Page 203 - 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 ...

It told, how i.ho good God had not forsaken him. The boy
seemed almost inspired; his eyes v, ere raised to heaven, and his
face glowed with a rapid delight, as lie improvised his beautiful
song. MoL a sound was Jieard ; it seemed as if ali were turned
to stone, so intense: was tJ’c she nee. Mis heart seemed to grow
lighter of iIs burden, and tlie song burst into a wild* sweet; carol,
■hat tang rich and clear through the hall ; ami then it changed
and grew so stilt it eouSd hardly be beard, and at last it died

away.
For a moment the vast audience seemed spell-bound ; then, nil ris­
ing' with one uncontrollable impulse, aiid breaking- ndo a tempest of
applause dial rocked the building to its very foundations, they rained
down bo<pacts on bis head.
But the bov stood w ith a far-off Joel: in his lar;ve and beautiful eves, f
j
o
*
and then, giving a hide sigh, ieli heavily to the floor.
When ho returned to consciousness, he heard a voice say, “ Poo;'
child I1'1 It seemed ’ iUc Herr Bach's ; and then he heard Carl say, in
a sobbing voice, "l-'mnz■ dear Fran/, !’r Why did they pity him, lie
wondered; and Uicn it ah came back to him— the prize, tlie violin and
Raoul.
11 Where is the violin ?" be murmured.
“ It will be here in a moment.'' some one said,
Then lie saw the pale, remorseful tf.ee of Raom, who said : " Dear
litde Franz, forgive tv-el”
O
1
The boy raised his hand and pointed to heaven, and softly ;
11 Dear Raoul, I forgive )ron I"— and then ail 1 he pain and bate mess in
his head, against Raoul died out,
The sweet face of the Emoress, made lovely by its look oi tender
piiy, bent over him, and she lapsed him and murmured, 11 Poor litde
one!" Then she -.raced the beavlihil violin ia iiis arms, and the
thalers in bis hands,
And so, with the lamed violin and bright thalers clasped on his
breast, the life-light died out of his eyes, and lidle Fran/ fell asleep.
K a t h a r im k R it t e k B r o o k s.