Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-20
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II wasn't brought up in that fashion"
the girl answered with some spirit. My
father always taught us that the stranger
within our gates must share our best.
OF course" she added. laughingly. these
are Aunt Luella's gates, but you are
gentleman even"
Even IL I am q tramp he concluded
for her.
you'll find a basin and water and
soap on thi back porch she told him.
And Hannah will give you a clean
towel-and don't mind her scolding, please.
Hannah means WELL"
AS they ate their hot biscuits. omelet
and strawberries with cream they said
little, but the girl wondered more and
more what sort of man this could be who
tramped the country and played for his
dinner. yet who ate like q gentleman, and
certainly talked like one When he did
speak. however. 1t was only OF the coun-
try through which re was passing-the
plenitude Of things, the general prosperity
and the glorious air.
81 don't know very much about this
part of the world" she told him. in an
swer to some question he had put to her.
I've only been here a month. It's nice,
of course. but these hills don't take the
place Of my blue Virginia mountains. I'm
a southerner. you see, but since my father
and mother died several years ago I've
been at boarding school in Washington.
Now I've come up here to mothers sister
and in the fail I'm going to teach In the
village school, She flushed deeply as
she concluded hurriedly, ashamed that
she had been led by his absorbed interest
in her every word into speaking OF her
affairs to a stranger.
And I live nowhere he told her. as
if owing her a confidence in return. But
l have been an orphan. too, these many
years. The. sky is my mother and the
earth my father, and the road is my pal
and felow-traveer. 1t goes with me
step by step. opening out its heart as we
go, always new. strange and alIuring. 1t
waits for me now at the gate. as you SEE,
and I must 60 on. Thank you for a
supper that was meant for a king ana not
for a poor tramp"
Shirley followed him out on the porch.
Won't you play for me just once moro
before you go?' she entreated. 1T has
been so long since heard any really good
music. In Washington I used to go TO
some concerts. and the opera whenever it
came there; but now I never hear any
thing better than the Frolic Of the
Frogs or 'Silvery Waves OF the village
music teacher
The tramp smiled and again laid his
fiddle under his chin. He played in tho
twilight now. for dusk had nearly fallen.
The west was red still, but single great
star burned there. Seeing 1t. he played
the evening star song. 20 thou sublime.
sweet evening >star.." the music yearned;
and there seemed. as he played. q bridge
between earthly thoughts and those
strange emotions born Of God.
Shirley shut the gate with little click
behind him as he finally went out, but he
fingered yet a moment outside, as il loath
10 leave the little garden.
Goodnight" he said, reluctantly.
And you" the girl exclaimed, bluntly,
you who play these beautiful things-and
understand them-you are an ordinary
tramp! / cannot believe it,
The man flushed deeply, and then
laughed. Then he said. Don't think ME
just an ordinary tramp. but an extraordi-
nary one. who likes Verdi and Wagner,
and bread and butter In plenty. but who
most of all likes and needs the freedom
OF Gods out-of-doors." He lifted his hat,
but she held him back.
But II isn't always sunrise sunset"
she said. It's dark, creepy night, and
there are fearful storms. Where do you
find shelter such times?''
The man. as II prompted by sudden
impulse, lifted his violin out OF its box
again. Listen, and I'll tell you,'' lie
said. He played once more, and this time
he sang, too. in deep, rich baritone:
BY road and river. untrysde and town,
i wander daily with my fiddle brown,
Creeping under barns so gladly.
When outside the tempest hoWls,
Playing sadly, playing madly,
Waking up the rats and owls.
Ah, it is gay. night and da:,
Fair and cloudy weather:
Fiddle and wandering by
over the world together
Down by the willow, summer nights lie
Flowers for my pillow. and for roof the
sky,
Playing all that heart remembers,
Old. old songs from far away.
Golden Junes and bleak Decembers
Rise around me as play.
An. 1t Is gay, night and day,
Fair and cloudy weather:
Fiddle and wandering by
Over the world together
The listeners eyes were moist but she