Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-04-05


sky is pink, red, yellow and blue, d
happy maiden in the doorway of u lowly
cottage in rural Austrian hamlet pause,
in her sentimental musing, lifts her head
eagerly and listens. And she hears n
pathetic, weird strain of song, broken,
unfinished. Again 1t comes, and is
many times repeated always broken and
unfinished.
''Ahl" signs the fair ono, as she listens,
cit must be Blondcl, singing to his
master. Poor, unhappy minstrel, wilt
thou never find thy king."
There is ball room filled with happy
guests, laughing. chatting and dancing.
There are noble lords and charming
ladies, pretty maids aud bashful youths,
powdered aud painted dowagcrs and
rheumatic old men, many thousand in
nocently happy, all seemingly gay, for
mcrrimcnt reigns supreme. many
voiced orchestra fills the air with float
ing melody, and invites the heart to be
light, the feet to be agile, that the
hcalthful blood may freely circulate,
carrying with it cXultant joy. A con-
tlnued buzz Of countless tongues sounds
like the confusion of languages many
years ago-lf We may presume to imagine
how that miraculous Babcl sounded.
Myriad lamps cast their brilliancy upon
the richest of silks and the rarcst of
Jewels, also upon the faircst Of faces and
the bravcst OF knights. Massive arches
and pillars. which support the
castle, arc drapcd and fcstooncd with
greens and flowers OF passing beauty
while through the open arches may bc
seen the full silver moon, high in n cloud
less heaven. Within the confusion and
Gayety never ceases. Free and loyal
subjects, brave and honorable rulers,
heirs of luxury, dance and drink deep oil
mirthl Falrest of ladies laugh heartily
and e addcn the heart of your admirers /.
Throw OIL all care, yc servants of the
King, and pass these ilccting hours MS
though the world were mighty pleasure
house and men and women were children
here ut play. Then why doth the grace
full dance ccasel Why do the musicians
stop playing! Above the tumut comes
weird little strain of song broken in
twain but of surprising Tenderness The
dance, the music aud the laughter are no
more; all is subdued Anon comes
again the thrilling song broken as be-
fore, and MS its mclodious purity per
vades the room all bow rs 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 God help
him." None move until the notes are
lost in the distance, and many shed
sympathetic tears rs the broken song
pleads for mercy.
Beside a long and massive table sit a
dozen or more brave knights drinking,
gambling and telling tales of strife, love
or intrigue. The room wherein they sit
is plain, but built Of rich marble, carved
and sculptured. Each knight is attired
In magnificent garments aud wears several
glittering badges won Mt Journeys or
Jousts, or commemorative Of deeds of
bravery and lion like courage. Upon
the long and curling locks Of some rest
glitterng crowns or coroncts, showing
well what rank they represent. The
sparkle with inlaid jewels, and an mir of
the erandcst elegance pcrvades the place.
Often rounds OF ringing laughter echo
from arch to arch, and, escaping into the
night, penetrate the darkness, made
more black by the glitter within All is
hushed and still, while one member of
the party entcrtans his friends by a song
of love and disappointment. VIII ich is
followed by cheers and hnrrahs, ceasing
not until another in tragic manner rises
and relates the awful fate OF hero. or
the cruel lot OF a beautiful lady. This is
answered by signs and C prcssions Of
pity, none doubling or caring to question
its truthfulncs;, when suddenly third
arises, glass in hand, to drink to the
fairest woman on earth but Ger he tastes
the wine her name is demanded. He
boldly pronounces TOR men were bold in
the olden times) the name of his lady
love, and general disapproval follows. An
other speaks his fair ones name, with like
success, proclaiming her most beautiful.
Loud words and strong expressions
pierce the Silly air and float far into the
darkness, startling the bird upon her
nest and waking the echoes OF night
All are now standing, glasses in hand,
shouting their several ladies' names,
each pronouncing his the faircst. Much
wine has fired their blood. and they arc
about to rush into an angry quarrel,
when 10. every glass, every head bows
and perfect silence rcigns, as the famil
lar notes of Blonders rich young voice
float in through the oren arches. The
unfinished and broken song never grows
tedious, and eagerly the knights lister
until it dies away. Then in one voic,
and as if in one breath they shout
"i-ong life to King Richard, Crur d,
Leon, and the faithful boy!" And clinl
ing the glasses, which ring with merry
sounds; they drain the last drops, shak,
hands one with another, and wrapping
their long cloaks about them, cease the
cnrousing and seek their homes, NOR,
thoughtful men and nobler.
y II IL
A prominent German town is aliv
with curious and excited populacc
surging in mighty tide from street t.
street, bedecked in their Sunday attire
Blushing maids never before looked n
happy, waiting as they are for thci
lovers. Aged matrons seem to have re
gained several years deemed as lost il
their cagerncss to meet their husbands
Young lads are running and jumping il
excited unrestraint to meet,their father
and brothers Then, too, some ar
draped in shrouds of black. weepin,
hsffar fparo nf