The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-04-26
Blondel, the Minstrel
BY FREDERICK W. pEARsor

8 BY FREDERICK W. PEARSON.
L In the cleaning OF a summer day
: when nature seems TO slumber. wher
Ioft, sly shadows creep stealthiiy. eve
frightening; when the birds are cooina
sweetly to their mates and the evening
sky IS pink, red, yellow and blue. I
4 happy maiden in the doorway of lowly
(. cottage in rural Austrian hamlet pause.
Il In her sentimental musing, lifts her head
a eagerly and listens. And she hears q
f pathetic, weird strain of song, broken,
, unfinished Again 1t comes, and is
many times repeated-always broken and
unfinished.
"Ah" signs the fair one, as she listens,
3 sit must be Blondel, singing to his
| master. Poor, unhappy minstrel, wilt
thou never find thy kingl"
There is a ball room filed with happy
guests, laughing, chatting and dancing.
! There are noble lords and charming
ladies, pretty maids and bashful youths,
powdered aud painted dowagers and
rheumatic old men, many thousand in
nocently happy, all seemingly gay, for
merriment reigns supreme A many.
voiced orchestra fills the air with float
ing melody, and invites the heart to be
light, the feet TO be agile, that the
healthful blood may freely Circulate,
carrying with it exultant Joy. A con
tinued buzz OF countless tongues sounds
like the confusion of languages many
years ago-if We may presume to imagine
how that miraculous Babel sounded.
Myriad lamps cast their brilliancv upon
the richest of silks and the rarest of
Jewels, also upon the fairest Of faces and
the bravest OF knights. Massive arches
and pillars. which support the
castle, are draped and festooned with
greens and flowers of passing beauty;
While through the open arches may be
seen the full silver moon, high in cloud
less heaven. Within the confusion and
gayety never ceases. Free and loval
subjects, brave and honorable rulers.
heirs Of luxury, dance and drink deem Of
mirthl Farest of ladies laugh heartily
and g adden the heart of your admirers
Throw OF all care, We servants of the
+ King, and pass these fleeing hours as
I though the world were mighty pleasure
mouse and men and women were children
here at play. Then whv doth the grace
iul dance cease? Why do the musicians
stop playingi Above the tumult comes
weird little strain Of song, broken in
twain but Of surprising tenderness. The
dance, the music and the laughter are no
more; all is subdued. Anon comes
again the thrilling song broken as be-
lore, aud as its melodious purity per
Tades the room all bow as though in the
presence Of an angel, and each knight
murmers to his lady and each lady to
her knight; ''Poor Blondel is still
searching for his master. May Gcd help
him None move until the notes are
lost IN the distance, and many shed
sympathetic tears as the broken song
pleads for mercy.
Beside long and massive table sit a
dozen or more brave knights, drinking,
gambling and telling tales of strife. love I
or intrigue. The room wherein thew sit ]
is plain, but built of rich marble, carved Z
and sculptured. Each knight is attired
IN magnificent garments and wears several I
glittering badges won at Journeys or c
!oustsi or commemorative of deeds of U
I, and lion like courage. Upon I
lne lons and curling locks Of some rest 6
gii1serlhg crowns g. 2E-.asSSnets, showing |
VEL "eis " nas 1k they represent. The b
Z ~ s5sse5Iets held to their thirsty lips
Sparkle with inlaid jewels, and an air of g
the erandest elegance pervades the place. e
Often rounds Of ringing laughter echo l
from arch to arch, and, escaping into the
night, penetrate the darkness, made e
more black by the glitter within. AlIis a
hushed and still, while one member of P
the party entertains his friends by a song
Of love and disappointment, which is a
by cheers and hurrahs, ceasing Il
not until another in tragic manner rises
and relates the awful fate of a hero, or Ia
the cruel lot OF beautiful lady This is
by sighs and pressions Of II
pity, none doubling or caring to question il
lis truthfulness, when suddenly third h
arises, glass in hand, to drink to the tt
ARREST woman on earth; but e'er he tastes b.
the wine her name is demanded. He d
boldly pronounces (for men were bold in CT
The olden tines the name of his lady Oh
owe and general dIsapprova follows. An m
)thsr speaks his fair ones name, with like II
success, proclaiming her most beautiful. b
loud words and strong expressions al
pierce the Silly air and float far into the is
darkness, startling the bird upon her Il
lest and waking the echoes OF night. h
Ill are now standing, glasses in hand, b.
houting their several ladies' names. "
'ach pronouncing his the fairest. Much g
vine has fred their blood, and they are eli
bout 10 rush into an angry quarrel, SC
Fhen To- every glass, every head bows th
nd perfect silence reigns. as the famil- ~
ar notes Of Blonders rich young voice hi
loaf in through the open arches. The al
and broken song never grows sil
edious, and eagerly the knights listen th
intil it dies away. Then in one voice li'
nd as II in one breath they shout or
Long life TO King Richard, Ceur de m
con, and The faithful boyr And clink- ST
ng the glasses, which ring with merry ha
ounds; they drain the last drops, shake vi
ands ore with another, and wrapping oy
heir long cloaks about them, cease their Sc
arousing and seek their homes, more eu
houghtful men and nobler. Al
co
A prominent German town is alive We
nth q curious and excited populace, at
urging in a mighty tide from street to ha
rect, bedecked in their Sunday attire. tn
inshing maids never before looked as ar
Apply, waiting as they are for their In
'yers. Aged matrons seem TO have re- VI
aimed several years deemed as lost, in he
leir eagerness to meet their husbands. I'm
Dung lads are running aud jumping in pa
Ecited unTesiraint 10 meet their fathers WI
I'D brothers. Then, too, some are BIZ
raped in shrouds Of black. weeping he
liter tears OF great and mighty GRIEF, on
they linger for the body of lover hus- sol
and, father, brother or son, filling the air
it'll signs and means and casting be- III
eching glaDces to heaven. War has been eFI
I'd the return Of the army is expected pa
riches Of flowers adorn the grand avenue oil
here the victorious General will march, cor
ID maidens dressed in pure white, look hir
z like birds of promise in their mo
rginity, stand with their arms full of 10
,wers TO strew before The hero's feet.
reat enthusiasm is shown when first
icy hear the regular beat of drums and
e shrill pipe Of flies; and as it grows
udar olaaror 4bav hooona xvild nth