Show THE ONE LITTLE FAVOR little pierre sat humming by the bedside bed side of his sick mother there was no bread in the closet and for the whole day he had not tasted food yet he sat cummin to kee keep up his spirits still at times he ili thought of his loneliness and hunger and he could scarcely keep the tears from his eyes for he knew nothing would be as grateful to his poor invalid mother as a good orange and yet he had not a penny in the world the little song he was singing was his own one he had composed with air and words for the child was a genius a fervent worshipper wor shipper at the shrine of music As the tears would roll down his cheek and his voice would falter at his sad sad thoughts he did not dare let his mother see but hastily rising hurried to the window and there watched a man Putt putting illg up a great bill with yellow letters 5 announcing that madame IVI 1 then a favorite cant atrice would sing s in that evening at the temple agob oh if I 1 could only onit go thought little tierre pierre and then pausing a moment he clasped his hands his eyes lighted up ap with unwonted fire and running to the little stand ho be smoothed down his yellow curls and taking from a little box some old stained paper gave one eager glance at his mother who slept and ran speedily from the house who did you say was waiting for me isal said i d madame M to her servant 1 I am already worn out oat with company it is only a very pretty little boy with yellow curls who says if he can see you he as sure you will not be sorry and he will not nob keep you a moment oh let him come said the beautiful 1 singer isinger with a smile 1 I can never refuse chir children dren little pierre came in his hat a ad er h is arm and in his hand a little roll of papers with manliness unusual for a child he wandered straight to M and bowing said 1 I came to see you yon because my mother is very sick and we are too poor to get food and medicine I 1 thought in that perhaps if you would only sing my little song at some of your grand rand concerts may bo be some publisher wound buy it for a small sum and so I 1 could get food and medicine for my mother the beautiful woman rose from her seat I 1 very tall and stately she was she took the little roll from hla his hand and lightly hummed the air did you compose it she added you a child and the words wonderful little genius would you like to come to my concert she asked after a few moments of thought oh yes and the boys eyes grew languid with happiness but I 1 leave my mother 1 I will send somebody to tako take care of your mother for the evening and here is a crown with which do you go and get food and medicine here is ia also one of my tickets come to night that will admit you to a seat near me my good little fellow your moth er has a treasure in you almost beside himself with joy jo pierre bought some oranges I 1 and many m 3 a little lit ya luxuries I 1 u x a r besides be aidea and carried them ue home t to 0 the th e poor invalid telling not without tears of his good fortune never had pierre been in so grand a place the music clashing and rolling the myriad lights the beauty the flashing of eyes the rustling of or silks bewildered eyes and brain at fast tast she came and the child sat with his glance riveted on her glorious face could he believe that the grand lady all bashing with jewels whom everybody b 0 d seemed to worship ship would really sing h his is tittle little song breathless he waited the band the whole band struck up a plaintive little melody he knew it and clapped his hands for joy and oh how she sung it was wag so simple so mournful soul subduing many an eye dimmed with te irs and nought could be heard but the touched touching 19 words of the little song oh jo so touching I 1 pierre walked I 1 hie 9 as if moved on the air what cared he for money now the greatest greatest prima donna in all europe had bad s sung t 1 gis his song and thousands had wept at his gr grief i e nf the next day he was frightened at a visit from madame M H she laid her hand on his yellow curls and turning to no the sick woman said your little boy madame has brought b you ou a fortune f I 1 was offered this 0 g T b by y the best publisher in london three hu hundred n dred pounds for his little song and after he has bas realized a certain amount by the sale little pierre is to share the profits madame thank god that your son has a gift from heaven 5 the noble hearted singer and the poor woman wept together As for pierre always mindful of or him who watches over the tried and tempted he knelt down dawn by his mothers bedside and uttered a simple but eloquent prayer asking gods blessing on the kind lady who deigned to notice their affliction and the memory of that prayer made the singer more tenderhearted tender hearted and she who was the idol of glands En nobility like eke the worlds great master went about doing good and nd in her baft early happy death when the 9 grave rave damps gat gathered ered over her brow and cr her eyes grew dim he who stood by her bed his bright face clothed i in the mourning of sighs and tears and smoothed sm her pillow and lighted her last moments by his undying affection was the little pierre of former f ormer days now rich accomplished and the most talented composer of the day all honor to those great hearts who from their high stations 3 send down bounty to tue widow and the fatherless child |