Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-11

boy amt, de terribullest young I'M Ter
dissin!. Qoan't yes see der grO'in dere
IL damp an de damp is er sOakin' tru
dose nice III shoes an sawkins? Come
in dis minnit an lei Nancy change yer
shoes an sawkins.".
But. oh. Aunt Nancy! | might be
near it," pleaded the sweet young tire
BILE And tomorrow is Christmas"
Chile. chile.' exclaimed Nancy,
lifting her great black hands; "kotch
me teliln' yoh stories agin." Nancy
pulled off the shoes and stockings and,
taking the boy on her knee, she rub
bed his feet and toes until they slowed
rosy red: then she called TO Dinah 10
fetch dry boots and hose.
Bat. Aunt Nancy demonstrated
little Raphael. poking out his red up
per lip and wrinkling the white brow
III perplexity, you said that if good
child would dig in The dark
OF the moon, he would find the
wonderful star dust And if he scat
tered The star dust over the earth
there would never be cold or darkness
in this world And tomorrow being
Christmas. wouldn't il be fine for all
the poor children who suffer from cold
and have only ,alIow candles to
burn"
Nancy put the boy down and her
ample bosom heaycd with big sigh.
She was at loss to know what 10
say to him.
Go long, Marse Rafe. Who's ben
a-lellin' yoh bout pore Ill chillun'"
oh. Eve heard about them often.
I've been mighty good, and could find
the star dust il dug long enough
Maybe III let yoh, b'ym.b by
Sure. sure"
"Shoah. shoah'
Raphael ran away TO his mother,
who was engaged in tying the Christ
mas presents into neat parcels. In the
old days the mistress took pleasure in
bestowiug upol each slave the sitl
most desircd Raphael lDed her.
Let lie see if have MT lore ten
anyone" she said
There are the kerchefs for the
women and the pipes for the men, The
bead necklaces for the girls, the mut
flers for The boys, and the wrist.
warmers and shawls for the old folk.
Then the babies have balls and rattles
and wagons, and father has nuts and
apples TO fill their aprons and pockets
TO OVERLOOKING.
But what is this mamma asked
Eaphael. touching an obong package
with his slender t0refinger.
That. dear. is a violin for Uncle
Luke"
Just what he wanted--he'll De SO
happy, mamma
And now he can teach YOU 10 play.
dearle."
Really, mammal
"Yes, you viii be seven next week,
and | promised that you might learn
your first lessons from him. And af.
rerwards--"
Eyes, afterwards. mamma"
We'll" the mother seated herself In
the big rocker and drew her boy TO.
wards her, then mother will take you
10 The great city, away off, and you
will learn from some great master"
But mamma. don't want any mas.
ter. Father is master. and | am a
master. couldn't bear TO have mas
ter over me like Luke and Jake has
The mother smiled down into the
startled eyes, saying:
Isn't our dear Lord master? He Is
master over all men, Raphael. And
30 when the time comes you will sub.
nit to the teachings Of a great music
master. And when you have learned
your lesson well. then you will, in
your turn. become n master Such
was your grandfather before you, not
master of servants merely. but
master of music, and he wrought mir
acles with his violin
Il suppose that will 20 to the
city and learn my lesson. But | want
to be the best in the end. you know"
His mother laughed. They boy look
ed like one of Michael Angeles cher.
ubs. His great love OF music had led
her to build dreams about the future.
She had wished to name him Israel,
but his father frowned. and the name
of Raphael was compromise. Never
lheless. like Israel The childs heart
strings were lutte, and either his
voice would some day take the world
by storm or they would speak through
some str!nged instrument.
A blaze of light fell upon the up.
turned face Of a young girl; the eyes
were full of light and the lips limited
of laughter. And Raphael looked with
heart responsive TO the sirlish ma.
ture. He welded his bow with mas
terly hand. playing the old, e,ef-new
love songs composed by the great ones
OF all lime.
'She Is the daughter of the mar.
anis." he was told afterwards "hut
they are very poor. The worst match
in the world for young musician"
Raphael smiled. His father was ac-
counted man OF wealth. His home
xss o. the broad plantations, and hs