The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1909-10-15
s. G
The Dream Song
By MARIE DlEsLER.

and very close together. Here and
there white curtain might be seen
fiuttering at window, and red ge-
raniiim or few starved looking pam
sizes Nroke the interminable line of
gray. Parents sat on the doorsteps
exchanging pleasantries with their
neighbors, and swarms of children,
for the most part ragged and un-
kempt, clambered over and about
them. Their nationalities were nu-
merous-dark skinned, black haired
Italians, stolid Swedes and yellow
haired, rosy checked Germans.
A tall, handsome woman of stately
bearing, with long rose colored veil
tied loosely about her hat, walked
leisurely down the street toward the
line Of gray A mile or two back her
auto had met with a slight mishap,
and while the chauffeur was repairing
the damage, she had been glad of the
chance to stretch her cramped limbs,
and she had walked on and on, ex-
pecting to be overtaken by her auto
at any moment. Now it was growing
dark, and she was beginning to feel
trifle uneasy at the delay of her ma
chine, and at her position in this
strange, perhaps questionable, local
ity, with the stare Of dozens of strange
eyes upon her.
She was about to turn back when
somebody started to play piano and
the most exquisite music foated out
on the evening air. 1t was a Beetho-
ven sonata, tender, gentle, soothing
in it's wonderful harmonies and
lights and shades. Then the player
drifted into medley Of country airs
that took one far away to blue waters
and sunny skies, to the grape gather
ing, to the wheat threshing and to
the harvest
The woman listened with increas-
ing wonderment-such music was ex~
traordinary anywhere, but in such a
place as this it was more than extra
ordinary.
who is it?" she asked of big,
pleasant faced German, who leaned
against the door post.
That is little Karl" he replied
Every night he plays so to his old |
grossmutter. You like it, yah?' and |
his round face beamed upon her guod
naturally.
Just then the music stopped and a
second later boy of perhaps fifteen |
or sixteen appeared in the doorway. |
He was small and slender, with the
face of a dreamer-the high, white |
brow, the tender, mobile mouth, the |
faraway look in the large, blue eyes.
80 this is little Karl" said the
woman, warmly. Wont you play
something for me. / love music, and |
you play so beautifully"
The boy flushed under her praise
and his eyes cleaned.
At first his fingers faltered and |
hesitated over the keys under the
presence of stranger, but his ner-
vousness was soon gone. Under her
charm and sweet graciousness he
found himself telling her all his long |
ings, all his ambitions. And he even
showed her and played for her rather
timidly several of his own compost
tions. They were quaint and simple. |
and crude, too, but there was no de-
nying the genius that had written |
them.
II like this one best" said the
woman, picking up much fingered
manuscript. 1t was called THE |
Dream Song" because, he told her,
the melody always came to him when
he dreamed of his angel mother. 1t |
was only simple melody, but inf
nitely sweet, and the boy had put his
very heart into it.
Let me take it home with me-"
she went on, "and write some words |
for it. It's beautiful thing" Karl
nodded, rapturous with the honor she
had bestowed upon him.
How would you like to come and
live with me, Karl, and study music?"
she asked, suddenly. The boys eyes
lit up wonderfully for moment, and
then the brightness faded.
II couldn't leave grandma, . he an
swered. You see, I'm the only one
she has left to take care of her
"oh. but we'd take grandma, too, y
she said.
So grandmother was brought into
the room, and after much talk it was
finally arranged that she should come
for them the following Thursday.
Now, l must go" she added, as
the honk, hOnk of an auto announced
her belated machine Don't forget
me, little Karl" as though he could,
thought Karl, and with a warm hand
clasp and cordial goodbye she was
gone, leaving him to gaze after her