The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1893-07-22

their daily cares. for they were simple
folk and their valley was not over
bountiful But one by one their
burdens dropped away as they listened
to the singer; and they took back with
them to their;housesal II the warmth and
beauty and comfort of his songs 1t
happened now and then that one,
touched more than usual by some song.
would beg to hear it again. But
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 viii
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"
Atlast. 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 ALL"
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, tendcrly, ''we have dwelt very
happily together, and your love has
| must leave you, for there are other
songs for me to sing and other operas
for me to write. may not sing them
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 shall
have no more singing"
He answered: 81 NAV not liurer,
dear friend; for II 1 tarried here 1
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
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
knowest; 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 I have written, holding
all the songs which 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 I
sang for him alone, and he shall learn
it by heart, that. when i 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 muir
muir 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 mountains?
Surely that were 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 morning the village stirred
with 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. 1t
was truly like meadow of unfiedged
larks 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 lauphinO rleefullv at ZACH
others mistakes and false notes. At
night they gathered together for a 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 its sweetest
tones. "The good singer" they said,
''how well he knew us allr'
So the days were spent in practice.
If by chance anyone grew weary and
his hope failed, or if, cast down for the
ypnvnonf hn foo~aI <Ho< xl,o