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

No wonder felt impotence and con-
tempt for these ladies who had shown me
their seiishncss, when | expected only
generosity in their mother hearts toward
this terribly situated, wonderfully gifted
little orphan. because Of her horrible
father she was Stunned on every side. and
while she did not apparently mind it,
think il drew her closer to me.
So the days wore away until one year
was gone. when one morning little Fran
cine came to the MUSHROOM with "A very
serious face.
"Mine father haf found comes here for
musk lesson, she said very gravely.
"What of III" | asked.
'Ile shake his fist, and he say. he-beat
-me-to-dcatsl if | comes any more"
She stood close to me and shook her little
brown fist in my face in II manner truly
terrifying, even in her.
Goodness me" ! exclaimed, land,
pray, whyy'
Because, very solemnly. "he says l
no play on any planners in the saloon, and
so not fool away my times but PLAYS on
feeble. not likes "A feeble, does your"
"Yes, indeed, little girl when it is prop
erly played for 2 proper purpose" | an.
swcred. somewhat sadly. but not as he
wants YOU to play it, But how is it he
did not know th- bcforcy How have you
kept it from him SO long,"
"Oh. that vas easy she returned, taking
long breath. "lle not goes away, only
at nights sometime, and nobody what goes
10 saloon thinks about me ever TO tell
him Louis Graf, that is our neighbor
boy, he know, but he promise not 10 tell.
But yesterday lie gets mad at me, so he tells
mine father. And mine father kicks him
for his much troubles, with a grim little
smile.
well Francine, asked, after little
pause. what will we do about it, -
con, | not comes any more. MeeSter
Henri, he kills me if do. But somedays
ven | gets bigger, | run avay!-yes-"
mcdtativcly, Il will run away oil where |
can play my musicS and all peoples can
hear me. But I'm too leete now Then
you help me to run away oil somedays,
Meestcr Henri
Indeed. | will. returned earnestly.
n viii take just one more leetle lesson.
MeesIcr Iicuri-hc not miss. for he links |
het gone TO chapcl-hc links too scare to
come here again. But / must hef some
lcetlc PLAYS. Tor ohl-it is 50 long again
before run away oil and plays some more
on the pianner.
Little wonder that the tears came TO my
eyes, and so bedimmed my spectacles that
! paid no head as to whether she followed
the notes on the page or not! She wan
dcred on as she pleased.
She had begun playing the very little
sonata by Mozart she had played that first
morning, when suddenly somewhat like
"a cyclone, the door was burst in, and
bic burly red faced half drunken Bohem-
ian came dashing in. by his manner of
selling trancine by the shoulders | knew
lie considered he had the paternal right to
do SO. He had shaken her from oil the
stool, pounded her, beaten her head, all in
much less than ii takes TO tell il, and be-
fore could recover from my surprise and
horror.
He stopped a moment, and for the first
time in smy life | regretted my utter
inability o cope with brute strength |
was absolutely defenseless, and he could
have crushed me with a blow; but even
though | truly felt | was speaking my last
words on earth, | could not but step be
tween the wretch and the shrinking, ter
riiied child us he raised his arm for another
blow
"You wretch" / said. all the scorn and
anger in my heart plainly told. Don't
you dare TO touch her again
do not know why did not receive the
intended blow, rs had fully expected /
should. lie stepped backward yard or
so and glared at me while | glared at him.
'Ncll,' very contempiuously at length.
END who are you, that you tells me What
TO do NIT my own childy lou!'-then
he made "a rush at me, and | prepared to
meet him with what little strength had,
against his superior muscular power.
But little Francinc here sprang from
under the piano, where he had hurled her,
and with unexpected strength, pushed me
aside and stood in my place
you not hurt my dear Mocster Henri.
He but it was never finished. crash
on the childish tea Pile with double force
fell the blow that had been intended for
me-and dazed, blinded, feeling like a
coward, almost like "A murderer, awaited
his dash al me over her small. dead body
The door was opened quickly and the
brute was seized by several strong men.
He had been seen coming TO the music
room, and trouble being feared they fol-
lowed him aS rapidly as POSSIBLE.
Yes, man though | was fell in n dead
faint at the side Of poor little Francine,
my little martyr.
Years not so many have passed since
lucN. II Is SAlu the WOllu VIII vet KNOW
me as the greatest living pianist yet such
is not The sweetest or the best reward my
beloved music brings me. Often as | sit
before the keys it seems as though another
power has taken these fingrrs. Whence
come those melting sobs or those keen
pangs Of ccstacy | could not tell you;
"a sit there my soul is with
another soul, and it pours forth Is
thrilling song through my willing fingers.
Dreams beyond human words, hopes and
JOYS beyond The human heart come flow
ing to me through the ivory keys rs though
seeking the key note of interchange. ii is
found! Like Il glory from another world
peal forth the Joyous strains and my heart
seems to have merged its beating into the
throbbing measure of those wonderful out
bursts of joy
1t softens-ceascs-dies away. and turn
10 see a vast audience, some in tears. others
with uplfted, wrapt faces; and only then
! realize that they Zoo have heard with me!
Yet, they tell me il was my wonderful
gift of expression which has so touched
and moved thcm,-an fear To tell them
of little Francinc having been there, for
now, even TO myself, it seems to strange.
too shadowy, too have been true
PERHAPS after all il was lint "A fancvt