Page 202 - The model orator, or, Young folks' speaker : containing the choicest recitations and readings from the best authors for schools, public entertainments, social gatherings, Sunday schools, etc. : including recitals in prose and verse ...

The concert began with an overture from the orchestra. Then
came Frau-ein. the prim a donna of the hopeful Ope";;, and then the
boy ft, Carl enrue first, and played a brilliant, spark I in;.' little piece,
and was loudly applauded; next Gottfried and Johann, and then
Raoul. When lie stepped out upon th*: platform, hi.-: lunKldomc face
a;ul n-ie form -jeemed to make an impression eu the audience, I'm they
remained perfectly silent. Raonl commenced. At first Franz paid
vie atter.Lie'n to him, then suddenly lie started. The melody 11 owed
0:1: louder and loader, clearer an d el carer it rose. Franz stood
motionless, ?:Viening in strained, fixed all ration, until at last, over­
come with tp-ief and astonishment, lie sank upon the floor :md cried
out piteously, with tears streaming down Iris face:
“ Oh, Raoul! Raoid! how cou.d yo.i, coaki you do I:— my own
little piece that I loved so much ? Oh, mother! moilicr!''— and,
burying his head in his arms, lie sobbed in an agony of grief
He heard the burst of applause that greeted his piece— not Raoul's;
lie heard it all, hut moved not until lie heard Carl say :
" Come, Franz ! it's time to j?o. They are all writing ibr you ; bin
I am iVaid that, Raoul has won da.- prized'
What shoalu he do. he wondered? And then I .- thought perhaps
the kind Father in heaven would help him. So, breathing a little
prayer in his heart, he waiked calmly forth upon the platform.
At. first, he troubled so that he con'd hardly begin; then <?. sudden
inspiration seemed to come to him— a quick light swept across his
face. He raised the violin to his shoulder and began.
The audience at L—t paid no attention j but prenenily ad became
(V.iiet, and they leaned forward in breathless attention. Wb;it a won­
derful song it was ■—for it was a song. The violin seemed almost to
speak, and so so a ly and sweetly and with such exqi ’site pathos were
the noi.es drawn forth that the eyes of many were fil’ed wiih tears.
For it was pouring out all little Franz's griefs and sorrows ; iL was
telling how the little heart was almost broken by the treachery of the
friend; ifc u-a« telling how hard he bid worked to win, for the dear
mother's sake; and it was telling, and die notes grew sweeter as