Boys Who Became Famous Men

too fast! Just listen to Otto's trumpet and wat

d the speaker pounded sharply on

thick on either side of his face. He was panting with

mands. One boy possessed a toy horn; two others, mouth organs; a fourth, a chubby girl, had dropp

g

"I want you to begin when I bring my cane

ader's vehement "one," a deafening upr

going it now! Slower, Frie

ins of the lusty symphony. A few measures were bravely rendered, when the

y 'one' and 'three.' Like this!" and seizing the bell, he illustrated his meaning, compelling the fat offender to perform the feat to his satisfaction [Pg 94]b

rom musical toys. Weeks before he had assigned to each playmate a certain instrument, teaching him in private to draw real melody from it; an

s, but after an hour's persistent and perspiring labor on the part of all concern

form appeared upon the threshold, that of an elderly, dignified man. His hair was white, his eyes were protected by huge gold spectacles, his shoulders were slightly bent; but a close observer would have readily detected a resemblance between

ed by the Duke of S?chse, and the flaxen-haired b

g performance. But he turned quickly grave when his eye fell upon the small director, who was bending anxiously forward, his whole being absorbed in the sounds that issued from the toys at signal of his cane. The flush that b

nd the conductor leaned upon his cane, regarding them with the serene compos

," said Peter, exchangi

hungry," announced Frieda, [Pg 97]disap

nding finger, "we will practise again at seven o'clock to-morrow morning, an

e corridor by this edict, "must I come at se

eader

any breakfast or not

aving their chief to gather up the toys

when, for the first time, he di

lder.[Pg 98] "Did you hear us play? Didn't we do well? If only we had a fiddle we could make much better music.

ther's darkened expression, and he hastened to allay the doubts

when you tell me that you aired the dressing-gown, but I shal

s father addressed him with such hardness of mann

ty?" he s

throw them into the pond, or give them to

g

as dumf

ay—my trumpet,

y rushed to the table and gathered h

chokingly, eying his father from

ng naught but doom in that significant gesture, dropped his

e pond! Tell me why it is wrong for me

ace expressed both re

y become a jurist, capable of following a respectable career and earning a snug fortune. Ever since you were born I have planned and saved for this purpose, and I cannot have my arrangements upset by these silly mouth organs. Tut, tut!" as the boy endeavored to speak, "no words, my son, over this matter! If I allow you to keep these things and play with them, day

g

hispered Georg, qua

ect the matter to be settled for all time. Also, Georg, I wish you to see no more of four of those children who were here to-day. Frieda and Peter

loor, sobbing tempestuously. His father departed without further pa

he was able, washed from his face the traces of weeping, and h

g

grieved with the message he had for them, bu

ruments. I'll give you each the one you've been using, so you can play here

d the musicians blankly, as they receiv

t needs set his teeth hard upon his lower lip, le

their midst, "it is not as though I were to be a musician when I grow up. It is all well enough for you[Pg 103] fellows to play on thes

s in one breath, much impress

his arms, much gratified at the ef

inquired Frieda, feminine c

in a book everything that people ought to do, and when they

ch

ir h

earn to cut

g bo

the orchestra. If you decide to[Pg 104]

t sentence unfinished, when a question from Peter recalled

morrow afternoon? We needn'

twitched uncomfortably; but he managed to speak so bold

retchen and Leopold must not come to my house any more. Of course," he added hastily, seeking to drown the gasps of his troopers, "it isn't that you're not good enough and n

protested Peter, much injured; but Frieda

ty for Peter and me

nd Hans informed Georg in biting tones that he woul

studied indifference with the recollection. He was obliged to face about, to hide the sudden teardrops that glistened on his cheeks; and, m

e a party to-morrow for Frieda and Peter, 'cause I like Hans and Otto

e fled across the green as though twenty scouts of the enemy were close upon his heels. The mas

ng her cud near the inner fence. As her master dashed among the kine in evident agitation, the heife

t. He halted irresolutely, then, rushing to her side and throwing his arms abou

e heard sounds arising from the pond-side, where his forbidden orchestra rehearsed under Otto's direction. That he might neither make music nor mingle with those who did, filled him with blank dismay; and hour by hour he wandered about the house an

g

ical toys and companions affected Georg, and he even sought to modify the

pon seeing the chest in his son's room, still unopened, with every tool in place, and acro

made no reference to t

e musical affair, if she could; but her sister Anna, the plump fair girl who had peeped in upon the last rehearsal

nd a member of the H?ndel household. Her sweet temper and merry heart had long before won Georg'

but, being of a musical temperament herself, she entered into the boy's trouble as though she, too, were under the ban. In a certain sense she

and the drum. Just you attend to your school, and when your father sees that y

g

lly, but they had never been Georg's chosen comrades, and he joined their games mechanically, plainly relieved when they took thei

and his mother despaired of a child w

sharply punished for outspoken protest. But he did not recover from his disappointment, as his father had so reasonably expected; a slight paleness

g

rly ignored, and no mention was made in his hearing of the subject that lay nearest his heart. The girl, however,

n asleep over her knitting, his attention was attracted by a pebble being thrown against the window. Rais

it, Aun

bout the neck and whirled him mad

ole world. Nobody is to know it but you and me, and[Pg 112]

her clasp, half-strangled by the joyful energy o

s to frame her tidings. Then glancing about to assure hers

ell, her daughter, Mrs. Friesland, who came from Munich to take

n't k

leave her clavichord to me. Just think of it, Georg, I am to have that dear, beautiful little cl

hat a shout would serve to recall him to house and book, he sought to express his delight by

mbling about, and sat up, his hair

on it, Aunt Anna?

