This is a story with religious overtones set during the Middle Ages. From the author of The Chronicles of the Schönberg-Cotta Family.
o any one who understood music?"
"Only for the mother and the little sister," the child replied in a low, humble tone, beginning to fear the raven would bring no bread after all, "and sometimes in the Litanies and the processions."
"Sing no more for babes and nurses, and still less among the beggars in the street-processions," pronounced the master, severely. "It strains and vulgarizes the tone. And, with training, I don't know but that, after all, we might make something of thee--in time, in time."
Gottlieb's anxiety mastered his timidity, and he ventured to say,--
"Gracious lord! if it is a long time, how can we all wait? I thought it would be to-day! The mother wants the bread to-day."
Something in the child's earnest face touched the master, and he said, more gently,--
"I did not say you might not begin to-day. You must begin this hour, this moment. Too much time has been lost already."
And at once he set about the first lesson, scolding and growli
