Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-05-13

5face He began % peak without looking
at me.
*Sss1 suppose you've heard how bad my.
4 vile ne 1s.S " seems as though she was Civ
ing her life for the little 'un. It's just
like 8helr'----she' Is been that unselfish all
through. But i can't bear this, be Ii
/ Gods VIII or not. I've been q God fearing
mani have indeed - but cannot put up
my prayer ard say, Thy will be done.
g NO use, 1t cannot be done, and I won't
90 IL. Suddenly be stopped and drew.
himself together, adding quietly - 7 came
70 ask IS .5 q you would play for me in the
morning I wouldn't have minded spar
Ing the pit time, and Mary, she likes me
TO DO y, but it's only fitting that the
Z Dead March be played for Squire Hunt
er, poor man, and could not play it with
the wife lying nigh to death few yards
away. haven strength for it. Mebbe
the watching at nights is telling on me. -
And SO on the morrow took his place
tor the first time since his marriage
Now, the cottage of the Dodds stood In
a little garden next to the chapel, and so
when the time for the funeral march came
near told the chapel keeper to close the
windows, which he did >unwillingly
enough, for it was very hot When the
march was over, and the people were 60
Ing quietly away, / asked for the windows
to be opened again, and, though my wish
was regarded, fear gained that day no
reputation for knowing my own mind
among that simple folk.
Then I played 90 Rest In the Lord"
beginning with the plaintive recitative and
increasing, instead of subduing, the sound
as came to the we'll known air., This was
not musical effect, but it had other ad-
vantages.
found out from the neighbors what
,ould, not daring to come between this
man and his trouble, and for two days
heard that she lived; that was ALL Then
received visit from Jeremy Dodd him
self, who had come straight from the pres
ence of the angel of death to tell me of his
grief
AYE. she's gone She kissed me for the
last time this morning at 6 and says to mo
quiet and peaceful: Jeremy, be resting
In the Lord. You wait patiently, too, dear
man, and he will give your And then
she sighed and left me and the BARN to
wait But it's no use-not patiently
cannot bel She was right glad to hear you
play that bit on Sunday. 1t filled her
mind ever since, and I'm real grateful to
you myself And he gripped my hand as
only good man can, and tears ran down
his face, of which only a strong man
| would not have been ashamed.
Thus in the hour of his sorrow was the
tongue OF Jeremy Dodd Embossed and the
precious fountain of O mans tears made
to flow.
"1'll be glad to play for you again next
Sunday, said as he was going away.
"1t's very good of you, sir, and I'm not
| ungrateful- not indeed-but nobody
but me shall play her march-it'll be bit
poor comfort to know l can give her that
little honor-its not much she's had from
| me. - And SO it was.
Next Sunday there was a chapel full of
sorrowing hearts. AT the close of the SER
| mon the preacher, a big hearted fisherman,
spoke few words of lament for our "dear
sister DEPARTED" dwelling with rough but
real eloquence on her life. When he stop
| ped, there was pause, broken only by the
| sobs of bereaved church. and yet throug h
| it all, unmoved, sat Jeremy Dodd, and
| after the benediction he began to play, to
| me it almost seemed proudly, Handel Is
! greatest march.
have heard that wonderful measure
played in cathedrals on mellowest organs,
and again by the best OF military bands,
| but never has it touched me as when, on
| that summer morning, it stumbled forth,
pathetic and heartbroken, from that little
wooden case
forgot the weakness Of the organist,
| forgot the harshness of the instrument
With closed eyes I was waiting for the
glad chords, telling the mourner as few
| words can that "death is swallowed up in
| victory" when the music suddenly died
| away with a wall, the strong mans
strength was spent, and he leaned forward
| on the desk, bowed down with sorrow and
tears. ~
Quietly and sadly the little company
dispersed, and Jeremy was left alone with
his grief.
-. The afternoon was far spent before the
neighbors heard him finish his playing
and knew that he had been comforted. -
Temple Magazine.