The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1906-12-27
THE MESSAGE
OF THE BELLS
A New Year Story.
ny ELIZABETH PRICE

Its head far aloft In the midnight still
ness. and the wind mos ned around It's
rough hcwn corner requiem Tot the
dying year. Within the tower sat the
old bcllrIngcr. waiting for the stroke OF
twelve from the clock, and, as hc
waited. his thoughts drifted hack To the
years long buried Ia the dimness OF
the past-the years when his floating
white hair had been cris? and black.
when his long slender fingers were
strong and supple and struck from the
midnight chimes music OF enhancing
beauty
All! life had been worth the living
In those far-osf happy dayr. People had
predicted wonderful future for him.
and la spite OF the poverty that re
tarded his progress. and n great amb'-
ton possessed him. Obstacles were
pushed aside. difficulties overcome. ns
b. worked by day and studied by night.
and the bells In the tower spoke mar
Vicious things TO the many who listened.
and who. listening. praised. Their
praise was sweet. but Eispcth's was
sweeter. and. when one New Years
eve. he told her OF his love and won
her promise TO be his own. his heart
beat with n rapture that thrilled
through the chimes that night I'LL lis
teners wondered and children came
back from drcamlnnd To hear
Oh. happy memory! oh. long ago!
II was on another night like this that
Ruprecht was born. and the JOY which
beamed from the pale young mothers
face was reflected I'm his own. as he left
her baby on her bosom and rushed TO
the bell tower to max, hls chimes a
paen OF praise to the Father who had
filled his life with blessing How they
loved him-that baby--IE,ir only one
their all! How he and Elspeth had
watched each new developineut---how
lnrOndIN h.s nNaf fnfV
now carefully repeated the first lispIng
word! How joyfully they trained and
taught him, while the father, too busy
In his struggle for their maintenance 10
realize his great ambition. transferred
II uncomplainingly from his own future
TO that OF his son! Nor Ind their hopes
ocen vain. Tine BOY studied--imprnV-
Ing every opportunity with untiring
zeal. until nj last the great organ Ia
the cathedral below Numbered It's glurl-
Gus music responsive To the touch pT
the boyish fingers. People thrungcl
To hear. Euprcchis services were de-
nandcd elsewhere brilliant prospects
opened before him. and the Inevitable
separation drew near.
New Years evel How inaay ami
versaries this shadowy hour held. The
boy babe them goodby while Elspeth
chung TO him and sohbcd, and her hus-
band rushed away 20 tell the chimes
his agony ms he had poured into them
his JOY. a. he sat waiting even as
now. step came up the stair, and
some ono entered the bclfry chamber.
and the voice he loved said tendcrly:
Mein Water. let me play the chimes
tonight. l Will leave with them a mes
sage To comfort you when you are sad
"a message for you and the mother.
too.
when hear IL In the far-orr land Il
Will be- my mothers Voice that sings TO
me. aud when you play 81. meln Water,
" VIII say To you. Rupr"Cht loves me-
Then You Will pray God watch over my
boy and keep him safe FOR me and the
Al Father viii hear"
When huprcChi struC; the massive
keys IL was the simple old playCTs
hymn he played. but ho lent hls bcuu-
tiful voice to the clanEor % the bplig
and sang his mothers fayorIte words.
children Of the Heavenly King
As sc journey swcetly sing:
Sing your Sayiuur's worthy praise
Glorious In HIS works and ways"
\ momcat later he was gone The
years had been many and long since
then. but no tidings ever came, and
.Elspcth's hair grew white before the
look 81 expectancy In her dear eyes.
changed To the calmness ~ resIgnn ton.
Vie was dead, Of course They knew
now that IL must he 40. though thcy
had not given up hope til they had
left the old home and followed their
wanderer To the new country. They
had heard OF the wrecked ship. TO be
sure. but hope dies hard. Perhaps IL
they had been paticnt-had stayed on
amid the scenes OF his childhood--hc
might have come back tn them: but
how could they bc patient when tho
world was 30 wide. and half 81 IL lay
between them and the land that had
called their child. They were only
waiting now--he and Elspeth for the
summons which should call them to
the happy reunion In a home where
there would be no sad goodbys. where
music knows no minor. and hearts for
get how To- ache.
The first stroke OF midnight sounded
and an instant later the bells pcalcd
forth. while the old man sang with
trembling lips and voice that no one
heard but God-as he had sung every
New Year since that one.
Children ~ the Heavenly King
As We journey sweetiy sing;
Sing your iaVi"ur's NuGthy praise.
Glorious In His works AMI ways
Then, NJ the last reluctant echo died
away he stumbled down the narrow
stairs toward home and Elspcth.
Not far from the helltowrr stood a
mansion, where a great thruUg had as-
Eemblcd To watch the old year cut ana
the new year I'm. Silkcn draperics
rIstlcd, jewels cleaned, music rippled
on the perfumed air. and happy voices
rang sweet and high. hut every sound
was silcnced. and bright eyes grew dim
I'm the Hood 81 melody which suddenly
poured about the gay throng. They
crowded toward the music room. try
ing TO catch "a glimpse of the player.
Those who were near saw u slender
man, with fair curling hair brushed
back from a brow as pure as - womans
The face was pale and the eyes sad
but tho sensitive mouth displayed an OK
preston of rare sweetness and beauty.
quietly he sat before the grand piano,
playing without the slightest effort such
masierful music ms had hushei the It's
teners TO awc-struck silence.
who Is he?" was the question passed
from one to another when at last the
cessation OF the music broke the spell.
He IL a friend OF fathers" their
hostess told them. Father met him
abroad some years ago. and by helping
him I'm "A search fpr some missing
friends. won his heart. The search was
not successful. but that did not seem
10 lessen Professor Won Bulow's graft
tude. and they have corrcsponded IN q
desultory way ever since. Father in