Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/429

 His Greatest Triumph. 3^9

��HIS GREATEST TRIUMPH.

By Henrietta E. Page.

Yet slept the wearied maestro, and all around was still, Though the sunlight danced on tree-top, on valley, and on hill ; The distant city's busy hum, just faintly heard afar, Sensed but to lull to deeper rest Euterpe's brilUant star.

Wilhelmj slept, for over-night his triumphs had been grand, He had praised and feted been by the noblest in the land, And rich and poor had vied alike to honor Music's king. Making the lofty rafters with the wildest plaudits ring.

Now, brain and hand aweary, he had fled for peace and rest, And he should be disturbed by none, not e'en a royal guest. The porter nodded in his chair : I dare not say he slept : But sprang upright, as through the door a fairy vision crept.

A tiny girl with shining eyes, and wavy golden hair,

Tip-toed along the corridor, and close up to his chair,

And a bird-like voice sweet questioned, " Wilhelmj, where is he?

I 've brought a little tribute for the great maestro, — see ! "

Her looped-up dress she opened, displaying to his view

A mass of brilliant woodland flowers, wet with morning dew;

Placing his finger on his lip, he pointed out the door ;

She smiled her thanks, and softly went and strewed them on the flodr.

Then like a vision of the mom, with eyes of heaven's own blue, She slowly oped the outer door and gently glided through. Hours after, when Wilhelmj woke he gazed in mute surprise Upon those buds and blossoms fair, with softened, tender eyes.

They took him back long years agone, when, as a happy child. He wandered, too, amid the woods, on summer mornings mild ; Aye, back to his home and mother ; back to his old home nest. To the blessed scenes of childhood ; back into peace and rest.

And when he heard the story, — how the child had come and lied, — "This is my greatest triumph " (with tears the maestro said), " For no gift of king or princes, no praise could please me more.

Than this Uving mat of flowers a child laid at my door."

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