The Hillsborough recorder., 1864-04-27

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him harp and crown like their own.
All the while his face grew thinner, sad
der and more spiritual and there rested
upon il an expression of ofhappiness such as
had never been seen there before.
III. a
The merry bells of the old church rang
out joyous peal on the still midnight air
of Christmas Eve. It was quaint old
English custom, and one which had been
scrupulously regarded by the villagers, and
now rs the full. rich tones Of the bell came
floating through the midnight air, they
seemed to Carol song Of joy and glad
ness. Joy. JOY the old bells seemed to say.
as they had said SO many hundred Of times
before--joy to the weary and the desolate.
the lightshearted and the gay-joy to the
captive and the dweller in princely halls
Joy to the old man and the boy, the mother
! and the babe-joy, joy, joy to all the world
Christ is born. and as the full, sweet ca
dence floated along on the signing winter
wind, the stars seemed to glitter more
|. brightly and genislly, as though they too
i joined in the glorious song;' and then all
. the world, the sky, the night breeze and
the stars seemed 10 unite and swell the
{ grand triumphal chaunt sung 50 long ago
on the bleak hill side Of Judea: !" Glory
to God in the Highest, and on earth peace,
good will toward men,"
, All nigh. Willie had laid awake, think
: ing Of tomorrow. For several days he had
! grown feebler, and when he parted from
) his grandfather as he went to bed on Crist-
: mas eve, he told him that he was going
$ away the next day-the angels were COM
] ing for him, and he was going with them.
0 AT midnight he heard the sweet bells of the
old church filling the air with their music.
y and when they had died out into silence,
he heard the angels coming TO him again,
and all the night long they talked to him
: and sang to him until the boys heart seem
ed bursting with Joy. Then, as the daJ !
light came, they left him but before theJ
went they told him they would come fo
e him in lew short hours.
i, Christmas morning broke brightly ovel
: the little village, and soon all the people
| we're making their way to the church Il
" return thanks TO God for having given
u Christmas Day TO the world. Every one
n had heard of Blind Willie's Song" an,
d how the angels had taught it to him. ant
/, all went 10 the church, anxious to hear thu
wonderful melody.
Willie rose early, and waited patiently
is until the time for church. He was very
q quiet and gentle that morning, and wen
% about absently, like one 10 . dream. Hi
e was thinking Of the angels and their promi
ses TO come for him that day.
d When he went TO church the youthful
1t choristers surrounded him with praise .
IS his " song" and told him he would be ia
/. nous when it had been sung in the church
ID Blind Willie only turned his sightless eye
N TO them and smiled, and wondered if tn
is angels would come as they had promised.
}. Al last the service began. itwas arrang
2, ed that Willle's song should be sung jus
4 at the close of the service, and, when tn,
a time came. the organist took the boy in hi
,r arms and seated him at the instrument
1, whispering as he did so:
"t ourage, Willie you will be famou
ID now"
i. Willie only smiled, and turned to the or
re gan. A low sweet prelude. and then burs
rs forth the iull. rich strains of that trium
ii phant song. Louder and louder yet the.
il. rose, until il rolled through the church y
to wave after wave of exquisite melody. Sue
as music had never been heard there before
"a and as the sweet voices Of the chorlster
" took up the strain, the people llstene'
III with feeling Of reverential awe. 1t wa
indeed song such as angels might sing.
Ne The "sons" was finished. but the stra II
!" of the organ confined to roll through q
ID gray old aisles. Suddenly they were hush
i. ed. Blind Willie had grown pale. and ha
!" fallen over and was resting heavily on tn
" side Of the organ. The organist aud tn
i'd choristers sprang to him.