Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-07-28

wont, as L went through the street,
when was tapped on the shoulder by
an old man, the cobtler of the next
parish. / knew him from his coming
to my father for leather occasionally.
''Sam, where did you learn that?"
Learn what?"
'"Hhat tune"
cat church"
you've a good ear, Sam"
I've nothing else good, but L can
whistle anything"
Can you whistle me the Morning
Hymn" 1t
/ did so.
Good. very good. Know anything
OF music. Sam?"
Nothing"
Like TOP"
''I'd give all / have in the world to
be able to play anything. My souls
full of music. L can't sing a note, but
L could play anything if 1 were taught. F"
80 you shall, Sam, my boy. Come
home with me. Garry these skins, and
you shall begin at once.
/ went home with him, and found
that lac was one of the players on the
choir of his parish, his instrument
being the violencello. took my first
lesson, and from that time commenced
a new life. Evening after evening, and
sometimes during the day, | wandered
over to his little shop, and while he sat,
stitch, stitch, L played over and over
again all the music could get from the
church.
you've a beautiful finger, Sam. my
boy, beautiful, and though it does look
a little awkward to see you bowling away
with your left, it makes no difference to
you. You ought to be fine player,
Sam"
was enthusiastic, but was poor. L
wanted an instrument of my own, but
had no money, and earned nOne-I
could earn none. My parents thought,
and perhaps rightly, that if they found
me food aud clothing, I was well pro-
vided for, aud so for some twelve
months / used the oil cObbler's instru-
ment, improving daily. 1t was strange
that the limbs aud fingers, SO rigid aud
stiff for every other impulse should,
under the influence of sound, move with
such precision, ease and exactness-
''Sam, my boy, says the cobbler, one
day, '.you shall have az instrument aud
your father shall buy it for you, or lle
whole parish shall cry shame upon
him."
But he does not know a word of
this" I said.
Never mind, Sam, my boy, he shall
be glad to know of 1t" and he told me
all ms plans.
At certain times il was customary for
the choirs of neighhOring churches to
help each other, and ID was arranged
that the choir of our parish should play
and sing on the next Sunday morning
at his parish church, and that he and
his choir should come over to our parish
for the evening service.
"And you, Sam, said he, ''shall take
my place in your own church; and,
please God, you do as well there AS
you've done here, it will be the prOudest
day 1 shall know, Sam, my hoy, and
your father and mother will say so,
too"
How | practiced, morning, noon and
night, for the great day; how the old
man darkly limited at a prodigy that
WAS to be forthcoming at the festival; and
then the day itself, with its events-nll
rs rs vivid before me as If it were but
yesterday. ...
The evening came; and there, in the
dimly lit gallery l sat waiting, with my
master beside me.
''San, my boy, said my master, ''it's
a great risk; it's getting very full.
There's the squire and my lady just
come in. Keep your eyes on your book
and feel what yOu're playing, and think
you are in the little shop; I've brought
a bit of leather to help you, and he put
a piece of that black leather before me
that has peculiar acid scent. The
scent of it revived me; the memory OF
the many hours j had spent there came
back to me at once, and L felt as calm
AS if L was indeed there.
She came ut last, and service began.
Oh, that night Shall L ever forget its
| pleasures-the wondering looks of the
friends and neighbOrs who came aud
found In me, the despisea, awkward,
left-handed saddler's apprentice, the
prodigy of which they had heard ru.
mors? Oh, 1T was gloriousl The first
few strokes of my bow gave me conf
dence, and 1 did well, and knew IL,
through the hymn, through the chants
aud ON TO the anthem before the ser
mon. That was to be the gem of the
evening; II was Handel's then new an,
them, Il know that my Redeemel
hveth."
Ii began-harsh, iuharmonious, out
Of tIne-I know not why or how; buI
rs II progressed, spell seemed upon
all but her and myself; one by one The
Instruments ceased and were silent; one
By one the voices died away and were
lost, aud she and / were alone, bound
together and driven on by an irresisti
bic impulse, went through the anthem
one soul, one spirit seemed to animal,
both. The whole congregation breath
less as to an angel; and she, self-ab
sorbed, and like one in trance, sang
filling me with a delicious sense o
peace and exultation, the like of which
I have never known since.
1t came 70 an end at last, and will
the last triumphant note I tell forward
on the desk in a swoon.
When / recovered ! found myself al
home III my own room, with the rector
the doctor, aud my parents there, anC
j heard the doctorsayc33A af3- sFr 81
II told you he would, my dear mad
am; L knew lie would.
/ ''rhank GOdf' murmured my mother
my dear boy, how We have feared fol
You.
What 5ifferencel L was courted anC
made much of. Genius" and ''very