The midland journal., 1898-07-29
THE BELOVED VIOLIN.

If the elders of Amana colony had known
that there was to be found within it's borders
such thing as violin, there would have
been great commotion until the sinful thing
had been removed. Had the hotel keeper
at Amana known that that violin was in his
daughters possession, he would have forth
with destroyed it. The underlying prin-
eiples of the colonists' belief are economy
and utility, and, as the possession and use
of musical instruments was believed by them
to be in opposition to both these principles,
musical instruments of all kinds were strict
ly forbidden.
No one but Frida Schwalm knew about
the violin, and it was her only treasure. She
kept it hidden in her own little room, and
only occasionally, when her father was rest
ing of an evening on the vine-clad porch,
would she dare steal away under cover of the
friendly darkness and, slipping noiselessly
among the thick clumps of trees that skirted
the river bank, draw the bow across the
strings.
l said no one knew of the violin but Frida
One other shared her secret, and that was
Ludwig. Poor Ludwig might be implicitly
trusted to keep the secret, for he had been
speechless all his life. Many an evening the
old trees had stretched their protecting
branches over these two and the violin, and
listened as the faint, subdued strains of the
stolen music foated up to them. Heaven
must have hushed the sound ere it wandered
out to bring trouble to the musician.
Ludwig" said Frida one evening, 81
am going away" Could she have seen the
panied, surprised look in the speaking eyes
she would have felt her resolution shaken;
| but the darkness hid it, and she only felt
the pressure of his hand and guessed what he
n would say.
Eyes, Ludwig, am going to run away.
cannot live here any longer, for | want to
learn to play. l am going tonight, and
shall take the violin with me. No, Ludwig,
you could not CO. You must stay here and
: wait for me. | will come back when have
conquered it, and shall play, oh, SO beauti-
fully
The next morning CONSERVATION stalked
through the village street. Frda Schwalm
was gonel For many an evening the little
groups that gathered in the chapels for
prayers talked of her disappearance, and at
the kitchens, when they all gathered for the
daily meals, Frida's name was in every
mouth until there was nothing left to say.
The little hotel keeper loved his daughter
with the love that is born of loneliness and
expended Oh the only companion of the last
years of troubled life. In the little ccm-
ctery there were five rude wooden crosses
that marked the resting places of Frida's s
mother, brothers and sisters. Frida alone
she had deserted him-left him without a
word or sign of her going!
Ludwig's heart achcd for Frida and the
violin. No one pitied him as they piticd her
! father, for no one knew of his love- But he
/ :, I'll H. -
and tried to imagine, and that was hope
Had not Frda said she would return? Had
she not asked him to wait and watch for her?
And day by day the hotel keeper, while he
performed his tasks with calmness that de-
luded the colonists into the belief that he
had ceased to grieve for his lost Frida,
watched for her with the persistent habit of
despair. Day by day Ludwig waited for her
with the feverishncss of hope long deferred.
| Five long years they watched and waited
and prayed for her return.
At last she came just as she said she would
come. She came down the stairs from her
| little room one morning, as if those years had
been but night, and she was taking up her
tasks where she had laid them down the
| evening before. Her face was older and
changed, bearing traces of her experience
out in the world. Instead of the severe col
ony blue calico, the folded handkerchief
about the neck, and the black cap on the
head she wore simple white dress, and upon
her head only the glorious crown of sunny
hair nature had given her.
| Who could tell of the joy that came back
to the fathers heart that day? There was
not word of chidng, not question asked; !;
only kindly, almost passionate greeting,
his soul speaking it's happiness through the
stern old face that gloWed with the love Of
his great, kind heart. lie knew that his
Frida would tell him all that had happened; !;
and why and where she had gone, and he left
| it for her to choose the time and manner of
telling him. And she did tell him-of the
struggles she had had; how she had to toll
and save to earn her way, and how at last her
talent had been discovered, and she had
been befrendcd by one who had taught her
just for the joy of developing the gift Of mu:
sic God had given her.
Father" she said, 81 went to master it;
have just begun to see what may do, but
wanted you to know now, and want you to
| let me play for you"
The news that Frida had come spread
through the village, and some neighbors
came to the hotel that first evening to learn
| ii it were true,
When they had all entered the room Frida
came forward, carrying her violin, and said:
"Aly friends, want to tell you story-the
story of the years that have been away
from you"
| She stood before the open window, her
whitehead figure clearly outlined against the
rcd glow of the setting sun. First she drew
from the violin a few quiet gentle strains, set
ting forth the uneventful, monotonous life
in the colonies. She glanced at the faces be-
fore her, and in each one she saw pictured
the prejudice of generations. She must dis
| pei it, she must conquer their hearts by her
playing. The music then burst into wild,
passionate longing, expressive of the soul of
hunger that led her away from home. Then
followed the story of the years of patient,
hard toll, and Frida was lost to her sur
roundings She was part OF the music
| The violin talked to them; it seemed to
tremble with life; 1t had soul, for Frida
had lent it hers. When her story was fin
shcd in q glad, eXultant chord of triumph,
it died away with the voice of pleading-that
thought which has inspired the most beauti-
ful and touching strains that mortal ears
have ever heard-and the hand which held
the bow dropped at her side; the violin was
lowered. She saw tears in their eyes, and
glistening down their cheeks, and she knew
that she had conquered their hearts.
There was a slight movement outside the
window, and hand touched hers. Turn
ing she saw the radiant face of Ludwig, his
eyes fairly speaking the thoughts of his
great, earnest soul, and her happiness was
complete. lie had heard her play, too. She
could see it in his eyes.