The Scranton chronicle. (Scranton, Miss.) 1897-19??, 1903-12-26
was so Wide. and half Of II Law between

forth, while the old man sang with trem-
bling lips and voice that no one heard but
God-as he had sung every New Year
since that one:
children OF the Heavenly King
As ye journey sweetly sing,
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways"
Then, as the last reluctant echo died
away, he stumbled down the narrow
stairs toward home and Elspeth.
Not far from the beltower stood q
mansion where a great throng had as
sembled to watch the old year out and
the new year in. Silken draperies rustled.
jewels cleaned. music rippled on the per-
fumed air, and happy voices rang sweet
and high. But every sound was silenced,
and bright eyes grew dim in the flood of
melody which suddenly poured about the
gay throng. They crowded toward the
music room, trying to catch glimpse of
the player. Those who were near saw
slender man, with fair curling hair
brushed back from a brow as pure as a
woman's. The face was pale and the eyes
sad but about the sensitive mouth played
an expression of rare sweetness and
beauty. Quietly he sat before the grand
piano. playing without the slightest ef-
fort such masterful music as had hushed
the listeners to awe-struck silence.
"Who is hep was the question passed
from one to another when at last the
cessation of the music broke the spell.
HE is a friend of fathers their
hostess told them. Father met him
abroad some years ago, and. by helping
him in a search for some missing friends.
won his heart. The search was not sue
cessful, but that did not seem to lessen
have corresponded in a desultory way
ever since. Father invited him here for
the holidays this year, but he declined the
invitation, then this evening suddenly
and Unexpectedly appeared. These great
musicians are always eccentric, you
know | heard him tell father that this
is an anniversary he doesn't like to spend
alone. Some love story probably. No,
he isn't married. He spends his entire
time with his wonderful music. That is
really all know about him." With that
the interested guests were forced to be
content, for the player had vanished from
among them as suddenly as he appeared,
and soon the gayety resumed It's sway.
At II o'clock the hostess seated her
guests in circle, saying: Now we will
turn down the lights and tell ghost stories
till midnight. Everybody must contrib
ute something. The more gruesome and
narrowing the better" she added laugh
ingly. The young people fell in with the
spirit of fun, and ghosts walked, hob
goblins shrieked and ghouls moaned, till
the more timid begged for mercy.
It was almost 12 o'clock when new
voice suddenly broke into momentary
pause. Everyone looked up to see the
musician standing in the door.
MY friends he said. my story is not
of the spirits of the unseen world-it is
of a lad In the far-away Fatherland. who
once, on night like this. left home and
friends and went out into the wide world,
with music as the priestees who presided
at the altar, where burned the fires OF
his ambition So brightly did this fire
burn that its glow hid the quieter emo
tions which fingered in the shadow. and
father and mother and home were left be-
hind. The youth had not dreamed Of the
pain of broken ties-but he afterward
learned it all.
"Snipwrecked, weary sickness and
deliverance, miscarried letter returned to
its writer long terward-all these came
between the lad and his loved ones, and
when at last, overcome by the deadly
'heimweh,' he turned toward home, he
found 1t empty-the loved ones gone,
while the chimes in the tower which the
father had played ever since the lad had
lived, responded sadly to the touch 0f
strange, unfriendly hands.
with breaking heart the lad turned
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 a man. but the father and the
mother he has not found, nor does he ex-
pect to greet them again until the New
Year of Heaven dawns for him, as he
believes it has already dawned for them.
So. when the midnight comes play each
New Years Eve as las the lad played
on that last night long agony message
to my dear ones"
The clock on the mantel warned for
70. and the musician turned to the piano
and played again simply and lovingly
Pleyel's hymn, singing as in the long ago
the beautiful words his mother loved.
AS the last note died away in the quiet
room the tower clock began to strike. but
was drowned by the music Of the chimes.
A thrill ran through The hushed circle as
they recognized the strain they had just
heard, but the musician arose with
mighty cry: 'Mein Vateri" and ran out
into the night, guided by the music Of the
bells.
When the old bell ringer shut the door
be could not see. for the tears that
blinded him. the hurrying figure on the
pavement moment later he was gath
cred close to the heart that had yearned
for him through all the space OF SILENCE
and loneliness, and together. in the OPEN
ing of the glad New Year. they went out
from the shadow OF the bell tower, home
TO Elspeth. whose mother heart camo
near to bursting. with the JOY of sons
home coming. minneapolis House.
keeper.
A necessary lrA-cepsnf-
First Tramp wuz at de House Of
Industry on Christmas.
r>r. ~. q -