The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-03-27
THE OLD ORGANISE.
An Affecting :Story of an Easter
Even Hallelujah.

1t was dreary Easter even, but be-
hind it all was the glory of the resurrec-
ton time. One knew it by the fresh
smell of the ground as the rain fell upon
it, trying, with gentle touch, to coax
from it the frost and hardness of the
winter.
+ One knew it, too, by the tiny blades
of grass, the tender green of which
cleaned in the sunny corners of shelf
cred door yards; and away in the woods,
under its warm covering of decaying
leaves, the little hepatica told anew the
old story of "death unto life
People reused themselves from the
lethargy of winter, and the hopes over
whose death they had grieved, because
their fruition seemed so far away and
uncertain, came trooping back full of
Joy and promise as before.
1t was Easter even in q dull narrow
street, the dreariRess OF which was made
more manifest by the Pickering light of
half-a-dozen oil lamps, and the quiet
strongly emphasized by the continual
patter of the soft spring rain upon the
side walks, and upon the low roofs of
the cottages which stood at irregular
intervals upon either side. The Street
was short one, and at the upper end
of IL, Just where it curved around a
corner into wide and pretentious
avenue, stood q church, the cross on
whose spre glit,ered in the uncertain
light The windows il the choir end of
the building cleaned with light, and
through the open doorway came the
sound of organ and choir, now in
anthems, again in joyful carols, and at
last soprano voice in 81 know that
my Redeemer liveth." AS the last note
ded away into silence the organ alone
burst into the Halleluiah chorus, and
the grand chords swelled in power until
the whole edifice trembled with the
glory of their majestic harmony. Then
all was quiet, The choir came out in
twos and threes, and dispersed in vari-
GUS directions. One by one the lights
were extinguished, there wa sound
eli closing doors, of keys being turned,
and the last Easter rehearsal was over
AS the outer door was closed and fast
Of the church and turned into the duh
and narrow street. They were an old
man, seemingly feeble, and younger
one upon whose arm he leaned.
Dear master,' said the young man,
''you should not have exerted yourself
SO greatly tonight; you are not strong
and so much depends upon you to-mor-
row"
"Ah, dear Paul" the old man re-
piled, s'when one is like me- old and
feeble, tomorrow means SO much less
than to-day. But you need not fear for
mo, shall have strength sufficient for
to morrow, All, but that Handel was
divine and the chords of the Halleluiah
ire the finest he ever wrote"
THAT is so, indeed, but it required a
great deal of your precious strength to
make the organ utter them tonight,
Paul said earnestly.
The old organist looked at his COM
panionsfor moment, and then said:
do you know that for forty years
there has not been am Easter even when
l have not played the Halleluiah, and
should | fail to-night2n
Yes Paul answered, $50 you have
told me before, and have always fan
cied there must be some story connected
with this custom of yours. Is there one,
and can you tell it to dear friend who
loves youp"
The organist was silent moment
and then said very gently:
Come home with me Paul, and l
will tell you the story. Simple though
it be, perhaps it viii interest you, be-
cause as you say, and as | believe, you
love me.
The two figures, the old bent form
cl.ngiug closely to the arm of the
strong and vigorous one, passed slowly
onward until they reached one of the
smallest houses in the street, which
they entered. The organist lit quaint
lamp which stood upon table in the
small room, and its lightrevealed the low
walls hung with pictures OF great COM
posers, q small piano, violin, and in
one corner an old-fashioned cabinet
filled with rare scores, cherished vita
teader affection by the aged musician.
The cd man sank upon a lounge
which was drawn near a fire, and said:
Paul, bring your chair close beside
me, and viii tell you, il can, the
story promised. do not know why I
sm impelled to speak thus TO you to-