Handel

The great musician, G. F. Handel, when quite a small boy, would often steal away to a garret where, through the good services of his nurse, an old fashioned kind of pianoforte, called a spinet, had been taken. He would play on this instrument for hours at a time, and soon became a proficient performer.

His father, who did not want the boy to become a musician, once took him to the house of a Grand Duke. In this ducal home young Handel, to his delight, saw a very beautiful organ, and when the opportunity occurred he slipped away from the Duke and his father and found his way to the instrument.

Soon beautiful strains from the organ floated through the building, and the Duke and Handel's father hurried to discover who was responsible for such wonderful playing, and were much surprised to see the boy, George Handel, seated at the organ looking supremely happy and thoroughly enjoying the new experience of performing on such a grand instrument. Handel's father was enraged—firstly, because that he considered it impudence for the boy to play without being invited to do so; and, secondly, because he hated to think that his boy might become a musician, as he dubbed them all "vagrants and vagabonds."

The Duke, however, was delighted, and told the father that it was his duty to have the boy trained as a musician, and we now know what a great master of music he became. He composed the most wonderful of all Oratorios, "The Messiah," and many other works which have brought pleasure, comfort, and consolation to millions of people. When composing the grand "Hallelujah Chorus" for the "Messiah," Handel himself said: "I did-see all Heaven and the great God Himself." The gift of music is a God-given one, and Handel had that wonderful gift engrafted in him and used it in such a way that it brought joy to millions.

God has given a talent to every boy and girl; it may not be music, but it is a gift of some kind or other, and God expects you to use that gift to the best of your ability and for the help and encouragement of others. Remember, that all good gifts come from God, who is the giver of every talent we may have. It surely is our duty and privilege to use our gifts to His glory, and to bring happiness to others, and this will mean that we ourselves will also be happy. There is

"No child too small or weak,
But has his little cross to take;
His little work of love and praise,
That he can do for Jesus' sake."