The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-12
CHILDREN CALL THE MOTHER HOME Mime. Schumann Heink Travels
 15O0 Miles SHE GIVES MORNING KISS Spends Hundreds of Dollars and Makes Long Journey to Spend Few Hours With Her Treasures
 at Home.
SHE GIVES MORNING KISS
Prom the New York World.

From the New York World.
 Two children were aroused from sleep early Friday morning in a big villa over- looking the Ramapo Hills back of Sngac, N. J., by the touch of lips which opened wide their eyes in childish joy. George Washington Schumann-BeinIS, aged s, clasped his arms around his mother neck and would not release her. Maria Theresa Schumann-He eink, aged Il, had felt the fond embrace a moment before her brother was awakened. Then the pratt tie of both children began, and Mime. Schumann Heink, the great contralto, was a long time silent, enjoying what to her is the sweetest of music
 The prima donna had travelled about 150O miles to hear it. There were also some hundreds of dollars involved. But all this she paid gladly for the joy of being at home with her children for a few hours.
 "The happiest hours of my life are with my children" she said. T am com pelled to be here and there, away from them while the opera season is on, and it is with a heart overfowing with love that l hasten home where my treasures are awaiting me-"
 This time the treasures" knew nothing of their mothers intention. The surprise she had planned for them was part of her joyful anticipation. It sustained her in the long journey. Mime. schumann- Heink was In Lincoln, Neb., on Wednes- day, when thoughts of home and the children made her heart hungry for them. Her next engagement was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, hundreds of miles north. But a picture filled her mind s eye, and grew ever more vivid.
 In the foreground, she said Friday, was a girl with faxen hair and blue eyes, and a boy clad in a butternut-col- ored jumper. The lads eyes were blue, too. and his face and hands were brown ing in the winds of the Ramapo Hills. The children were playing on the long slope which reaches from Villa Fides to the Little Falls turnpike The sun dipped behind the hills, and the children were getting ready for bed. But 1t was not mothers hand that tucked the coverlets around them, and they longed for the goodnight kiss.
 Tie singer could bear 1t no longer, and sent this message to her manager in New York: q am homesick. I must see my children. Will be in New York on Fri day.
 She arrived in Paterson, N J., at 10 o'clock Thursday night. Home was only eight miles distant now. She ordered carriage and set out. The villa was dark when she tapped on the door, and Gretchen, the faithful housekeeper, an- swered the summons. The exclamation or a5lOnlS0lnenL OI HeI lpS was SiNShoN by the uplifting finger of the happy mother.
 Don't waken the children. They must have their sleep"
 Mime. Schumann-Hein tip-toed upstairs and softly opened the chamber door for peep at George Washington. The pink flush of healthy childhood was in his face. sly look at Maria Theresa came next The head on the pillow was fram- ed in nimbus of golden hair, and the mother sighed with content
 Nine Schumnn- -Heink slept little that night but the great peace of being home with the children suffced for rest After the surprise of the awakening for the children George insisted that his mother accompany him on his mornin; task of driving the two Jersey cows from pasture. The colored man-of-all work always goes along, but George does the shouting, and his mother Joined in yesterday. The voice which has thrilled thousands with the exalted theme of ''Stabet Mater was heard calling:
 'S-o--o, bossies."
 There was rompihg on the lawn, and A walk all around the home domains before the carriage called to take Mime. Schumann-Heink back to Paterson, whence she started at noon for the jour ney to Winnipeg.
 .'pll be back soon. little ones" she called.
 Mime. Schumann-Heink's six other ohil- dren are not at home at present.