Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1859-11-10

grown accustomed to blindness that she had
forgotten what it was to see But that was
the one sweet memory of her life sweet, vet
full OF wild, deep sadness unutteraby beauti-
iul, as IS the memory of glorious dream, too
beautiful to have BEEN Often in the long, ST.
lent nights she lay awake, and thought of it.,
weeping then when she Was all alone, as she
was weeping now to night but tonight an
other and a different though hit was in aer heart
"a thought which many time had risen
there before but never with the strength and
bitterness that it did now for, as She lay
awake, she thought that there was not one
thing in all the world that she could ever do
to help or comfort any one she loved that she
must be all through her life until she was quite
old, burden upon every one-a useless, help
less, solitary thing, not giving Joy to any, nor
feeling joy herself. Thinking this, the poor
child longed to die !; and shivering, drew up
the bedclothes round her, hiding her face be-
meath them, that the bitter sobs which burst
from her might not be heard breaking the ST.
lence of the night. For in this hour there
seemed no comfort near her all dark with
out, within it seemed as dark the love that
had been poured upon her through so many
years was all forgotten now, she could not feel
that she was loved her whole heart seemed to
have room in it only for one thought-that
she was an encumbrauce upon the earth.
Piercing through the richly painted win
dews of dim old church the winters sun
threw on the marble pavement of the nave
bright rays of light, making the gloom on Ell
ther side seem deeper still. From the affairs,
waxen tapers shed on the gold and silver plate
around, on the gay vases filled with flowers,
and on the rich, gold-embroidered dresses of
the priests, a sudden radiance.
In the open space without the rails of the
High Altar many people knelt for it was a
festival to-day, and Mass was being perform
ed There was daily mass, but then the peo-
rle were so much absorbed in their worldly
occupations that the mass was often solem-
nized on weekdays to empty walls. A child
had slowly and softly threaded her way across
the nave to take up her station alone at the
foot OF one particular pillar in the chancel.
Daily, for hours together, she sat in the same
spot as still as if she were little marble en-
blem Few noticed her, and few came near
her, for the pillar stood in deep shade, and
she Was almost hidden when she sat beneath
it. 1t was a dark and gloomy seat, but the
most cheerful spot i'll all the church would
have been as dark to poor Berthalde.
To-day there were marks of tears upon her
cheeks. Still she waited patiently to hear
the glorious voice of the organ, which always
spoke to her. 1t seemed of all the things upon
earth the most beautiful. She thought it
never would begin to play to-day. But at last
she heard the first low swelling notes and, as
she listened, drinking in the rich, heart filling
sound, all sorrow seemed to pass away, all
earthly things seemed to be forgotten. As
the exquisite music crept around her-now
soft, faint, and low, now loud and deep, roll
ing wave upon wave along the great groined
aisles-she knelt and hid her face. weeping.
Her heart trembled with strange, wild, half
understood delight that only cathedral music
afforded her.
Never had the grand and solemn music
seemed more grand and solemn than it did to-
day. AS the rich tones of the organ filled
the solemn space around her, and the soft vol
ces OF the chorsters rang through the dimly-
lighted aisles, and as one solitary voice filled
the great echoing church with its clear tones,
the blind girl bowed her head upon her hands,
trembling with wild, almost painful JOY, that
seemed to take her breath away. So shaken
was she with emotion, that the thin slight fin
gers scarcely served to hide her tears. Even
when the last notes had quite died away ;
when the last lingering footsteps had left the
church, she knelt on, as if still, in the silent
air, she heard an echo of the song that to all
other cars had passed away. Presently two
light footsteps gaily tripped along the marble
floor, and the sound Of merry voices and half
suppressed laughter, reused her from hel
dream. She crouched upon the steps at the
pillars base, thinking to wait there until the
footsteps had gone past. But suddenly they
stopped quite close to her, and bright young
/ voice exclaimed
Oh, see how stupid have been I have
come down without my music Margaret, vol
must wait for me one minute, till run back
for it. They are closing the organ. I sbal
t be scarcely in time ~ and with the last words
leaving her companion, the girl ran quickly to
4 wards the choir.
"They are some of the singers I" Berthal
de thought within herself, and her heart beat
: with almost reverential feeling GLOW hap
py they must be, how very happy" For &
' moment more the tears sprang up into hel
, eyes, for suddenly, the girl that stayed behind
j began, as she paced up and down, softly tt
: sing low, sweet melody. Berthalde remem
bered it at once it was the Agmus Del of tn,
S lately finished mass
> A second time there were steps and voice.
coming ncar-sow steps, unlike the first, ani
| the singers voice was hushed as q new voice
;. rich, sweet and low, broke upon Berthalde!
r ear.
: "What would you have me say, Lisa?
] am weary of complaining You grow mor'
' careless every day. Your singing now is wors,
than it was six months ago."
Maestro, do not think it's possible tt
please you now" said the girl, half angrily
t half carelessly. "I'm sure do the best
can, and l suppose my voice is as good as i
n al To ho