The Golden Lily

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An old fiddler, whose musical efforts are not appreciated by people passing him by the wayside, and who is at the point of starvation, takes refuge in the cathedral. Casting himself down before the shrine of the Blessed Virgin, he implores her succor. He plays his violin before her image that she may judge whether his talents are worthy of appreciation. Miraculously she appears before him and gives him her benign benediction. The poor old man is completely overcome with awe and emotion, but Mary bids him to be of good cheer and to prove her recognition of his sincerity and devotion she presents him with a golden lily. Then she disappears from sight. The old fiddler, in dire distress, takes the golden lily to a goldsmith's to sell it and thus obtain money to buy bread. The goldsmith and his wife become very suspicious as to how the old man came into possession of so valuable an article. They summon the guards who seize the old fiddler and take him and the goldsmith and his wife before the Cardinal. The case is presented to his Lordship who decides that the old man had stolen the lily, which is confiscated to the church. However, in order to give him a chance to prove his innocence, he is conducted before the Virgin's shrine, where he is instructed to play his violin again, so that the miracle may be repeated should the Divine Mary so elect. Then before the Cardinal, monks, friars, ladies and soldiers, the Blessed Virgin once more appears, blesses the assembled throng and once more presents the golden lily to the fiddler with her divine benediction. There is now great rejoicing and the old fiddler is carried on the shoulders of the cheering crowds, as the hero of the miracle of the Golden Lily.