Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1902-05-05
Black
Rock
By RALPH Common
$1,000 @@@@ @@@@

L,
took the violin and, in response to the
call from all sides, struck up Lord
Macdonald's Reel" In q moment the
floor was filed 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
and feet.
When the jig was finished, Sandy
called for "Lochaber No More" but
Campbell said:
mo, no; l cannot play that tonight.
Mr.. Craig will play"
Craig took the violin, and at the first
note l knew he was no ordinary play
er. did not recognize the music, but
it was soft and thrilling and got in by
the heart till every one was thinking
his tenderest and saddest thoughts.
After he had played two or three ex-
quisite bits he gave Campbell his vio-
lin, saying, Now, 'Lochaber,' Lach-
lam"
Without word Lachlan began, not
"Lochaber"-he was not ready for that
yet-but 1.-THE 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 subduing of Scottish la.
ments, "Lochaber No More" At the
first strain his brother, who had thrown
himself on some blankets behind the
fire, turned over on his face, feigning
sleep. Sandy McNaughton took his
pipe out of his mouth and sat up
straight and stiff, staring into vacancy,
and Graeme, beyond the fire, drew
short, sharp breath. We had often sat,
Graeme and l, in our student days, in
the drawing room at home, listening
to his father wailing out "Lochaber"
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 was
startled at the eager, almost piteous,
look in his eyes, and | wished Camp
bell would stop. Mr.. Craig caught my
eye and, stepping over to Campbell,
held out his hand for the violin. Lin
geringly and lovingly the highlander
drew out the last strain and silently
gave the minister his instrument.
Without moments pause and while
the spell of 'Lochaber" was still upon
us the minister, with exquisite skill,
fell into the refrain of that simple and
beautiful camp meeting hymn, "The
Sweet BY and By" After playing the
verse through once he sang softly the
refrain. After the first verse the men
Joined in the chorus, at first timidly,
but by the time the third verse was
reached they were shouting with
Threats full open, I'VE shall meet on
that beautiful Shore" When looked
at Nelson, the eager light had gone out
of his eyes, and in its place was a kind
Of determined hopelessness, as if in
this new music he had no part.
After the voices had ceased Mr.. Craig
played again the refrain, more and
more softly and slowly. Then, laying
the violin on Campbell's knees, he drew
from his pocket his little Bible and
said:
''Men, with Mr.. Graeme's permission.
want to read you something this
Christmas eve. You will all have heard
1t before, but you will like it none the
less for that"
His voice was soft, but clear and pen
etrating as he read the eternal story of
the angels and the shepherds and the
Babe, and as he read a slight motion
of the hand or glance of an eye made
us see, as he was seeing, that whole
radiant drama. The wonder, the timid
joy, the tenderness, the mystery of it
all, were borne in upon us with over
towering effect. He closed the book
and in the same low, clear voice went
On to tell us how, in his home years
ago, he used to stand on Christmas eve
listening in thrilling delight to his
mother telling him the story, and how
she used to make him see the shepherds
nib hSNA bhC ohSOp near DIV,
and how the sudden burst of glory used
to make his heart jump.
II used to be a little afraid of the
angels, because a boy told me they
were ghosts, but my mother told me
better, and 1 didn't fear them any
more. And the Baby, the dear little
Baby-we all love a baby"
There was a quick, dry sob. 1t was
from Nelson.
Il used to peek through under to see
he little one in the straw and wonder
what things swaddling clothes were.
oh, 1T was all so real and beautiful
He paused, and could hear the men
breathing.
But one Christmas eve," he went on
n lower, sweeter tone, "there was
10 one to tell me the story, and / grew
% forget it and went away to college
nd learned to think that it was only
ch1lds tale and was not for men.
lien bad days came to me, and worse,