Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1872-03-23

! NOuld IOI SdJ uU'
Speak up, my boy; say the trutl
always, and shame the devil"
"Hs plays better than you, sir,
think; but then he plays out in The
woods, and music sounds better
there than in close room"
"Irue, it does"
Only master" said /, at last, af
ter some hesitation, "will any ouC
Of you, in your charity, try the or
gan-the village is not distant-aat
thus justify the poor mani"
81 will, myself" answered Bach
con Sunday But say nothing about
it to any Que, Only oyour friend
in order to induce him 10 be pre-
sent in the church on that morning.
With heartfelt thanks Igave the
illustrious composer my promise tc
obey in every particular his injunc.
tons.
On leaving hest ICecelia Hall thSt
evening (it was Friday }, to my sur.
prise, almost the frat person 1 met
was the Man in Blue. Hidden in
the courtyard Of the hall he had been
listening to the music and was in a
state of nervous enthusiasm which
quite alarmed me. | hesitated to
inform him what Bach intended to
do, but at last | did SO. He re-
csived the news in a manner that
little expected. He made no de-
monstration of JOY, but followed
me in silence until we were in a
lonely part of the town-a little
square, IN the centre of which grew
three or four old trees. Here he
paused, and sinking on his knees
prayed earnestly. The moon shone
down on his uplifted face, and It
seemed almost beautiful, SO great
was the the expression it bore Of
earnest devotion and intellect
When he had finished his prayer,
he embraced me in silence, and we
parted.
Sunday arrived, and at an early
hour | started for the church of the
village of --. As | traversed
the little field in front of it, | be-
held, advancing from the opposite
side, several of the professors, and
amongst them Bach. By-and-by,
as it got noised about that some of
the celebrities were in the church,
it filled to excess. Presently Bach
mounted the organ lott How my
heart did beat! Mass began. At
the "Kyrie," for the first tune, the
hitherto mute instrument gave forth
sounds-but sounds Of heavenly
sweetness that the congregation
was thrilled as if by the music of
the angels, As the Mass advanced,
more marvellous became the harmo-
ny. The "Agnus" was soplaintiye
that saw tears in the eyes of Gluck,
who ocd by me, and the "Sanctus"
sounded so triumphantly that it re-
quired but little imagination to be-
leive that the Cherubim and Ser
aphim were presoni singing their
iubilant song of praise: "Holy,
Holy, is the Lord God ofS4bbaoth, .
And the Man in Blue, where was
he?
By the altar, with his face turned
towards his organ. His whole
countenance was radiant, his eyes
were bright, and II look at once
ecstatic and serene passed over his
teatures-a look of such supreme
happiness that his homely features
appeared absolutely beautiful. But
how ethereal he looked!
When Mass was concluded the
congregation passed round theporch
to see the great composers. Long
live Bachl' Hail to Gluck!" they
cried, as they recognized these pop
ular men.
But Bach held aloof. "Lead me"
he said, "to the man Of genius who
has so wonderfully improved the
king of instruments
"Master," J. answered, che is in
the church" And we re.entered
the sacred edifce together, followed
by Graun. l led them to the Man
in Blue. But what change had
come over himl The pallor Of
death was on his brow; he had
sunk back on a bench-and when
he perceived us vainly strove to
rise. Ali excuse me my masters
1 receive you very badly: but l am
not well--the JOY has killed me. I
am dying, gentlemen, of JOY
They raised him between them. l
ran for the priest, and to the doors,
which l shut, to prevent the en-
trance of any intiuders.
"Master, whilst l confess, play to
me-" he said to Bach.
Bach, seeing thatmortal aid was
useless, left us and went up TO the
organ. Solemnly he played. He
played, as he afterwards said, as he
never had done before or since.
The priest arrived, and Graun and
l knelt down whilst the Man in
Blue received the last sacrament of
the church. When this piOus act
was accomplished we went nearer
to him. He took my hand, and
Graun rested his head upon his
breast. Solemnly the music stole
through the silent church; solemnly
the hesun-light streamed through the
stained windows, and the Angel of
Death stool within the temple OF
God.
81 am very happy" murmured
the dying man, "since Bach plays
to me on my organ, and Graun
permits me to rest my dying head
upon his BOSOM"
To me he said, "God bless thee,
my child tell them 1 was not mad,
or an imposter. Ny organ had a
soul.
| n I1 II 1r;coo1 b;e