Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1890-02-14

went down little path INTO The woods.
The stars shone through the branches,
making the trees look as If they We're
lighted for Christmas, and the ground was
covered with soft, brown carpet of pine.
There, rs he drew ont sweet strains of mu-
sic. a voice like his fathers seemed to say:
"Cheer up, Heinrich, never give up," Aud
his heart was filled with comfort.
Every day, all the time that the boy
could spare from his daily work, was spent
in practicing; sometimes in the summer
evenings he would play bright, lively
dancing music, and some Of the villagers
would join hands and dance; and after
ward they would give him few coppers,
which he would carefully treasure a.
among his first earnings.
These two, the boy and his grandmother
toiled very hard, but there came one day
when he had to toll by himself She had
been laid away to sleep in the valley.
she was old, it was time for her to die"
the people said, but Heinrich's eyes We're
full of tears-he was alone in the world
now.
The log cabin had to be sold. and after
the debts were paid there was very little
left for the poor boy. lie did not know
which way to turn, he had no longer Il
roof to cover his head
While he was pondering what he should
do, he crept out of the house where he had
been taken in for few nights, and went
with his violin in his arms To his fathers
grave, and began to play the 'Eri- King,
which he had learned from him. 1t seemed
wild. unearthly and solemn down there in
the valley, and rs he played an indeiiable
fear filled his heart Then he remembered
a story in an old book some one had lent
him about boy who worked hard and
studied music, and when he grew up be-
came teacher in university. This sto-
~ had sunk deep into his heart, and rs he
thought of it now, his heart became filled
with ambition.
1t was lust about time for the boat to
cross the lake-he had a few cents in his
pocket. aud determined that be would be
gin his travels, and start on his career in
the great world. lie had nothing
treasured to leave behind him. all his treas
ures had gone on beyond. He had only to
choose his way toward them.
The boatman willingly took him in, and
rowed him across the water but before he
turned to go back he slipped the boys
money into his pocket. lie was a rough
German boatman, but as he said afterward,
'It would hab gone to mine hertz to take
from 4 poor sohn who has his va
ter lost"
The boat slid from the sand on to the
lake and Heinrich was left alone. Only
the moon looked at her face in the water,
and Heinrich was left alone. Only the
moon looked at her face in the water, and
the waves whispered softly To the pebbles.
He travelled on toward the east. All
the stars faded away and the moon grew
pale, but the golden sun showed its head
over the distant hill tops, and he went on.
He walked ten miles that day, and at
night slept in barn When he awoke,
he felt for his violin, il was there safe be
side him; but his money, the boatman's
gift with the rest, was all gone. The tears
stood in his eyes as he pressed the haus-
Ireund to ms heart, rs much AZ to say,
'Gou are all | have left" and slowly pur-
sued his journey.
Finally, playing and paging his way
With his melody as he went: he came TO
great city. IL was Just at night ana he
sat down on the SIDE "i pfldge ana lean
I'd against lamp. lt was hard pillow
Dut he had become used To lhtt. III Inc
morning he went wlth throhg "l Hlpor-
'rs until he came to II coal yard. 4 man
shouted TO nm, Here, boy want some
work.,
An! now his heart beat!
Indeed, do, Slr'' he sad earnest
".
"Well, we keep droppin' our coal OIL
,he carts an we want II boy that's quick
IN lively to pick 1t up. wen pay you
we'll J" nat that under your afInf
MY violin, sir.
Fiddle dee dee Well, never mind; lay
t under the roofing there, and come and
work.
it was hard labor, put the BOY tried ana
I'D well, ana voice always seemed say
ng to him, when he was tired or dlscour-
aged, 'Cheer up helhrich' never give
lp!
When nlght came ana the men were put
ing on their coats to go away he TOOK up
lls violin and began to play III ONE, Sweet
Home The men stopped IN wonder and
listened
nat wen dole' sald jim, as tear
made White pain down ms black cheek.
pass round the nat, boys. declare II
that ere didn't make me think of my old
Seemed to me as If / could al
most hear the baby a-cryin', an the dough
nuts a-sputterin' on the lire. She's many
mile away; dear heaf'! RAY us one
more"
Heinrich played again, and after that
the men left him, all but Jim, who hnger-
ed. "Haye you got ere II place to spend
the night, my boyf Ii you halnt come
with me-"
Heinrich thanked him and went with
him. 1t wasn't s.much of place. it
wasn't Jim's real home. but it was quiet
little room in the loft of barn "Wish |
could show you the real place" Jim said.
The next day he worked until night, and
then gathered round him for another tune.