THE CHILD HANDEL PRACTICING IN THE ATTIC.
"Here," said Mother Handel, "my little boy can play the harpsichord to his heart's content and no one will be the wiser." You can imagine the surprise when the stern barber-surgeon stalked into the attic, followed by the family, holding high the lantern.
After that it may have been agreed that the boy should practice a little; not, however, that he might become a musician. "No, indeed," we may imagine Father Handel exclaiming, "my son shall be a famous lawyer."
One day when little George was seven years old his father set out by coach to visit another son, who was in the service of the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels. The little boy begged his father to let him go on the journey. "No," he replied, "you are too young to go so far."
However, when the coach set out George Frederick set out too on foot to follow, and he would not be sent home again.
HANDEL FOLLOWING HIS FATHER'S COACH.
He kept on trudging along as fast as his little feet would go. Every one hoped he would get tired and go back, but finally the father had to order the coach to stop and take him in. Thus did he show that determination which helped him all his life.
Arrived at the castle the boy soon made friends with the chapel musicians. They took him to the organ loft, where he played for them.