The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-05
TEE SYXYLAIsEx'S SONG.
Describing n Scene in t.Pnul's School
tn the Long irn.

john BENEFITS story OF Shakespeare's
time. Master Skylark," which is run
ming as u serial III st. Nicholas. gives
many pictures Of old London life In
the May number there is the following
account Of the little hero's first song be-
fore the old precento tor OF ST. PaurS:
The music school stood within the old
cathedral grounds. Through the win
dows came up distinctly the nurmur of
the throng In Pauls yard. It was mid
afternoon, quite warm; laundering flies
buzzed up and down the lozengcd panes,
and through the dark hall crept the
humminE sound Of childish voices recit-
Ing eagerly, with now and then a sharp.
small cry as some one faltcrcd i'm his
lines, and had his fingers raped. some
where else there We're boyish voices run
ming scales, now up, now down. without
q stop. and other voices singing harmo-
mics, two parts and three together, here
and there a little flat from WEAKNESS.
The stairs were very dark, Nick
thought, as they went up 10 another
floor; but the long hall they came into
there was quite bright with the sun
at one end there was Il little stage,
like the one ut the Rose play house,
with Il small gallery for musicians
above it; but rything here was paint
cd white and gold, and was most scrupu-
lousy clean. The rush StreWn floor was
filled with oaken benches, and there
were paintings hanging upon the wall
portraits OF old hcadmastcrs and pre-
centors. Some of them were so dark
with time that Nick wondered if they
had been blackamoors.
There was II clock somewhere ticking
quickly. with its sharp metallic ring. AS
he listened, lonely, his heart cried out
for home. IN his fancy the wind seem
ed rippling over the Avon, and the elm
| leaves rustled like rain upon the roof
| above
white wild roses in the hedge, and in the
air smell of clover and OF newmown
nay. The mowers would be working in
| the clover in the moonlight He could
almost see the sweep Of the shining
scythes, and hear the chink-a -chank
long. curving blades. Chink- -chank.
chlnk- a-chank-'tWaS but a clock and
| he in Iondontown
Carew, sitting there behind the caryen
prompter's screen, put down his head
between his hands and listened There
were murnurngs little while, then
silence. Would the boy never begin? ue
pressed his knuckles into his temples
| and waited. Bow bells rang out the
hour; but the room was as still as q deep
sleep. Would the boy never begin?
me precentor shifted. I was a con-
teinptuous incredulous sniff. Carew
looked up-his lips white, q fierce rcd
spot on each check. He was talking n
| himself: by the whistle Of the Lord
high Admiral" he said-but there no
stopped and held his breath Nick was
siging. 80
Only the old madrigal with its half
forgotten words that other generations
sung before they fell asleep. How oueer
| II sounded there! 1t was q very simnla
tune too; yet as he sung, the old pre-
| center started from his chair and press
ea ms Wrinkled hands together against
ms chest. lie quite forgot the sheer
upon his face, and it went fading out
like breath from q frosty pane
lie had twelve boys who could sing
a hundred songs at sight from unfalni-
liar notes; who kept the beat and mark
cd the time as If their threats were pen.
oulums; could scyncopatc and floriate
as readily as breathe. And this was
only common country song.
But-"That voice, that voice., he
painted to himself; for old Nat GvIes was
music mad; melody to him was like the
very breath OF life And the boys high
young voice, soft as a flute and silver
clear, throbbed in the air as If his very
ieart were singing out Of his BODY in
the sound And then, like the slvlark
rising up, up 1T went, and up, up, up, tn
the Older chorsters held their breath
ana feared that the vibrant tone would
p,cdh' SO slender. ftim-like was the trem
ping thread Of the boys Wild s,,vIarl,
song. But no; 1t tremblcd there. high
sweet, and clear, n moment in the mir.
ana then came running. ripping. float
ing down, as though some one had set
song on fire in the sky, and dronpnd II
quivering and bright into a shadow
world. Then suddenly 1t was gone. and
me long hall was still.