Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-20

SOrrOWIGlly upon an Olu-lsGll'S'uSu
piano, sat young girl, with q pro
fusion of light hair falling over her
face.
Pardon me-" said Beethoven, But
i heard music and was tempted To
enter. am musician"
The girl blushed and the young
man looked grave and somewhat an-
noyed Il also overheard some.
thing Of what you said" You wish
to hear-that is, you would like
that is-shall play for you?"
THANK you," said the shoe maker,
But our piano is so wretched, and we
have no music"
mo music!" echoed my friend;
"how then, does the young lady He
paused, and colored, for as he looked
into the girls face he saw she was
i blind
Il entreat your pardon" he STAN
mered, II had not perceived before
Then you play by ear? But where &c
you hear the music. since you fire.
quent no concerts?"
1--WE lived at Bruhl for two years,
and while there, l used to here lady
/ practicing near us. During the sum-
mer evenings her windows were
generally open, and would walk to
and fro outside to listen to her"
Beethoven said no more, but seated
himself quietly before the piano and
began to play He had no sooner
struck the first chord than knew
what was coming. All the years
knew him, did ever hear him play
as he then played to the blind girl
and her brother The brother end
III n
rapture The former laid away his
work; the latter with her head beu
slightly forward, and her hands press
| ed tightly over her breast, crouchee
, down near the end of the piano.
T Suddenly the fame of the candle
{ wavered sank and went out. Beetho
{ ven paused and threw open thu
shutters, admitting flood OF moon
light.
The room seemed almost as light 3
!. before, the moon falling stronges
upon the piano player. His hea
dropped upon his breast; his hand
: resting upon his knees; he SCENE
;, absorbed in deep thought. He re
!, manned thus for some time. At lengt
: the shoemaker rose and approache
e him eagerly.
If Wonderful mani" he said in
!. low tone. "Who and what are you?
o Listen" said Beethoven, and h
v played the opening bars Of the Sonat
IL in F. A cry of recognition burst froI
! them both, and exclaiming, "The
a you are Beethoven!
IS He rose to go, but we held him bac
% with entreatie,. "Play to us once MOI
only once more"
He went back to the piano. TIL
a moon shone brightly through the wi
dows, and lightened up his g:oriou
rugged head and massive figure.
81 will improvive a Sonatat to tt
e. Moonlight" said he, looking l
70 thoughtfully to the sky and star
r, Then his hands dropped on the key
r, and he began playing sad and !
finitely lovely movement, which crel
a gently over the instrument. like tt
Id calm flow of moonlight over the da1
i'd earth. This was followed by vii
Id elf1n passage in triple time SO
IS of grotesque interlude, like the dan
10 of sprites upon the lawn.
ut Farewell to you" said Beethove
in pushing back his chair and turnil
towards the door, farewell to you!
"You will come again?" asked tn
@. In one breath.
"Yes. yes" he said hurriedly 81 W
come again and give the young la
some lessons. Farewell! will COZ
ra again.
ne Their looks followed us in silen
%, more eloonent than words till we we
%. out Of sight
"Let us make haste back Sc
va. Beethoven that may write out tt
Sonatat while can vet remember !
"a AS my story is getting long. "
). close.
o Mary Funk.
!. r. R. No, Q. Fremont, 10y