The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-12-31

lntln ana lbe lAl0 tnat nad CnIleu lHtlI
child. They we're only waiting now-he
and EisEath FOR the summons which
should cali them to the happy reunion In
a homo whore there would be no sad
Eoud-hys, where music knows no minor,
ana hearts forget how to ache.
The first stroke of midnight sounded
and an instan, later the bells pealed
forth, while the old man sang with trem-
Hing lips and voice tAat no one heard but
Cod rs he had sung every New Year
since that one.
children Of the Heavenly King
As Sc Journey swCctly sting,
SIaE your Sayl0ur's worthy praise,
Glorious In His works and ways"
Then. rs the last reluctant echo died
away. ne stumbled down the narrow
stairs toward home and Elspeth.
Me- far from the bclltower stood
mansion, where great thrung had as
srmhlod to watch the old year out and
tho new year in Sllken draperies rustled.
jewels cleaned. music rippled on the per-
fumcd air and happy voices rang sweet
anu IlHI. I't' tNti9 fuuhu "dh hil'iS'h
ird bright eyes grew dim in the flood OF
melody which suddenly poured about the
gay throur. They crowded toward the
musir room. trying to catch glimpse of
he player Those who wer, near saw
lender man, with fair curling hair
brushed back from brow as pure as n
wuman's Tho face WIS pale and the eyes
I'D but about the sensitive mouth played
an cXpra sFion Of rare sweetness and
beauty quietly he sat before the grand
piano playing without tho slightest 81.
fort such n'st,r(ul music ns had hushed
Tho li.t0Errs to awa struck silence
who is he?" was the question passed
from on" 10 another when at last the
cessation Of the II us'c hrol'e the spell.
lie Is n friend OF tnihor's,' their
hostess told tf'm. Father nct him
abroad som" v'nra npo, and by helping
III" IN search iHrscme missing friends,
won his heart ~" scnrrh was not sue
"rssiul. but that ~ not seem TO lessen
HtoI Won Bulow's gratitude, and they
nave rorresporcfd In dosultory way
ever sine" Father invited him here FOR
me hoIloaFs TINS year, nut n" declined the
invitation then tbs evening suddenly
al" Unexpectedly appeared. lh'se great
III" ''''L7 are Always eccentric vow
hh"". ] h'"r" hlA 'eII lath'r 'ha' IhiS
Is ai"Nili'' 'shrl 70 'o''h me spehn
A'"h'. S"t'' ioN' ''"r! pfobably, NO
No IsH iNarfI'", ne Fp'n"s MS chtlr'
'ih' win ms ""n"'rluI music mat i
r'AlIf al ihow ABOUT MN WIN that
'h' iH"r''''o guests "'r' Iorcea 10 b'
content Ior the payer hhd Nhhishcd IRON
among 'helh as su""'EIy as ne appeared,
ana soon the ehye'y resumed us sway.
AT II O'Clock the hostess seated her
guests IN circle, saying: NOW we will
urn Gown the llfh's hdtelI Fhos' stories
M mlHhlEhi. everybody must contrib
NE something. Tie NOR" IruoFomc nnf
narrowing inc hottfr' she ADDED laugh.
lhtly Inc young people lcIl III WIN IN
SPIRIT oI iuh' ana ghosts walked, non
eou!iEs shrlekcd and Ghouls moaned, I'LL
the NOR" timld begged Tor mercy
II was almost II o'clock when a new
voice suddenly broke into n momentarl
pause. Everyone looked up tc sec tn
musician standing In the door
My friends he said, my story isnoI
Of the spirits OF the unseen world-it /
Of a lad In the far-away Fathrrland. whr
pn"", on night Ike this, left home ant
friends and went ont into the wide world
with music as the pricstcCs who presided
1t the altar whore burned the fires Of
his ambition. So brightly did this fire
burn that its glow hid the quiet'r emo
lions which llrG red In the shadow, and
father and mother and home were left be.
hind, The youth had not dreamed Of thu
pain Of broken tics-hut he aftCrward
learned II all.
"Shipwrecked. n weary sickness and
dcliycrance, miscnrr!ed letter returned tC
its writer long nfterward-all these can,
between the Ind and his loved ones, ant
when at last, overcome by the dead,
'heimweh, he turned toward home b.
found 1t cmpty-the loved ones gone
while tho chimes In the tower which III,
father had played ever since the lad HAD
lived, responded sadly to the touch OF
strange, untriendly HANDS.
with breaking heart the lad turnet
back to the country OF his adoption, hop.
ing. against hope. to find the dear ones
who had followed him there during his
long silence The years have passed and
the lad is n man. but the father and II
mother he has not found, nor does he OK.
poet to greet them again until the New
Year of Heaven dawns for him az h.
believes It has already dawned for them
So. when the midnight comes play eaci
New Years Eve as las the lad played
on that last night long agony message