The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1893-07-07


smilingly the singer would answer that
all the songs were being written into
one great opera, and when he should
hear the whole he would find his song
again. Sometimes a mother would say,
pleadingly: Give me the little song
which has spoken SO comfortably to
me. 1t is like the prattle of the little
one who rests SO deep that can no
longer take her in my arms" But the
singer, smiling still, shook his head
and began another song so tender and
sweet and yet so joyful that the vii
layers held their breath, and even the
mother no longer yearned for the song
which had been sung and was already
folded away within the scroll of the
great opera now almost full. They
said among themselves: "How beauti-
full must the entire work be, since these
are only parts!' Some, indeed, more
outspoken than the rest, said often to
the singer: ''When shall we hear the
whole opera?" Then the singer, smil-
ing ever, answered! "Bide thou,
friend, and never grow impatient.
At last, however, there came an even.
ing when the singer said to his people:
1.-The opera is done!' They cried out
joyfully: ''Now we shall hear it alln'
But he checked them, saying: "Nay,
you may not hear it yet" His voice
grew very gentle, as though he grieved
to disappoint them. Good friends" he
went on, tenderly, 1--WE have dwelt very
happily together, and your love has
growA very dear to me. Now, however,
l must leave you, for there are other
for me to write. l may not sing then
here, for all my songs to you are sung.
l must go to other villages"
But they cried: ''Why dost thou
leave us alone? Without thee we shal
have no more singing"
He answered: 81 may not linger,
dear friend; for if 1 tarried here I
| should miss those other songs which
will be given me to sing. Do you not
know that beyond your mountain there
are other villages that need the songs l
have for them? Are you not willing
that they should have their music
| also?"
They wept, saying: ''Thou vert our
father, and we thy children, thou
| lznowest; but henceforth without thee
we shall be mute.''
He, however, smiled and said: ''Nay,
| ] have tasks for you" He held before
| them the scroll In which were embodied
all their songs. ''You must learn the
opera which l have written, holding
all the songs which l had in trust for
you. When return we shall sing it; for
there are many tunes, and many times,
and many keys Without me to guide,
you would miss the central harmony.
But unto each will / give the song
sang for him alone, and he shall learn
it by heart, that, when return, alto
gether we may sing the opera, and
will lead the whole"
He divided the scroll among them,
and to each he gave his piece, some
large, some small, but every one hav-
ing written upon it the song that had
been made for the receiver alone. Then
he dismissed them tenderly, They
went out weeping into the night, for
they grieved bitterly at being parted
from their singer. But they said
among themselves: ''Shall we mur-
mur because he goes to sing to others?
Nay, did he not even tell us that if he
tarried he might lose the songs which
he shouldgather upon other mountainsf
Surely that We're q pity" Thus they
comforted themselves. And when by
their own firesides each found upon his
scroll the song which most had touched
him in the other days, he fell weeping
to his knees and thanked the good God
who had given the singer this message
entirely for himself
In the NOR ming the village stirred
with a new life. The men went to the
field, carrying their scrolls with them,
and as they rested from their work
they set about learning their song. II
was truly like a meadow of unfedged
larlls learning to pipe At home the
women, as they busted themselves with
household tasks or piled their needles,
sang cheerily as they spelled out each
new phrase. So through the day they
worked, laughing gleefullY at each
others mistakes and false notes, AT
night they gathered together for mo.
ment to think of the singer who had
gone from them, but had left them each
his song, neither too high nor too low,
but just adapted to his voice and capa-
BILE of bringing out all it's sweetest
tones. ''The good singer" they said,
chow well he knew us ll!'
So the days were spent in practice.
# by chance anyone grew weary and
his hope failed, or if, cast down for the
moment, he feared that the singer
might not, after all, return, he would
reassure himself, saying: ''How grand
will the whole chorus soundy' Some
times, too, one became spiritless and
discouraged over his task, rebelling at
his discords. Then would another say
to him: 'EShall then the singer when
he comes be disappointed in thee?
What if, lacking thy one part, the
whole opera should waltz" Thus they
cheered each other.
AS the seasons waned, however, and
the singer came not, the little doubts
began to grow stronger, the little dis
couragements were less easily recovered
from, and even (among the more indo.
lent7of the villagers) could be heard
murmurs. ''Of what use," they grum-
bled, sis this trill here and that note
there? never can sing it in that way
no one will know if l leave ID out" An.
other was bolder still. 81 will moi
Trouble myself with that phrase" he
would say: II will write it over to suit