The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-11-13
THE MYSTERIOUS ORGANISE
A Legend or the Rhine.
"Kind hearts are more than ~coronets,
And simple faith than Norman blood"

Years ago, at a grand cathedral
overlooking the Rhine, there appeared
a mysterious organist. The great COM
poser who played the organ so long,
suddenly died, and everybody from
the King to the peasant, was wonder:
ing who could be found to fill his
place, when, one bright Sabbath morn
ing, as the sexton entered the church,
he saw a stranger seated at the Grape
shrouded organ. He was a tall, grace
full man, with a pale but strikingly
handsome countenance, great, black,
melancholy eyes, and hair like a
ravens wing in gloss and color. He
had not seemed to notice the sexton,
but went on playing, and such music
as he drew from the instrument no
words of mine can describe. The as
tonished listeners declared that the
organ seemed to have grown human
that it walled, and sighed and clam
ored, al if a torturing human heart
was throbbing through it. When the
music at length ceased the sexton hast
ened to the stranger and said:
"Pray, who are you, sir?"
"Do not ask my NAME" he replied.
at have heard that you are in want of
IN organist, and have come here on
trial"
"You'n be sure to get the place."
exclaimed the sexton. "Why you
surpass him that's dead and gone sir"
"No, no, you overrate me-" resumed
the stranger, with a sad smile; and
then, as if disinclined to conversation,
he turned from old Hans, and began
to play again. And now the music
changed from a sorrowful strain to a
grand old pean, and the mysterious
organist,
Looking upward full of grace,
Played, till from a happy place
Gods glory struck him in the face"
and his c~ountenance seemed not unlike
that of St. Michael, as portrayed by
Guido.
Lost in the harmonies which swelled
around him, he sat with his f~ar-seeing
gaze fixed on the distant sky, glimpse
of which he caught through an upper
window, when there was a stir around
the church door, and a royal party
came sweeping in. Among them might
be seen a young girl, with a wreath of
golden hair, eyes of violet hue, and
lips like cherries. This was Princess
Elizabeth and all eyes turned toward
her as she seated herself in the velvet
cushioned pew appropriated to the
court. The mysterious organist fixed
his eyes on her and went on playing.
No sooner had the music reached her
ears, than she started as if a ghost had
crossed her path. The bloom faded
from her cheeks, her lips ~quivered,
and her whole frame grew tremulous.
At last her eyes met those of the or
ganist in a long, yearning look, and
then the melody lost its joyous notes,
and once more walled and sighed and
clamored. = =
"By my faith" whispered the King
to his daughter. "this organist has a
master hand. Hark We, my child, he
shall play at your wedding
The pale lips of the princess parted,
but she could not speak-she was
dumb with grief. Like one in a pain
full dream she saw the pale man at the
organ, and heard the melody which
filled the vast edifce. Ay, full we'll
she knew who he was, and why the in
strument seemed breathing out the
agony of a tortured heart.
When the service was over, and the
royal party had left the cathedral, he
stole away as mysteriously as he came.
He was not seen again by the sexton
till the vesper hour, and then he ap-
peared in the loft and commenced his
task. While he played, a yelled figure
glided in and knelt at a side shrine.