Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-10-15


leans upon his cane; his face is pale
and thin, and his eyes are bright with
the fire of fever.
The neighbors notice with surprise
that he has on his holiday clothes.
He is going to visit two Of his old +
est and most intimate friends, Braun,
the counsellor. aud the venerable pas !,
tor, Jacobs.
In Johannas lifetime they met al
most every day at one or another Of
their houses. This time Muller in
yites them to come and spend the eve
ming with him.
They are there at the appointed
hour, wondering what is going to hap
pen. He take: them into the work
shop.
\ lamp is burning and an organ
stands open, precisely as when johann
na used to sing.
'Flicnds," says Muller, sit is my
desire that YOU be the first to rejoice
with me in knowing that my child is
not entirely dead In my art | have
discovered the secret of bringing her
voice to life again. Mark you. 1t is
her soul that has passed into the or
gan which have constructed it is
her singing that resounds under my
fingers
Alas, how his mind wanders." is
the thought of the two friends, as
they glance at each other.
Muller sits down at the organ and
PLAYS the airs that Johanna loved.
"Hark," :" he cries-his head raised. |
his eyes fixed on some invisible object, |
his ear attentive 10 some supernatural !
melody. Hear my Johanna, She
never sang more sweetly. Don't you /
remember the song they hushed her
to sleep with. and IN which she always
J"lned with her qnayering childish /
voice :"
The organ sounds the music of one
Of those ancient ballads that tell u
bout fairies, gobins, and trees with
golden fruit.
The counsellor and the pastor are
carried back to the time when little
blue-eysd girl with winsome smile,
raised her brow for their good night
kiss, and trippeG of to bed, singing
like bird.
Oh, no, To the two old friends. as
we'll rs to the father, darling johanna
is not dead now,
'liark again - cries the old man.
"she is singing with her young COM
panions aud YOU can hear her voice
above all the rest
The organ PLAYS hymn, and from
the solemn chorus breaks forth u |
strain, clear, sweet. and full of com
passion like the voice of an angel re
spending To tie plalnt Of of earth : !
sorrowing chlldten.
The two friends now behold JohAn-
ma, the Young girl. when her singing /
brought tears OF delight to the eyes of
old musicians, who often came from u
distance To hear her sing.
The organ now emlts more myster- |
lous souads-every note seems fraught /
with inetfabe love and reverence.
1t is still the voice Of young girl
her father is in pain and she gently
soothes him.
The friends perceive that Muller Is
recalling those evenings when Johanna /
sang alone with him; they inyoiuntar- |
ily draw closer together, for the sounds
are gradually growing rs mournful as
the cry Of broken heart.
They look at each other inqnirlngiy
the old mans face is deathly pale
they are uncertain whether the sobs
they hear come from the organ or
from his breast.
The music sinks like the prayer of
a humble suppIiant, it ri>es like u
paan of triumph, ii breaths slghs of
regret, and ends in melancholy dirgc.
The poor father is evidently think
ing of his daughter when she lay dy
ing, and it is his own soul as we'll rs
hers which is escaping through all the
mouths Of the organ.
\ final accord-a last cry of despair;
then follows an anthem of deliver
ance. peace, and faith.
Muller's hands drop powerl IS to
his knees his head falls back, his
friends receive him in their arms.
They call to him, they try to restore
him. out in vain,