and father went Father
had to go to San Francisco on bust
ness trip, and persuaded mother to-
take well-earned vacation. Grandpa
and Aunt Patty, together with nurse,
could take care of the family for a
month. So off they went by the early
train, Billy promising mother to take
good care of Betty and run the errands
for the family. Toward evening Betty
had high fever and was so sick
that Aunt Patty put her to bed and
telephoned for the doctor,
Just a case of mumps, think, =
said DR.. Gray, ''they are all over Sum.
NIT just now. Don't worry. Keep her
in bed, and as the board of health will
not let Billy go to school,, he might as
well play with her during the day, so
that if he is to get the mumps he will
get them now" And the second day
after, Billy came down with the
mumps, too.
Betty was very sick for a week, but
Billy was only sick enough to be fidge-
ty. He had promised mother. to do,
errands for every one and to take
care of Betty, and study hard. And
oh! the chOir-practice! How could he
ever be well enough to sing his solo
in the boy choir for Easter! And
Father Philip was so anxious that all
the boys should do WE'LL for. this. was.
to be their first Easter music, and they
were to chant the Tenebrae, too, in.
Holy Week, and now he, Billy, was in.
the house for two weeks. Billy con.
fided rather peevishly to. Aunt Patty,
while she was giving his breakfast one
morning. M
Never mind, Billy, I guess Father
Philip understands. l. saw him this
morning after Mass, and he said he
would drop in to see you today"
Scarcely had she spoken when the
door bell rang, and Father Philips
CHEEKY voice, as he entered Billy's
room, said:
We'll, my little Palestrina, so this
Is the way you intend to sing your
solo,"
Billy smiled in answer, as much as
the mumps would let him, and then
asked, who is Palestrina, another
sick boy?"
No, not sick, but another boy. Billy,
who had voice like yours, but he
was very poor and had to work hard
at farming. Promise not to fidget
and worry any more, and I'll tell you
about him." Billy readily promised
and then leaned back contentedly on
his pillows to listen to Father Phillips
story.
Almost four hundred years ago, a
little boy named Giovanni (which is
the Italian for John, you know, stood
singing in front of the Church at
Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. He
had trudged three miles that morning
from his mothers farm in the little
village of Palestrina, carrying, sus-
pended by a cord around his neck q
basket of small fruits and flowers to
sell. Twice week he came in to try
to earn a little money for his sick
mother. The day j am telling you
about, no one seemed to buy. Giovan-
nj sang his little songs, as usual, to at
tract customers to his wares, but no
one stopped.
"sOh, see the pretty flowers, nurse,
exclaimed little Caterina, who was
passing with her maid. Won't you
let me buy some from the poor little
boy?'
No, no, Miss Caterina, you have a
garden full at home. You are always
speaking to dirty beggars. and spend
ing your money on them. Come away
from the beggar, you'll spoil your
dress.
Beggar, am no beggar,' said
Giovanni, while his little face grew
crimson with shame.
Come, no more of this, said the
nurse, harshly, pulling away the ten
der-hearted little girl.
ct was one of the great feasts, and
crowds were now hurrying into the
church % listen to famous preacher.
With tears in his eyes, little Giovanni,