The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1885-04-03

"Ah. dear Paul, the old man re-
piled. ''whcn one Is like me- old and
feeble. tomorrow means so much less
than to-day. But you need not fear for
me. shall have strength sufficient for
tomorrow, All, but that Handel was
divine. and the chords Of the Hallclujah
are the finest he ever wrote
THAT il so. indeed. but ii required
great deal Of your precious strength TO
make the organ utter them tonight"
Paul said earnestly.
The old organist looked nj his com
panionlfor moment and then said
'.Do you know that for forty years
there has not been an Easter even when
have not played the Halleujah, and
should fail to-night?'
Yes Paul answered. $50 you have
told me before. and have always fan
cicd there must be some story connected
with this custom Of yours l. there one.
and can you tell IL 10 a dear friend who
loves you?'
The organist was silent moment,
and then said very gently:
'Come home with me Paul, and !
will tell you the story. Simple though
il be. perhaps il will interest you. be-
cause as you say and as l believe, you
love me.
The two figures. the old bent form
clngiug closely 10 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 a table in the
small room. and its lightreycaed the low
walls hung with pictures of great COM
posers. small piano, a violin, and in
one corner an old fashioned cabinet
filed with rare scores, cherished with a
tender affection by the aged musician.
The old man sank upon lounge
which was drawn near fire, and said I:
paul. bring your chair close beside
me. and will tell you, il can, the
story promised do not know why
am impcllcd TO speak thus to you to-
night. have never been a man to
whom speech was easy. least OF all !
have cared to speak Of a grief which l.
as fresh to me tonight as 1t was forty
years ago.
'.Of course you know that am not
, OF this country. although have lived
here 50 long that love il and its peo-
pie well. Yes. 1t is great land, my
friend, with good laws, and good gov
eminent and although am as ] say
attached TO it. yet il j. not my own
country, nv dear Fathcrland, my Ger
many. All there the musician is al
home, there j. the land Of harmony!
grant you that OF late years much has
been done here i'm that direction, bu
? il all Is so new, so unaccustomcd. liz
, Germany are the memories Of grea
composers. whose living forms we dc
not remember, but their works are leS
: us, and we are conscious that they arr
our countrymen. think of them
Mozart. Handel Mcndelssohn--b but VIII,
name them, Won will recall them all
and YOU know. too, the impetus thu
memory Of such men give 10 the art Q
(; which they We're the apostles.
. The old man paused. and Paul. whs
was burning with patriotic anxiety <
defend the musical honor Of his nativ,
land. foreborc TO interrupt with hi
voice the REVERE into which the old or
ganist seemed to have fallen, and wait
ed patiently for him TO continue. In ;
few moments he resumed:
II need not tell You the story Of IN,
: early life, for II would have little inter
; est for YOU. II was quite uneventfu
!, and filled with hard work. When
!. was about twenty-five an event oc
: Cured; a rendering Of Handles Mes
siah was to be given in the town wher'
G lived. and the organ was intru>tcd 4
me. The soprano came from a neigh
/, boring town, and perhaps you will b.
!, ncrednous when tell you that nevc
before nor since have listened TO
voice equal 10 hers; dear and sweet ans
!. powerful. and full Of the sympatheti'
z quality which Is so seldom an attribute
q of the soprano voice. When she frs
sanr was startled. but when as thu
oratorio progressed and il came to he
!. at las. 10 voice the greatest song maj
!, ever wrote. held my breath To listen
i III know that my Redecmer liveth' '-
. Oh, ! knew il then; never before ha'
: the blessed knowledge been so REVEALED
:, TO me. My fingers ircmbled on tn
! keyboard. and my heart was full o
: praise and thanksgiving. Later. whel
!, the Hallelujah chorus came II was tn
I, hallclujah Of my own heart to whicl
:, my fingers gave melody. and never wa
g the dear old organ more obedicnt :
!. their touch. or the voices II sustaine
!, more in harmony with It's gudin
a tones.
= when it was all over. the soprano
: Thckla her name was. came to me an
! said: How grandly the organ sound
!, cd in the Hallclujah; Il spoke 10 me.
q remember 50 well how she looked; he
! sweet eyes shining with pleasure, an
4 her face glorified with the genius (
!, song. That was the beginning Of on
!, acquaintance. YOU can imagine how
!, ended
y .~hc was your wife, said Pau