The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1894-06-21

luStor OF patience anu lOfLlluuo winch
all-destroying Time had been power
less to dim. He sat there in silent
musing, while his hands called forth
the harmonious strains as by their
own vOlitiOn. and in his mini he pic
left him childless and lOnely-a brave,
strapping, lusty. handsome lad, brown
as u berry with health and youthful
strength. with his glossy, curly hair,
and his eyes like a pair Of black gems.
How proud he had been of that boy!
With what heavy heart he had con-
scented to his wandering forth into the
fastnesses of tho far-Off new world,
there to seek his fortune. Fortune.
A treacherous, murderous ruifian's bull
let had, perhaps, laid him to sleep be-
meath the brown sward Of the foothills
of the Rockies, or merciless disease,
gaunt famine - who knew? - had
snatched that Young. rosy life from its
path of hope and had not even left the
trace of its previous suffering.
As the old mans waking dreams be-
came more palpable to his mental WIS.,
ion, his fingers strayed. and from the
majestic pcals of a Gregorian anthem
he subsidized into the mellitluOus, sooth-
ing strains of "Old Hundred" An i'm
pulse unaccountable and unaccounted
made him turn his head while his
hands still rested uron tho keyboard,
and there. at the other end Of the aisle,
framed by the gray stoncwork of the
porch. tho figure of 4 tai man stood
In the open dor of the church. As in IA
panel of gray evening light. For Il
mere heartbcat's space the musician
imagined that he saw two figures there,
but ore vanished as b. witchcraft into
the mellow darkness of the vaulted
columns, or, so he thought, his weak
ened sight mad played tricks with him.
His fingers still went over the keys As
he locked. and odd Hundred" swe lied
out in lis harmony; but on sudden he
stopped. wondering who it might be
whom he knew not and who paid a visit
to the church ut that hour, for the fig
ure was strange to him.
AS the melody ceased, the voice OF
the man came to him from the church
door.
Will YOU please play that again,
sir. l love Old Hundred and | have
not listened to it fo- Il long time"
The o,ganist had never before heard
the voice. The speech had the barely
di:tinguishable accent OF an educated
wel-spoken Western American. The
thought Of it caused the musician
heart to beat in q tumultuous riot and
tremor. His ) n, his lad. had gone K
America. and in memory of the lost one
and for the sake of that memory hi
turned to his former position. ani
never had the organ entuned "Olc
Hundred with greater stateliness Q,
sweetness.
When the last notes had died ava,
in q harmonious whisper. the old mar
wiped tear from his eye.
Thank you. sir. said the man at the
door. Il am downright ,bliged TO YOU
And if you will TO 20 good as t. come
down when you are quite done, ant
when YOU have time. shall be glad I,
thank you more closely"
Again the sound of the voice touched
a chord OF remembrance in the organ
lists breast. That man was an .Ameri
can. Perhaps he could describe tn
spot to him. the country. and the PEG
pie who lived there. Perhaps he knew
something of the scenes through
which the dead lad hal passed. Per
;haps-and that soothing hope was Their
in that thought-he lad known the DO
himself.