Lewis Clark State College - Yearbook (Lewiston, ID)

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Zllibe Quang We passed up the Elbe river. For a while, only the low shores on either side could be discerned. '.I.'hen, on our left, appeared the out- line of the dark woods and sloping hills in relief against the starlit sky. Amid the woods here and there the lights of houses twillkledi gradually they became more numerous, and at length on both sides of the river the lamps of a great seaport city came into view. A great city must always have its points of interest, and Hamburg was 110 ex- ception- To the south might be seen the high gabled cottages with quaint mullioned windows, and steps red or violet tiled. But on the north side of the river, lies the most beautiful district of Hamburg, built around the famious sheet of water called the Dinner Alster, which is perfectly square, about a mile in circumference and surrounded on three sides by wide quays, bordered with trees. The quay called the Alte- Jungferstieg is the gayest and busiest, and here may be seen among the handsomest dwellings that of I-lerr Schnellman, the distinguished cattle owner. Here .I-lerr Schnellman lived with his wife and little daughter, who had just passed her sixteenth birthday. Herr Schnelhnan was a huge, honest, good-hearted father who loved his wife and baby devotedly. Alfrcda Amonda and her father were great companions. They were always together. VVherever you saw the jovial big man, you saw the sweet little girl, with sunlit curls and sparkling big blue eyes, running along by her father's side: or sitting on his lap, on the porch in the evening, singing to him. Alfreda had sung as soon as she could talkg her singing was very unusual for a child of her age. She sang as if she were talking, and often when she was very small, she made her parents understand what she wanted by singing to them. People marveled at the child and would stop, when passing, to listen, as she sang in the yard at her play. Her father called her his little Singvogel. About this time the rumble of war was heard in the distance. One day Herr Schnelhnzxn came home with a very distressed look on his face. Whats the matter, daddy dear? asked Alfreda, running to meet him. Bad news for you and mother, Amondaj' answered her father en- tering the house. Ah, Henry, you look troubled, what is it F asked Frau Schnelhnan, on meeting her husband. I have here an order to go to the front for our Fatherland. I am Ieady to go, but what will become of you and Amonda? H7110 will care for you ? I will take care of mother, daddy, until you come back- You will come back, won't you daddy ? asked Alfreda pleadingly, Yes, I will come back to you, Amonda. Come sing a good-bye song for me, my Singvogel! Alfreda sat on her fathe1 s lap, with little fat arms around his neck and sang. It was a song he had never heard her sing before,

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We are free and we are houseless, Save the Prairie Schooner snug And the canvas tent at night time T 4Where we need no slumber drug-. ' Every morning looking westward, Toiling on and on again. Every evening camping farther, Farther out upon the plain. Oh, to climb the rugged mountain , On above the timber line, And to drink at nature's fountain Sweeter draught than any wine, Ford the foaming mountain river, Sleep beneath the fir and pine, Feel the mighty mountain quiver Wliezi the storm path crosses mine. Dropping down into the Westland ,We have reached the Oregon, And will face the life as nobly As the brave before have done. Build our homes, we empire builders, Building strong and brave and true For the thousands who shall follow From the old states to the new. Fight with Indians? Yes, perhaps so, Yet will teach them peace and love, Teach the brotherhood of all men And the Fatherhood aboveg Battle oft with sore privations, Conquer nature and the wild With the courage that builds nations And the glad heart of a child. Thus our land was conquered for us. Thus our fathers lived and died, Toiling, singing, fighting, working, For this west, our country's pride- We, with homage true and tender, Reverence the pioneer, I-Te, the frontier's brave defender, Gave to us this land so dear. flla Kimbrough

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it was one entirely original and made for this special occasion. lt was about his going far off to war and leaving his wife and baby at home, and of their great sorrow and loneliness. As Alfreda sang: her father and m'other were weeping, but they dried their eyes and SIUIICJ through their tears, as the song was finished, for at the 1aS'f, ilffel' long waiting, the father came home to them. Herr Schnellman took them both in his strong arms and kissed them passionately. My savings will be quite sufficient until I return, wife, he said. Days went by, long lonesome days for Alfredag she had no one to play with now, and her mother did not know' how to amuse her 215 her father had. Almost daily, long cheerful letters came from Herr Schnellman. Time passed until he had been gone for six months. Finally the letters suddenly ceased. Frau Schnellman had not received any word from her husband for nearly six weeks. She now became alarmed for fear he had met his death at the hands of the Cllemy. Alfreda did not understand, but in her childish way she tried to cheer and comfort her mother by saying: Daddy pnomised to come home, and he'll come, mother. Months and months slipped by and at length a year had elapSed- Frau Sclmellman had watched and waited day and night. She hail grown old with worry, and there was a sad look on her face, that had always worn a smile. Her condition would have been much worse had it not been for her happy, cheerful little daughter, who helped drive her tears away and brought sunshine to her heart that was dark- ened with shadows. Alfreda still sang at her work and at her play. Alfreda came home from school one day and found her mother sick with a raging fever and unable to raise her head. Alfreda ran across the quay to get Dr. Strauss, the old family physician who had been an intimate friend of Herr Schnellman's. He was a kind, gentle widower of about forty-five, who was very fond of Alfreda, A1freda, my pet, your mother must have good care and rest, said Dr. Strauss, caressing her on the head. I will stay from school and take care of her, replied she, No, my pet, you can not do itg you are not big or strong enough yet. I will send you a woman to care for you both until your mother is well again, he said. Days slipped by, but the mother was no better. Dr. Strauss called two and sometimes three times a day- Nurse Dean, being very strict, would not let Alfreda speak to her mother or even see her for a mo-- ment. One morning Alfreda stopped Dr. Strauss on the stairs, as he was coming from her mother's room, and asked, is mother going tio get better so I can see her ? Yes, my pet, your mother is going to live now, and you can see her tomorrow, he answered. Oh, if daddy would only come home now, mother would be well! cried Alfreda. - What makes you think your father will come home, my pet P he asked. He promised he would, and daddy always kept his promise, she answered. After several weeks, Frau Schnellman was able to be about again, but she was very weak and thin, and her eyes carried a look of untold palll.