apprehension, but the gir

ever said a word about clavichords. It can't be wro

se she was[Pg 114] wholly sincere, never doubting for an instan

much relieved, "he didn't me

the others are gone to the Kirmess to-morrow, I shall hav

for our secret!

et up in all its thrilling reality against the warm brick chimney, he pressed both hands ov

filled him at sight of his heart's desire, he clung to it as a thing of life, passing every hour thereafter that he could snatch from his school studies, in the company of this glorious toy. In the beginning, Ann

on. The good surgeon supposed that the boy's regret for his lost playthings and companions was fo

Pg 116] drowsy garret mouse, much less penetrate the oaken floors to the chambers under foot. No one but Georg's mother ever visited the attic region, and d

nks, chests, old clothing, and discarded furniture abounded there; bunches of dried herbs were strung to the cross-beams, and cob

provided unceas

provided unceasi

hday festivities, and spring finery; but when months had rolled away and summer suns were once more[Pg 117] ripening the

attired for the occasion in his best suit of shining black satin. A deep collar of Mechlin lace, a pair of gleaming silver shoe

erved with surprise that the carriage was festooned with yellow streamers, that Mummer, the staid mare, w

going, father

g

me this morning. He wishes a repor

th you! I've never seen the co

ve business to attend to, a

he door of the slowly moving vehicle. "I'll be good and do everything

take you, but this time I shal

roke into a gentle dogtrot, the only gait more

through the gates and take

g

been decisive, Georg would have accepted it with the best grace he could muster, and gone on about his visit; but he had seen that the surgeon was me

lets me do things when I ask him. He really didn't hear what I said,—didn't hear inside him, I mean,—or

nning nimbly behind the carriage, taking pains a

g

never stopped to catch her breath and cool herself. Up and down hill, over bridges, through strips of forest, went horse, carriage, and boy; and, as t

nd when the hostler came to take charge of Mummer, Mr. H?ndel o

th a sharp suspicion, the old gentleman strode quickly round to the back of the

g

"Come out, instantly!

ed slowly into sight, murmu

go if you thought a

he wheel to keep himself from falling; and th

e, let's go into the inn and get dinner! You will feel better when you have had warm food and time to rest.

e awake, thinking of all that he had enjoyed. When sleep did finally overtake him, he dreamed of the gayly uniformed guards stationed inside and outside the palace, of the massive corridors, rich with works of art, and the vast asse

all visitor about the place, pointing out to him the things that would prove of especial interest. He had likewise introduced his young re

123] that he had been asleep, and wi

to church this morning, and when he attends, nob

ight better see the sumptuous chapel and the duke with

him pleasantly; and Christian left him in care of the aged musician, w

music, he could readily distinguish the touch of the various players at court; but this soft and unfamiliar strain caused him to bend for

demanded suddenly, glancing inqu

el from Halle, your gr

tive of

ess to an eight-year-old uncle; but he told the tru

andfather's

ther, and his

entered by one door, just before his son and g

leman to a distant corner, and

anced, and he wondered wildly if the trembling of his knees could be detected by the company. He carried his black beaver on his arm, as he had

y; then turning, he kindly asked his

with the sound of his own voice his terror dissolved, and h

rn to play the or

ning, you

nded. "Can it be true that you have ne

g

no organ at home," retur

seeking for traces of falsehood, but Georg'

uke put his n

ruments have yo

have played every day on my a

from a distant corner, but

ore the clavi

pet, a fife, a drum, and a

s burst from the attendants,

at is a

your g

less

g

hord, your grace, because it is a secret, and father told me to give away my own instruments, a

uke, smiling; and at his signal, the Halle surg

nable to meet his expected look of condemnation, he bur

re was anything confidential in the interview, I should have held it in private. But now that

g

allow it. I am a music-lover myself, but I wish to educate my son for

taking away the instrument if he fails at school; and when he is old enough and wise

nd I shall be happy to act upon it. If I have made a mistake,

A-ha, my small minstrel, do you hear how

uke had somehow persuaded the [Pg 129]surgeon to allow his little son to pl

ase you?" asked the du

I am obliged to your grace, and I am sure that you a

usic-hall, and the money earned from the sale of tickets

very seat was promptly filled, and the door-keepers

by the people, the hall grew still. The stage was filled with singers, and[Pg 130]

fore, and the people in the hall were moved to the point of tears. At length the sounds grew so impressive that the king could contain himself no longer, but leaped to

ingers, listening intently. His face wore a look of noble earnestness, and he did no

el! H

g

hall fell into a tumult, and the shout increased to a deafe

below, from right and from left, excited men a

dience would not depart until he had yielded to its de

his arm, and conducted him slowly to the organ-bench. Then it was that any stranger w

-haired musician finished, and rose to his feet with another stately bow, the[Pg 132] p

re gathered into places of refuge, and were fed, warmed, and clothed with the money