Show A MUSICIANS YOUTH it was by a devious path some steps of which were painful 1 that verdi be ba carne a musician when ho he was seven years old his wild mild and somewhat melancholy temperament attracted the attention of the parish pi lest and he be received the appointment of acolyte at the village chuich of le roncole one day a priest was celebrating mass with verdi sit as his assistant when the boy became so ao carried away by the music that his duties were entirely forgotten water I 1 whispered the priest but verdi did not respond then thinking his big request had not been heard beard the celebrant repeated I 1 water I 1 still there was no reply and turning round the priest found the server gazing in wonder and delight at the organ Wa water terl demanded the priest tor for the third time accompanying the order with such a well movement of the toot foot that the little verdi was pitched headlong down the altar steps in falling he be struck his bead and was carried to the vestry quite unconscious perhaps it was this incident together with the childs child s unbounded delight in the ojean music he be heard in the street that induced his father who was an innkeeper to add a spinet or pianoforte to his gordly possessions but it was several years after this that his vocation was waa tempi arlly decided tor for him though late fate afterward stepped in and undid the decision why do you want to bo be a musician asked his confessor you have a gift for latin and must ha be a priest meanwhile the lad b he f an of lice boy in wholesale grocery bt rt aft f 0 ra a li little over seven dollars a year played the organ in ia the church at roncole but one day it happened that father Se lettl who had decided that the boy should be a monk was waa officiating at mass while verdi played the organ the priest was struck with the unusual beauty of music and at the close of the sela serelo expressed a desire to see the organ organist let verdi appeared and the priest recognized him as the pupil whom he had sought to turn from music to theology whose music were you playing asked I 1 it was beautiful verdi said shyly that he had brought no music with mith him that day ind and had been improvising I 1 so I 1 played as I 1 felt I 1 said he ah exclaimed seletta Se lettl 1 I advised Y you ou wrongly 1 ou oi must be no priest but a musician after that the way was easier tk til priestly influence on his side opened many a door to him |