The Cecil Whig., 1883-02-03
THE MODERN DAVID.
In a quiet old town in the hills Of New
HamnShire

We know more.
ample;
Many years he had fed them by precept
divine;
Had married and buried, baptized and be
triended,
Had broken the bread and hal poure'
ont the wine.
So peaceful his life and SO healthtul hi
habits,
Though sixty, he yet WAS as straight as
His cheeks like red apples, his laugh eve
His hair thick and glossy, though silver
ing fast.
His girls were all married and s-ttle'
around him,
With husbands and children and cares o
their own;
college,
And he and his wife were now Living
alone.
Alone-yes, ami lonely for lack of the chill
dren;
The house was 80 still it was fairly for
lorn:
He found the hours heavy when weary o
study,
When all chopped was the wood, and al
hoet. was the corn.
His wife had grown feeble, aud seldom wen
with him
In the heavy-topped chaise to make call.
on the sheep,
But in warm afternoons. when her house
in order,
Would retire to the bedroom. an" there
fall asleep.
The Elder deserted, one dav fell a-;hinkirs
OF David of old, wha, when MS plans
went wrong,
Could snaca his sorrows, forget all his trials
BY the ait, of sweet music, with harp and
with song.
sob, could iut do likewise, the good
man reflected,
" How swiftly, how smoothly, these ruo,
ments would glide.
The complaints of my deacuns, the lack oi
my children,
The advances of age, I could then we'll
abide
But alas for the harp! for l never yet saw
one;
Aud alas for tue songs! for l never could
rhyme.
A jew harp I've mastered, but that can't
content me.
O David, what ,couia you have played in
my time?
My people would laugh if bought me a
fiddle;
To flute and bass viol do not incline;
Too old are my fingers to play on spinet,
Nor could | afford one. l must not re-
SO he s,itlcd is longings, and almost forgot
Till one day To the city Oh business be
went
And while threading its ruazcs, confused
10y its rumult,
"What sweet sounds are ,hrs. with its
clamor now bl.nt: p"
Smile not at the rustc:,l ear of the Elder
"'lis nnl a hand urgau,' answered his
And the old man passed on, but his pulses
were leaping,
And before he went home he had bought
himself one
OF the best German make, with three sepa
rate barrels,
And each barrel played for him ten dis
tinct airs
Just by turning the handle. o blessed in
vention.
He felt it an answer direct to his prayers
No day was now long, and no labor seemed
tedious,
With this fountain of melody ever at
To pour forth its treasures of soothing re-
freshment,
An oasis of JOY in dull prosy land.
AS j. made his wife nervous, twas kept in
the garret
(In the rose of his Joy this had been the
sole tlorn)
And there, all alone in the brown. raftsrs.l
chamber,
Mid f-stoons of dried apple, of sage, and
seed corn,
The Elder would sit, when his days work
was over,
With IA smile on his face as be ground out
the air,
While the long dusty sunbeams streainc cd
in the west window,
Gently touched his broad shoulders and
crowned his white hair.
Twas thus he was seen unawares by Miss
y sweet city maid betrothed to his son,
Who, spending Il week on the farm of his
daughter,
Strolled over to call on the parents OF
John.
Twas y day in mid June, and the old
| fashioned roses,
Deep red and pure white, were in bloom
round the door,
WHICH stood frankly open, the cat On the
threshold,
Aud a gay braided mat to protect the
white floor.
Most Welcome the coolness and shade Of the
kitchen,
nut where MAS the Elder, and where WAS
he da,Lee
'o'o"hi WAS the stilIuess, save pussy 3
sahpurring,
All" similar sound from the bedroom
thatca,ue.
h's"' ''p'C+d the maiden through kitchen,
past ledroom,
10 the ssug room, study. No Elder WAS
there.
but marx aweet sound is now heard in
the distance.
DC" '''ere', She follows it, climbs the
steep stair,
Then sropes h.r wsy onward through d.r
Nene" saest cham bers,
Anu e'''' Us %ths sarret, still led by the
lis her f'v'ri's~sl,z. "Sow surely I'm
drralning?"
hSel;'''"s pres, Kitty in wonder pro,
found
"sirs sno peeps cautiousl y
round her,
Half screened Wy him. "c,mf,rters -
hung Oh lin.;
'sSsed old saint at his
organ,
Grinding out danciay ,,,.; i, r,n,ure
divine.
d" yo" think Kitty l,avbs, q, Oh. stood
there behol,ling
The simple old man hyh. ,u.., ,,.,,,,u,
The foreground of blanke, ,, ,ro,.
and apples,