Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-08-15

SOUNDS OF MUSIC.

SOUNDS OF MUSIC.
The universe is an instrument, and God is
the player. The Omnipotent designer alone
can finger the mystic keys which bring forth
such mysterious melody. 1t was the time
when light broke over Eden, and the dawn,
rosy with delight, marched to the secret mu-
sic of the spheres, that the morning stars sent
up their first enraptured chorus to the white
throne. Richer and fuller flowed the paan
through the open gates of Heaven until the
symphonies of Eden grew discordant and the
reckless finger of man dared to mingle jars
with the divine consonant and threw the
world out of tune. Then followed prolonged
strain of dissonance until it melted away into
celestial melody, and star-throbbing
to music's measure-hung trembling over the
manger which sheltered one who was to tune
this dscordant universe.
That pierced hand has never ceased tun-
ing at the worlds heart, converting the jang-
ling keys of discord into sounds of concord
ance. Nature herself, like great organ,
yields her own peculiar music. Spring with
its April-alto, seconds the full soprano Of Sum-
mer, and Autumn's high falsetto gales, with
the roaring base of winter winds, fill up the
chord of the years quick.step. | have heard
tender wail-like solo quiver out from among
the pines until the winds went away sobbing.
And when the night breezes come down to
play with the river reeds, one may distinctly
hear them humming serenades to the water
lilies. have noted the beautiful crescendo
and diminusndo of a summer shower. Very
soft and low the music comes sprinkling
through the air, over the roof, and against
th. panes The verdure brightens, the proud
beauties of the garden bend their heads and
listen thrill shoots through the bosom Of
the dark clouds, and the thunder comes in
with chorus that sets the aspin to quivering.
I have anyalized the music of stream
from the fountain head to the sea. Up among
the rocks the drops fall into the little pool
below, with quick tinklingdrip like the
highest notes of the piano. Further down,
where continent rivulets form one common
current, lower but louder treble glad
dens the woodlands, while yet further south,
where the city and town grow upon the
banks of the broad stream, We hear those
deeper notes which lie at the basis of all har-
mony. And at last, when the wide flowing
river is lost in the bosom OF ocean, we hear
the grand bass rolling up from the foot of
the rocks by the sea.
What is life but song? Our early notes
are sweet with the burthen of tenderness and
affection the middle strain is startling and
imperious in its proud melody, and at last in
a softened diminuendo, we glide down the
scale and mingle in that best of all harmoni-
Gus eternities, grand anthem.
MUSIC HATH CHARMS.
From work, lately published by Bentley,
in London, entitled Musical Anecdotes from
Every Available Source" we quote two:
Passing through field about o'clock, a
fiddling tailor was attacked by bull. After
several efforts to escape, be attempted to as-
cend tree not however, succeeding, mo-
mentary impulse directed him to pull out his
fiddle, and, fortifying himself behind the
tree as we'll as he could, he began, upon which
the enraged animal became totally disarmed
of his ferocity, and seemed to listen with
great attention. The affrighted tailor find.
ing his fierce and formidable enemy so much
appeased, began to think of making bis es.
cape, left off playing, and was moving for.
ward This, however the bull would not suf-
fer, for no sooner had the tailor ceased his
fascinating strain, than the bulls anger ap-
peared to return with as much rage as before.
He, therefore, was glad to have recourse
second time to his fiddle; then the bulls an
ger returned, so that he was compelled to
keep 6ddling away till near o'clock (about
three hours), when the family came to fetch
home the COWS, by which he was relieved, and
rescued from tiresome labor and frightful
situation.
The next is reproduced from Bombet, au-
thor of Letters on Haydn and Mozart:
We were surrounded by large flock of
sheep, which were leaving the fold to 60 to
the pastures One of our party, who was no
bad performer on the flute, and who al
ways carried his instrument along with him,
took it out of his pocket. "I'm gong," said
he, ito turn Corydon ; let US see whether Vir-
gils sheep will recognize their pastor" He
began to play. The sheep and goats, which
were following one another toward the noun.
tain, with their heads hanging down. raised
them at the first sound of the flute; and all,
with a general hasty movement, turned to the
side from whence the agreeable noise proceed
ed. Gradually they Aocked around the mu-
scian, and listened with motionless attention.
He ceased playing, still the sheep did not stir.
The shepherd with his staff obliged those
nearest to him to move on. They obeyed,
but 10 sooner did the Autist begin again to
play, than his innocent auditors again return
ed to him. The shepherd, out Of patience,
pelted them with clods of earth, but not one
would move. The futist played with addi.
tional skill. At last the shepherd was obliged
to entreat our Orpheus to stop his magic
sounds; the sheep then moved of, but con-
tinued to stop at distance as often as our
friend resumed the agreeable instrument.
REST.
MANY q woman who cannot afford plenty Of