![\"IMG_0917\"](\"http:\/\/benjaminjmansavageklei.apps-1and1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_0917.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0![\"IMG_0914\"](\"http:\/\/benjaminjmansavageklei.apps-1and1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_0914.jpg\")
<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0![\"IMG_0915\"](\"http:\/\/benjaminjmansavageklei.apps-1and1.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/IMG_0915.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI recently interviewed my father, Rev Dr James Klein about the Stella music box that belonged to my grandmother, Ruth Klein. \u00a0The music box was purchased by my great-great-great uncle Joseph Markwardt who was one of the first of my\u00a0family to settle in Wisconsin. \u00a0My dad recounts the rather sad story surrounding the music box: Joseph Markwardt bought it\u00a0as a gift for his\u00a0fianc\u00e9 who, shortly before the planned date of their wedding, left him. \u00a0 \u00a0My great grandfather and grandmother, who took care of Joseph Markwardt later in life, incorporated the Stella music box into their own family traditions, and it has remained in the family since that time. \u00a0My father tells the story of this musical instrument in the following audio clip; it also includes a few examples of the music it plays.<\/p>\n[soundcloud url=”https:\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/241510951″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”450″ iframe=”true” \/]\n
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Here are a few photos of the Stella music box, the song disks, and\u00a0Joseph Markwardt<\/p>\n