The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-12-22
Quick, child. I am faint with my con-

fuStOn."
"Oh, gran'pa, 1t means that my mother
did not go away Of her own will, but
that she was detained by force by his
man who must have been my ather."
III by force. why staid she away all
these years?"
Did you remain long. sran'pa, to see
II she returned to you homer"
"Alas, no. Made Ill again by her de-
sertion I was sent to the inf1rmary. Halt
Kept by me. At the end of a year I went
forth cured of oil except the pain at my
heart. to wander with you singing and
playing on the Streets"
And you never returned home again %
While in the infrmary the house and
all our goods were destroyed by fire."
But why for the last year nave you
watched by the concert hall, ~gran'pa?
You have not told me ALL"
Zone day when we were playing on the
street near the hall, I heard her voice. 1
believe she is again singing. I have not
many years to live and / would know the
truth before I die" I
You mus. not think Of death, gran'pa.
I need you until I can sing in ST. Paul's
for a salary, then you shall find COM
fort for many years at my Preside: and
with Jean, the faithful"
Not as thy husband, child"
mo. not as my husband, but as the
true friend of the blind, to live for a more
happy old age"
81 am made almost light hearted with
thy hope, sweet child; but I fear I can
never be fully happy again until I know
the fate of thy mother. But it is Christ
mas eve. Let us to st. Paul's, where
Jean. the %ianitor, awaits u.s."
The carriages are now crowding the
entrance, gran'pa. Let US turn back and
approach from the rear. Look out, gram
ma II TI,ara is a orriao oH 6 Nnw wv IL
has stopped and a lady who has alighted
awaits our coming"
Take no aims, Christie"
But we are poor, gran'pa.'
aye, but too proud to accept aims; but
l suppose We must"
GAS we have all my life, gran'pa. The
very poor must accept what the rich
would give. Your pleasure. ma'am?"
"Here is Il gold piece for that poor
man."
why so generous, lady; we are not
mendicants;l simply honest street must
clans who would accept a penny for our
music and u ongs.
"A.as. poor man, / do not give because
OF your music, but in memory of the best
mar who ever lived-my father, who also
was blind
why, g1an'pa. did you stumble that
you so nearly fell?"
NO. child, but that voice is the voice
OF my lost Alice"
And your name, man?"
"Oiof Strassman."
my lost father!"
Alice. my lost one. returned to mel"
Faster and faster fell the snowaakes.
Brighter cleaned the lights from st.
Pauls as the lost Alice, after she had re-
peatedly embraced father and daughter.
told nov .lle husband from whom she
had fled to her fathers home to find ref
uge had stolen her away How in a few
months she had regained her freedom
only to find their home in ruins and IA
ther and child gone, no one knew where.
After months of fruitless search she had
met old friends from Sweden who had ed
ucated her and made her name great in
the musical world. She had never ceased
her search for the lost ones and now that
they were found there should be no more
of sorrow or hunger, for she had a com
potency enough and to spare and in a
nome the three should be happy.
And Jean. the %janitor, the faithful
friend of the blind, may he come, too. nv
mother?"
Jean shall share our good fortune.
daughter"
"Halk. Alice, what song comes from ST.
Paul?'' ~
All listened and as the white snow fell,
raster faster about them the words
OF the anthem rang out on the glad air:
"Peace on earth, good will toward men >,