Every evening before supper the king had music in his rooms. At these concerts the king himself played the flute. One evening the musicians were all in place, ready to begin. An officer came in. He handed the king a list of the strangers who had arrived that day. Holding the flute in his hand, Frederick the Great glanced hastily over the names. Halfway down the list he stopped, for he saw the name _Bach_. Without reading further, he turned quickly to his orchestra, saying, "Gentlemen, old Bach has come." Bach, who had gone to his son's rooms, was summoned to the castle. He had not time even to change his traveling clothes for a court dress. What a strange appearance he made as he came among the gentlemen of the court! Frederick the Great received the master musician with much kindness, and led him through all the rooms of the castle. The king asked him to play the piano. The court musicians followed them from room to room. Whenever Bach played, the king stood behind his chair, exclaiming, "Only one Bach! Only one Bach!" When the great musician returned to Leipzig, he composed some music in honor of his royal friend. On the 30th of July, 1750, at the age of sixty-five, the "Father of Music" passed away. Very little notice was taken of his death. No choir sang hymns at his funeral; no cross ever marked the spot where he was buried. Almost a hundred years after Bach's death, Felix Mendelssohn began to play his music. Then people began to appreciate and love the old master. They were sorry that so little had been done for him. Through the efforts of Mendelssohn, a monument was erected in Leipzig to Bach's memory. Even if no monument had been erected, we should honor his name. His works are his best monument and will last as long as people love music. GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL (1685-1759) THE WONDER CHILD [Music: (The Messiah.) He shall feed His flock like a shepherd.] It is a bright, sunshiny morning. In an old town in Germany a coach stands waiting before the door of a surgeon's house. The horses are impatient to begin the journey. They toss their heads and paw the ground. The driver speaks sharply, trying to quiet them. Presently the house door opens. An old gentleman comes out and seats himself in the carriage. He waves his hand and calls good-by to a little boy on the steps. The coach door slams and the horses are off. For a moment the child gazes through his tears at the departing carriage. Then, with a bound, he is off as fast as his sturdy little legs will carry him. The boy does not seem to mind the heat and the dust as long as he can keep the carriage in sight. When the first stop is made, the boy appears before his father. "Why are you here, my son? Did I not bid you remain at home?" "Oh, father," pleads the boy, "I want so much to see the castle. Do take me with you!"