quietly to the garret they paused to listen outside for a few
moments, when their astonishment was increased by the beauty of the
melody which met their ears. Then, opening the door and holding up the
candle he carried, George Handel peered wonderingly into the dusty old
lumber-room. There, seated at a clavichord (an instrument something like
a piano, only much smaller), was his little son Frederick, then only six
years old. The child had coaxed one of his aunts, who was his friend and
sympathizer, to help him smuggle the clavichord into the garret, where
he taught himself to play while his parents were asleep, or out of the
house.

The wonderful sweetness of the music, together with the earnest
entreaties of the tiny performer, softened the heart of his father to
forgiveness of his conduct. But even then the old gentleman could not be
induced to allow his son to follow the profession for which nature had
so well fitted him, as he feared he would not be able to earn his living
at it. However, it happened not long after that the Duke of
Saxe-Weissenfels heard the boy play, and was so struck by his genius
that he persuaded his parent to consent to have him properly trained.

When once he was enabled to continue his studies under the guidance of a
good master, it did not take young Handel long to show not only his
father, but the whole world, that he was a truly great and marvellously
gifted musician. To-day his famous oratorios are played everywhere, and
people delight in them and marvel at them just as much as when they were
first produced.

[Illustration: THE CHILD MUSICIAN]

[Illustration: COLUMBUS ON HIS VOYAGE TO AMERICA]

The Story of Columbus

About four hundred years ago there lived an Italian sailor, named
Christopher Columbus. In those days people supposed that there were no
continents in the world besides Europe, Asia, and Africa, but Columbus
believed there was a great country across the ocean that had never been
discovered. He felt a burning desire to sail in search of this land, but
as he was a poor man he had not the money with which to get the
necessary ships and men. For some time he wandered from place to place
trying to induce others to help him carry out his plan, but he was only
laughed at and called a fool and a madman. At length he obtained an
interview with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. At first they
refused to give him any assistance, but afterwards the Queen said she