Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-02-16

The effect OH Michael Fray was cleo
trical. For moment he staggered, bu
caught at the keyboard before him anl
held it with convulsive grasp.
Am l dreaming? or are my senses
leaving me? Poor Dicks Christina:
carol; and | could almost swear The
voice is my own lost Nellie's. Can thi:
be death at last? And are the angel:
welcoming me home with the song love
dearly? No, surely; either | am going
mad, or that is real living voice Blu
whose-whose Heaven help NE to fint
outlv Aud with his whole frame quiv.
ering with excitement-withOutp auslns
even TO close the organ, or TO eXtlnguisl
Ibis Pickering candle-the old m
groped his way down the narrow wind
ing stair which led to the street, anC
hurriedly closing the door behind him
stepped forth bareheaded into the SNOWY
night.
For some hours before Michael Fray
was startled, as we have related, by the
mysterious echo of his brothers song, al
old man and young girl had been
making their way citywards from the
southeastern side OF London. Both
walked YEARLY, as though they had
tramped tor Il long. distance; and once OIL
twice the yonng girl wiped away a tear
though she strove hard to hide it from
her companion, and forced herself to
speak with cheerfulness in strange con.
trast with her sunken cheeks and foot
sore gate. Every now and then, in pass
ing through the more frequeuted streets
they would pause; and the man, who
carried the violin, would strike up some
l~lI hill Il
of execution which even his frost-nipped
| fingers and weary limbs could not wholly
destroy; while the girl, with swee;
though very sad voice, accompanied him
with the appropriate words. But their
attempts were miserably unproductive.
In such bitter weather few who could
help would stay away from their warm
tiresldeS; aud those whom stern necessity
kept ont OF doors seemed only bent on
| dispatchlng their several tasks, AMI TO
have no time or thought TO eXpend on Il
couple of wandering tramps singing by
the roadside. Still they toiled Oh, every
now and then making a fresh pitch at
some lonely corner, only too often or
dereC: to move on" by a stern police
mar. AS they drew nearer to the city,and
the hour grew later, the passers-by be-
came fewer and farther between. aud the
poor wanderers felt that it was idle even
TO seek for charity i'll those deserted, ST.
lent streets. At last the old man stopped
and grOaned aloud
"What is it, grandfather dear? Don't
give in now, When we have come so tar.
Lean on me-do; I'm hardly tired at all;
and daresay we shall DO better, tO-mOr
row."
Tomorrow said the old man bitter
ly; tomorrow it will be too late.
L don't mind hunger, and don't mind
cold; but the shame of it, the disgrace
alter having struggled against it all these
years-tO come to the workhouSr ut last !!
1t isn't for myself | mind-beggars
mustn't be chOoSers; and, daresay, bet
ter men than | have slept in casual
ward; but you, my tender little Lily.
The thought breaks my heart it kills
me p And the old man sobbed aloud.
Dear grandfather, you are always
thinking OF me. and never of yourself
What does il matter, after Ill ? it's only
the nam" of the thing. I'm sure don't
mind it one Bit" The shudder of hOr-
ror that passed over the girls frame gave
the lie to her pi0us talsehOod. Il dare
say it is not so very bad; and. after ali
something may happen to prevent it
even now =;
"What can happen, short of miracle:
in these deserted streets 2"
well, let us hope Tor the miracle.
then, dear. God has never quite desert
ell us in our deepest troubles, and don't
believe He will forSake us nOw.'
As she spoke she drew her thin shawl
mole closely round her. shivering in
spite OF herself under the cold b,ast,
which seemed to receive no check from
her scanty coverings. Again the pair
crept on, aud passing beneath the lofty
wall oil st. Winnifred's church, stood be-
heath it for temporary shelter from
the driving wind anu snow. While SD
standing they caught the faint sounds of
the organ sOlemnly peaiing with
| in.
Noble music" said the old man. as
the final chords died away; noble
music. and soul in the playing. That
generous heart"
however, than the pair gaZed ut each
other in breathless surprise.
Lilly, darling, do you hear what he is
playing?" said the old man i'll an eX-
cited whisper.
"A strange coincidence" the girl re-
piled.
strange it is more than strange
Lily, darling, who could play that
sOng?"
Inc melody came to an end. and all
was silence. There Was moments
pause, and then, as il by common i'm
pulse, the old man drew his bow across
the strings, and the girls sweet voice
carolled forth the second verse OF the
song. Scarcely had they ended, when /.
door opened at the loot OF the church
tower just beside them, and Michael
Fray, bareheaded, with his scanty locks
brown about by the wind, stood before
them. He hurried forward and then
stood still, shamefaced, bewil,lered. The
song had called up the vision of gallant
young sailor, fu.l of life and health, a.
Michael had seen his brother for the lss
time OH the day when he sailed on h.
fatal voyage He had hurried forth, TO :
getting the years that had passed, iull oi
tender memories OF happy boyish days., o
find, alas only Il couple OF wandering
Deggars, singing Tor bread.
Il beg your PARDON" he said, striving
vainly to master his emotions; "yOu sang
Il song just now which--whicli--a song
which Was fayOri.e OF a dear friend oil
mine many years ago. Will yOu-will
you tell me where you got it 2"
by the best or all titles, SIR" the old
fiddler answered, drawing himself up
with touch OF artistic pride; Il wrote it
myself, words and music BOTH"
Nay, sir" said Michael sternly, ''you
rob the dead. A dearly loved brother of
mine wrote that song forty years ago"
well, upon my wOrd!' said the cd
bddler, waxing wrOth, then your brother
| must have stolen it from me-! What