Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1903-05-23
THE ORGANISE OF PONIKLA


9 . long legs. was walking
4 briskly on the road from
TC~ Zagrab to Ponikla. He
was scantily clothed with his short
coat, his cloak still shorter, and his
summer trousers not quite reaching
his ankles. And then-his shoes We're
so much worn out. He pressed his flute
amOrOusly against his heart. He had
few small glasses of rum in his stom-
ach and great deal of cOntentment In
his head. For that very morning he
had signed an engagement as organist
with the curate of Ponikla.
Until that day he had been roaming
like Tzigane, from inn to inn, from
one fair to another, from wedding to
wedding, wretchedly getting his daily
bread by playing the flute Or the organ.
And, let 1t be said, by the bye, he
played the organ better than any one
else in the country. Now, at last, he
could settle down and live decently.
A house and garden, 100 rOubles a
year, without reckoning the extras. and
above all the consideration attached to
a position in a church, to a profession
devoted to the glory Of God! He had
never wished as much In his most am
bilious dreams. All those who looked
at him as kind of tramp should be
compelled now to treat him as a gen.
tleman.
For long time Klein had coveted the
position without any hope of getting 1t
while old Mielnitzki still persisted in
living. The fingers of the latter were
mostly paralyzed. but the curate would
never have consented to replace him,
in consideration of their twenty years
friendship. At last Mielnitzki died
through an accident and Klein hast
ened to apply for the situation. The
curate, well acquainted with his talent,
engaged him Immediately. Klein was
really remarkable artist. He never
had studied music, but he played mar
vellously well not only the flute and the
organ, but also several other instru-
ments. 1t was not case Of heredity
nor Of education. His father. a soldier
during most of his lie, had turned a
plain ropemaker in his old age. and the
,od man practiced no other wind in
strument than his smoking pipe, which,
it is true, seldom left the corner of his
mouth.
Yet Klein. from his childhood, had
shown decided talent. Mielnitzki had
given him some organ lessons. But
the urchin one day suddenly departed
with a band of strolling players. He
wandered for several years. Then the
troop dispersed by degrees, one dying,
another disappearing without leaving
any trace Klein returned to his native
village of Zagrab. He was as thin as u
church mouse.
So far he had just shifted by playing
for a trife. but often for the love of
God. People wondered at his irregular
and precariOus life. but they were
unanimous when praising his talent.
From Zagrab to Ponikla all declared
readily: "When Klein begins to play
the Lord is pleased and men are in rap
lures"
That did not prevent them from add
ing with much concern: "He must be
possessed by peculiar and devilish
spirit" The remark was judicious,
for at times he had the look of SOL
cerer, particularly when during these
last years. on some holidays, he re-
placed old Mielnitzki at the organ of
Ponikla Then he was unconscious of
all that was not his adOred instrument
1t happened that in the middle of mass
when the congregation was the most
deeply engaged in prayers. and when
the priest. enwrapped in the fumes of
incense, gave his benedictiOn. Klen's
organ seemed to spread over the whole
an impalpable gauZe. and to raise slow
ly toward heaven the priest. the cen
ser. the vapors of perfume, the congre
CATION, and even the tinkling of the
bells.
Klein positively did not realize that
he was the one who performed these
marvels. He completely imagined that
the organ played unaided. that the
sounds sprang by themselves out OF
the leaden pipes, to scatter first like
rain, then like dew, in order to fill nT
the church and make vibrate together
the affairs and the hearts. Sometimes
he was terrified at the thunderbOlts
starting from the magic instrument
and the next moment he enjoyed list
ening to melody falling like the pearls
Of a rosary. When he came down from
his seat after mass he looked haggard
and tottered as IL inebriated. or rather
as one suddenly awakened. The cur
ate, putting some money in his hand
complimented him. The people bOwet
respectfully to the vagrant in whom
at that moment, they felt an eminen
superiority. .s-
Klein did not loiter before the churcl
IN order to enjoy praises. 1t was t.
contemplate In passing what was tn
most dear to him in the world, afte
music, of course. We mean Okla, tn
daughter of working man of Zagrah
He admired her eyes, the color of TIL
SKY, neT HdT, tue COioI VI Soiu, anu IL
felt at his heart sharp pain like tn
piercing of knife.
This restored him to his full reason
and he repeated to himself thousan
times that never would Olka's fathe
give his daughter to vagrant, an
that he had better think no more o
the young girl. This was easily sait
but the knife had penetrated so deepl
that the strongest pincers could nc
have withdrawn it.
Okla, on her side. Mt first had love
Klen's music. then she had loved tn
musician. That penniless fellow. quee
with Withholding eyes. dark compile,
ion. with clothes always too narroN
and too short. with long and thin leg
like those of stork, had at last bt
come dear to her. The father, thong
he himself also had often empty pool
cts, did not wish to hear anything q
Klein. ..' ~
| "My daughter will have no trouble t
find better" he declared. docs nj
every one admire her beauty? She wi