Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-12-24
A CHRISTMAS SURPRISE.

II was Christmas eve in an eastern
city nd the citizens were to be treat
ed 10 q rare opera perfCI nance.
Frau Butcher climbed the iest step
OF the attic stairs, and found her
young lodEer still sewing by the light
of feeble lamp.
"Tb,kla, child she cried, "ain't
you ready yet whilt2' Come in
aud sit down" the girl answered in
pure sweetly spoken German I'm
almost through" But you amt
had your supper yet" said Frau
Bucher.
I'm only going TO have bit of
toast and some tea. You'll have a
cup with me. won't your Oh yes, but
you must Think how many cups of
coffee I've been taking with you Be
sides, MS so much more coy and SO
ciable than being alone"
"Ah, well, said Frau Butcher, laugh
ing softly, eve don't go 10 the opera
every night That is what you call q
SPEECH, Thekla~
The girl smiled back at her, but her
lips dropped slightly. She was think
ing, poor child, of the time, when the
opera was part of her daily life. All,
how they used TO applaud, those Ger
mans, when her father led the orches-
ira.
He had been dead three years, and
tina, was eight years ego. Blu; she
could see it all Bow-the lights, the
perfume and the flowers, the ladies in
costly attire nodding gaily to her, the
maestro's daughter and Felix.
"And what are these things for
anyhow r. asked Frau Bucher picking
up little plush bag from bright
coored pile that lay on the table.
For opera glasses. " Thekla said,
rising suddenly and beginning to
hustle over her little supper. II
make them for store down town.
You've no ldea how well they sell. "
80 !" said Frau Bucher pleasantly
''That is good But why do you sit
here sewing yet a while, when there
are lots of good men, Thekla}N
81 hate menu the girl answered
fiercely. 81 shall never marry any
one, Mrs. Butcher
That's all foolishness, child. You're
young yet while; bat every girl has
lover some time
"pve had mine with other evils
long ago
ard he didn't turn out right3'
cried Frau Butcher.
Thekla shook her head.
"Well, wellw
ut was long ago-in Berlin, she
said; long before my father fell i'll,
and the man TO whom he trusted the
publication OF his operas robbed him
of the copyright 1t was long before
we thought OF emigrating to America
My father was famous then, and max
ing money fast"
And the young fellow, Frau
Butcher pursued He didn't steal,
did he}'
"Oh. MOP the girl answered bitter
ly. He did nothing worse than play
me false, He deserted me- without a
word, in the hour of my greatest
need; left nay father, whom he called
his best friend, to die in want in a
foreign country and he was rich. too.
| did not want his charity, but
She burst into tears, and Frau
Bucher leaned over to pat her ON the
shoulder.
There, there. she said soothingly,
'don'tcry, ctlldl Don't think about
those things. What's the use} Think
about the opera. Won't we two be
grand sitting there like fine ladies 10
night-eh, Theklap
ut is my fathers opera, the girl
said, drying her tears, and lifting hsl
head proudly. He wrote it, Mrs
Bucher-every note; and Oh, there
are such lovely choruses ! FIRST, there,
3 lot OF soldiers, you know"
In few moments she was deep il
he plot of the opera giving the air.
she went along, till Frau Ruchel
cried;
"Why you know it already
II know every note of it, ~ Thekls
said, pushing her toast aside barely
tasted and / love it all. Tonight
shall lear il again for the first tim,
In SIX years
But aren't you going to eat any
timer
"No; | am not huegry. Come, W.
must be going. The people are crowd
ing in the gallery, " She SAID with
faint smile
She was wondering what that ga,
audience would DO if they we're sud
denly informed that the daughter o