Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1892-06-15
THe QUEST.

Gro vd had gathered in the market places
A hush had fallen on the motley thrOng,
Then one. a stranger youth full fair % face.
Baised up his voice and sent Ct forth in song.
Twas sweet. re lay. and when the end WAS
come
The p,,.; praised the minstrel: babe him
ten
The tune ain, aad some made bold 70 han
The dainty air that was 50 iislt tn learn
Triumphan; trolled he on, until at length
tie. being keen Of wit and sharp of eve.
Did see the time was come when yiciory's
strength
Was at the full. and ceased az modesiIy
A chorus Of regret rose as he turned
To pass ont on his way. And many pressed
Upon him silver. saying. IT'S well earned"
And cheered him roundly with right royal
zest-
SO through the city gates he went. And 10.
Wien lie lad reached the high road, at lis
side
He saw a mar. white locked. with back bent
WIZ, na;hless, trod his measure stride for
stride.
And then it came 10 pass. that ere he knew.
The minstrel found him telling. full and free
The stranger how his hope WAS born and grew
That he might cen excel Ia ruinstrelsy.
How be had longed for praise and found it
sweet.
Now it was his. but how his fear would rise
Lest he might lose It: That. alas! too feet
Might prove the glory OF his fair emprise.
The stranger listened. Lad" at length said
"Your song was sweet heard it with the
rest
But II on that you build your hope. twill be
To see it die, or wither al the best.
when you have found what art is naught
without.
Fen Inspiration, then win be your lay
Enduring. Aye, and all your fear and doubt
VIII vanish as the shades at break o. day"
"But where is Inspirationg'' asked the youth.
III seek it tar and wide. Or shall wit
Until 'tis sent me; Tell me and, in truth.
I'll strive for it henceforth and prove me
great
mo one can tell another where it lies,
Nor how 10 gain it. Only this know:
That ii were vain to '--ait it-that rare prize.
Best seek it, lad. And now aiieu! 60"
So saying turned he back. The minstrel
pressed
Upon his way. And so for many years
He trod the world ways. eager Ia his quest
OF gaining that which should dispel his fears.
Until at last, one day when joyous spring
Was waking up the world, he stood once
more
And lifted up his voice and gan to sing
In that same market where he'd sung before.
And now, as then. all tongues were hushed and
still;
The crowd were silent while the minstrel
sang;
But when he finished, lol no cheers did fill
The air with echoes. No bravos outrang.
The men stood grave eyed and the women
wept,
And then he sang again and straight they
smiled.
Then treInbled as with fear And so he kept
Them tranced and speechless meath his
magic mild.
And when he turned to 60 they thronged
around
And plead to kiss his robe or touch his hand
In humble alteration. And the ground
His feet had trod was reverenced through
the land
For he had found what art is naught with
out"
Found it about him, here, there, everywhere
In field, in meadow where the grasses sprout;
In sea and sky, in water and in air.
Rare tears had cleared his vision and he saw
Earth's shine and shadow; knew earth's joy
and dole;
Heard note of birding and the blast of war
And held humanity within his soul.
Julie VI. Lippmann in Youths Companion.