Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-05-11
THE UNFINISHED LESSON.

THE UNFINISHED LESSON.
One morning in early spring was bus
| lily practicing in my music room, in the
center of certain bustling, growing. far
western town. Presently became aware
that the street door, which | generally
locked when | became engaged, but had
neglected this morning, was pushed part
way open, and an ugly brown-faced little
! girl of some 10 years was pcerng eagerly
n, listening. Several times before had
noticed her about the door, but had always
been to busy too pay any further attention
TO her. but this morning had lessons. and
was most too wearied myself to enjoy my
practice-so | called out to her:
Come in, little girl. Without the
| least hesitation. even eagerly, she obeyed,
! looking up into my face with bright
smile, when made the little brown mug
! positively pretty.
DO YOU like to hear me playg" / asked
| gracously-ohl the conccit of III
S."lees; lofes mu six was her slight
ly hesitating reply then played for her
some gay. rafting gallop.
Father Sainimcyer not plays like that,
was my unexpected applause.
All, indeed! and who is Father Saint
meycr?' | asked.
You not know him? You not go to
massy' looking at me questioningly.
shook my head. lie vas once our priest
he deaf now-peace 10 his sinless soulv'
rapidly making the cross.
Well, how did Father Saintmeyer
play?' | asked
Il show you" motioning for me to va
cate the stool, which | did, amused and
! surprised.
She pulled the stool nearer the piano,
with some difficulty climbed up on ii, was
some few moments finding the right keys
with which TO begin, them never heard
any music like il!
These childish, dirty fingers wandered
deity over the keyboard, bringing forth
now sweet sad strains. then ripping
sllvery runs-then bright, clashing chords,
10 melt again into the paintive murmur
which seemed The principal thought. Her
small black eyes would flash and CLEAN,
snd then seem TO be almost difTused in
tears, while the slender ragged little form
! swayed 10 and fro, until AT length she
ceased abruptly.
oh, | lofes to play musiks! l wish l
hat pianner and plays likes odder
childer" she cried in plaintive voice.
For a moment | could not speak. / had
| heard many brilliant performances by far
surprising this child's simple sonata, and
had been carried away into warnings
such as only musical sounds awaken, but
never before had my soul been touched,
had fully realized that communion, fcl-
! lOwship between two beings which is sell
dom experienced in this material world,
and is utterly beyond description.
Child" | exclaimed wrought into
being almost tragic Nv no are your"
II am Francinc Kreigler, she replied,
cycling me Curously and somewhat fear
fully. Il lifes down street where those
biz trees are. | followed her pointing
finger, and recollected that those big trees
were front OF tie lowest, worst beer saloon
in the town.
Does your father keep that-placo?" l
asked
YES" she answered in unconscious
serenity. Il sometimes plays in dere on
the feeble and sometime on the moutsharp.
But not like it, and sometime he beat
me so | goes in and plays for dem" There
was slight pause after this confession of
untilial inCliuations.
Did YOU ever take lessons?" | next
asked
Yes; Father Saintmeyer teach me be-
fore mine mother died, until he gets shot,"
another signing of the cross "He say
make fine players some days"
80 YOU will my little girl, so you will,
indeed | readily agreed. "Will you take
lessons of me?'
"Will you give me lessons? OH come
efcry days. was the eager answer So
appointed an hour for her TO come the
| next day.
have always believed my true musical
education began at that time. Already
had maste ed the mechanical necessities
OF musical expression and sometimes had
caught glimpse of the indeiinable double
life hidden in the animation of sounds
bat the sudden opening of another world
of emotion, accessible only to the true mu-
sician. was not revealed to me until
guided this little outcast OF society TO the
proper mode Of expressing the soul and
| spirit which struggled within her.
Sometimes the lesson hour would stretch
from one to two, and thcn Francine would
suddenly stop, seem frightened, and run
away, saying:
"Oh! lac beat me if he know am herer
That was all the intimation had that her
terrible parent did not know of her music
lessons. | learned that she kept house
for him; this tiny little creature. and that
she cooked and performed rough and
heavy work with almost the skill Of a
grown person. She had a good mother,
delicate, refined woman of much
higher social grade than her husband No
one knew of their life previous to their
coming to N. How they came TO be
welded was almost a mystery, hut the wo
man who cared for the dying woman. and
then prepared her for a decent burial,
said she had died OF "a broken heart
had faded and grievcd away into prema-
ture grave.
attempted to interest some of my lady
friends in this young life which was
growing very near and dear 10 Inc. ''She