Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-12-18
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANIsT,
kind hearts are more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood "

kind hearts more than coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood"
Years ago, at a grand old cathedral over
looking the Rhine, there appeared an or
ganlst. The great composer who had play
ed the organ SO long had suddenly died, and
everybody, from the king to the peasant,
was wondering who could be found to fill his
place, when, one bright Sabbath morn, as
the sexton entered the church, he saw a
stranger sitting at the Grape shrouded organ.
He was a tall, graceful man, with pale but
strikingly handsome face, great, black, me-
lancholy eyes, and hair like the raven S
wing for gloss and color, sweeping In dark
waves over his shoulders. He did not seem
and such music he drew from the lnstru-
ment no word OF mine can describe. The
astonishcd listener declared that the organ
seemed to have grown human-that 1t wall
ed and sighed and clan ored, as If a tortured
human heart was throbbing through Its pipes.
When the music at length ceased, the sex
ton fastened to the stranger and said:
Pray, who are you, sir
DO not ask my nlme, he replied, Il
have heard that you are in want of an or
ganist, and have come here on trial. y
You II be sure to get the place, exclalm-
ed the sexton. Why, you surpass him
that's dead and gone. sir !"
No, no You overrate me, resumed the
stranger, with a sad smile; and then, as if
disinclined to conversation, he turned from
old Hans and began. Aad now the music
changed from sorrowful strain to grand
old paean, and
"Looking upward full of grace.
Prayed, till from a happy place
Gods glory smote him in the face"
and his countenance seemed not unlike that
of ST. Michael, as portrayed by Guido.
Lost in harmonies which swelled around
him, he sat with his far seeing eyes fixed
on the distant sky, glimpse of which he
caught through an open window, when there
was stir about the church door, and a roy
al party came sweeping In. Anon them
might be seen young girl with wealth of
golden hair eyes like the violet's hue, and
lips like wild cherries This was the Prn-
her, as she seated herself in the velvet cush-
ioued pew appropriated to the court. The
mysterious organist fixed his eyes upon her
and went on playing. No sooner had the
music reached her ears than she started as if
ghost had crossed her path. The blood
faded from her cheek, her lips quivered
and her whole frame grew tremulous. At
last her eyes met those of the organist,
10 long, yearning look, and the melody
lost its Joyous notes and once more walled |
and sighed and clamored.
by my faith" whispered the king to his |.
daughter, This organist has master hand. /
Hark ye, he shall play at your wedding
The pale lips of the princess parted, but .
she could not speak-she was dumb with .
grief Like one in painful dream, she saw .
the pale man at the organ, and heard the /
melody which filled that vast edltice. Ay,
full well she knew who he was, and why
tie instrument seemed breathing out the
agony Of a tortured heart.
When the service was over. and the roy
al party had left the cathedral, he stole
way as mysteriously as he had come. He
Was not to be seen again by the sexton till
the vesper hour, and then he appeared IN
she orgAn-loft and commenced his task;
While be played yelled figure glided IN and
knel; near side shrine There she remained
tillthe worskippers dispersed, when the sex
ton touched her on the shoulder and said
Madam, everybody has gone out oot
sou and me, and wish to close all the doors.
4 am not ready to go yet, was 'ie ie
ply. Leave me-leave!'
The sexton drew back into shady niche,
and watched and listened. The mysterious
G0rganist still kept his post, but his head was
bowed upon the instrument, and he couIu
not see the lone devoted. At length she
rose from the aisle, and moving to the or
gan.oft, paused beside the musician.
Bertram," she murmured.
Quick as thought the organist raised his
head There, with the light OF the lamp
suspended to the arch above failingfull upon
aer, stood the princess who had graced the
S'si pew that day. The court dress OF vel