Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-08

were produced. In all attitudes sug-
gestive of comfort the men disposed
themselves in Il wide circle about the
fire, which now roared and cracked up
the great wooden chimney hanging
from the roof. The lumberman's hour
of bliss had arrived. Even old man
Nelson looked a shade less melancholy
than usual as he sat alone, well away
from the fire, smoking steadily and ST.
lcntly. When the second pipes were
well a-going, one of the men took down
violin from the wall and handed it to
Lachlan Campbell. There were two
brothers Campbell just out from Argyll,
typical ghlanders-Lachlan, dark, ST.
lent, melancholy, with the face of a
mystic. and Angus, red haired, quick,
impulsive and devoted to his brother, a
devotion he thought proper to cover
under biting, sarcastic speech.
Lachan after much protestation, in
tcrspersed with gbes from his brother,
took the violin and, in response to the
call from all sides, struck up "Lord
Macdonalds Reel" In a moment the
floor was filled with dancers, whoop-
ing and cracking their fingers in the
widest manner. Then Baptiste did
the RED River Jig" a most intricate
and difficult series of steps, the men
keeping time to the music with hands
and feet.
When the Jig was finished, Sandy
called for "Lochaber No More" but
Campbell said:
mo, no; cannot play that tonight.
Mr.. Craig will play"
Craig took the violin, and at the first
note | knew he was no ordinary play
or. l did not recognize the music, but
it was soft and thrilling and got in by
| the heart till every one was thinking
his tcndcrcst and saddest thoughts.
After he had played two or three ex-
quisite bits he gave Campbell his vic.
lin, saying, Now, Lochaber,' Lach-
lam"
Without word Lachlan began, not
"Lochnber"-he was not ready for that
yct-bIt "Thc Flowers O. the Forest"
and from that wandered through
"Auld Robin Gray" and "The Land o
the Leal," and so got at last to that
most soul subdung of Scottish la.
mcnts, "Lochabcr No More" At the
first strain his brother, who had thrown
himself on some blankets behind the
fire, turned over on his face, fcigning
sleep. Sandy McNaughton took his
pipe ont of his mouth and sat up
straight and stiff, staring into vacancy
and Graeme, beyond the fire, drew a
short, sharp breath. We had often sat
Graeme and /, in our student days, in
the drawing room at home listening
to his father waling out "Lochabcr'
upon the pipes, and | we'll knew that
the awful minor strains were now eat
ing their way into his soul.
Over and over again the highlander
played his lament. He had long since
forgotten us and was seeing visions Of
the hills and lochs and glens of his far
away native land and making us, too
see strange things out of the dim past
glanced at old man Nelson and wa:
startled at the eager, almost piteous
, look in his eyes. and wished Camp
, bell would stop. MIR. Craig caught m!
eye and, stepping over to Campbell
held out his hand for the violin. Lin
geringly and lovingly the highlandel
drew out the last strain and silent,
gave the minister his instrument.
I Without moments pause anG Will,
! the spell of "Lochabcr" was still upoI
us the minister. with exquisite skill
, fell into the refrain Of that simple ant
beautiful camp meeting hymn. "Th,
Sweet BY and By" After playing til,
I verse through once he sang softly til,
/, refrain. After the first verse the mel
joined in the chorus, at first timidly
but by the time the third verse wa
reached they were shouting wit
, threats full open, I'VE shall meet OF
{ that beautiful shore" When / lookot
at Nelson. the eager light had gone GU
q of his eyes, ana in its place was Il kin,
! of determined hopelessncss, as if il
this new music he had no part
+ After the voices had ceased Mr.. Grail
o played again the refrain, more an,
+ more softly and slowly. Then, layin
q the violin on Campbell's knees. he drew
from his pocket his little Bible an
said:
e "Men, with Mr.. Graeme's permission
| want to read you something thi
!. Christmas eve You will all have hear
b ii before, but you will like it none IL
less for that"
g His voice was soft but clear and per
I etratng MS he read the eternal story o
the angels and the shepherds and tn
G Habe, ana as he read Il slight motto
5 of the hand or glance of an eye mad
s us see, as he was seeing. that Who'll
:. radiant drama. The wonder the tint
JOY. the tenderness. the mystery of
}. all, were borne in upon us with ovel
i pOWering effect. He closed the boo
and in the same low. clear voice wen
q on to tell us how, in his home year
4 ago, he used to stand on Christmas ey
:. listening in thrilling delight to hi
:, mother telling him the story, and hoy
d she used to make him see tho shepherd
n and hear the sheep blcating near b,
# and how the sudden burst of glory use
e to make his heart jump.
n Il used to be little afraid of til
I angels, because boy told me the
were ghosts, but my mother told IN
d better, and didn't fear them an
10 more. And the Baby, the dear littl
n Baby-we all love baby"
There was "A quick, dry sob. 1t wa