The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1861-03-09

Our Musical Friends, The Notes.

| Solemn and stately the Scmibrave, the "a
| iher of this bright marvellous family. comes
| before onI minds vision. lie is aged. grave
| and oft times sad; re. cchoing ever some hcav-
| rny aspirations, some sigh Of the heart. bro
ken, some tale too mournful to be told in
words -pcaling through old cathedral nises,
swelling mounting. dying away like the
hearts vain warnings. In the olden time,
| when the dead, confined in stone. were laid in
their last resting-placc with sounds Of drge
and requeln. he and his still more solemn
ancestor the Breve. came together to mourn
and pay for the departed, oft times accom-
panied by his fair paIt ner the Minim, who
was never far from him. Grave is she also,
but woman S heart is hers. and from it hope
and eladncss are ever ready to burst forth. -
She has, however, to look alter her children,
Of whom she las five, the Youngest a little
fairy thing who was born a long time after
the others. and is more sprite than mortal -
Her eldest son, her iirst-born, the Crochct
is her pride and joy; but love, union. and
| harmony arc the distinguishing marks Of this
heaven born family; they all form part and
portion Of each other; they are all one, and
have but one heart and one soul amongst
them. This slender pensive youth though
he inherits somewhat Of tile character of his
father and mother. is neither so stately nor
SO grave as they. for the warm blood of youth
| dances in his veins. Solid and firm is his
step. and with proud confidence he treads
, the path Of life; cheerful and hopeful is he,
yet lhongh,ful. and tnkingtine for reflection:
not like his fair sister, the Quaver, who
though the eldest Of the four young maidrns,
| likes to pra,tle and talk.wel enough. A lit
tie busybody is she. very useful when any
brisk work has to be done, cheerful and
bright. and happy, always talking in a mcr-
~ quiet way. that tires nobody. She is n
fair and graceful creature. very loving and
carcssng. but sometimes a shade of mclan-
choly steals over her. and lhen she makes US
heave sigh at the simple tale she tells.
Her frolicking young sister, the Semi quay
err never minds Il word her grave father and
mother say to her but away she goes, and
her nimble little feet pattcr like the rain.
Up. and down, here and there, like but
tcrdy on summers day, she rests not a mo-
lnent. Her merry tongue tells of all sorts of
gay dongS, Of the strcnmlctS in the mountain
forests that leap down jagged rocks, and 90
hurrylng on through moss and pebbles, to get
down to the broad river and away to the wide
occan--of the iintering, twittcring birds
and the cvcr.tIcnlhling leaves of the tall trees.
Many jjoyons tales has she to tel. Of feast and
song. and revcl,y; and she and the Quaver
would keep us long listening hut that her
hair, Drained sister. the Demlsemiquaver.
comes srnmpering in. There is no more
quiet now-np and of in the race, try and
catch her if you can. Flashing like lightning
bright as Il sunbeam, sparkling like diamonds
she tells us deep mysteries of the earth. and
air. and roaring tempest, Of the rushing tor
rent, and the wild havoc worked Ivy winds
and waves. Anon, lighter :han the thistle
down that floats upon the July breeze, she
innrmurs sweet soft heart secrets: but her
voice is then low and faint and it is no, CIV
IN to all to understand her iairy-l.kc Ian
ccagt.
The last Of this mystic group is child OF
these latter days Of steam and elcc,iicity.--
Though bearing likeness to her brilliant
sister. the DetnlScuiquavcr. people are some.
times inclined TO think the Scmd,miscu-
qnavcr has lost her wits altogether. In
GREATNESS haste she flies through the air
Swii'cr than time-ay, more rapid than
thought itself; flashing, mcteor.lke, rcga,d
less of space, through boundlcss realms of har.
mony, Till at last, after astonishing the world
she sinks % rest at her fathers feet