The Key West citizen., 1954-12-24

tell of the Holy night where we can
see the Baby, the family, manger,
and the shepherds and the angel
choir.
Mohr's musings were interrupt
ed by a neighbor woman who had
come hurrying over the mountains
to ask the young minister to come
to the home of the wood-chopper
and bless his first-born child-a
little son.
Mohr Immediately donned his
coat, cap and Sheepskin leggings
and taking his alpenstock set off
for the wood-chopper's cabin some
miles across the mountain.
When he reached the humble
abode, he saw in a small crude
cradle, a sleeping, curly-headed in
FAINT boy.
The young mother, and father
were gazing at their son. The hus-
band stood with folded hands, his
eyes lighted with a new joy he had
never before experienced.
AS Mohr blessed the newborn
babe, it seemed to him that such
sight must have greeted the shep-
herds as they entered the stable
where the Christ Child lay in a
manger. Surely" he thought,
"JesuS the Savior is here"
With a new expression in his
eyes, the young priest began the
long walk back to Oberndorf, and
as he trudged through the snow,
he marvelled at the silence and
the beauty of the night.
Entering his study, Mohr again
stood at the window gazing on the
peaceful scene before him and
murmured, "Silent night, Holy
night.
He remembered his feeling of
exhaltation at the wood-chopper's
home and again thought Of Grub
er's significant remark.
He seated himself at his desk
and with a sense of elation, wrote
the words to the beloved Christmas
song, "Silent Night, Holy Night"
Early Christmas morning, the
young pastor hurried to Gruber's
home and gave him the words he
had written, asking him to COM
pose a melody so they could sur
prise the villagers with a new
Christmas song at church that
night.
Gruber was enthusiastic about
the song, but reminded Mohr that
the church organ was broken and
that he would have no way to play
the accompaniment.
The young priest glanced about
the room and saw an old guitar
handing on the wall and said, "Let
this be your instrument"
Gladly approving the suggestion,
Gruber replied, $50 shall 1t be-"
and they parted, the pastor return
ing to his duties.
After he left, Gruber seated him.
self at an ancient spinet and began
reading the words Of the song just
written by Mohr.
As he touched the keys, melo-
dy came to him and almost with
out change he wrote the score. :
In Oberndorf, Joseph Mohr was
waiting impatiently to hear the
new melody and opened his door to
see Gruber standing there with his
guitar under his arm, his face re-
vealing all that Mohr had expect
ed. !
Soon the church bells announced
that services would begin IN the
quaint little chapel.
AS the congregation assembled,
Gruber went forward and lighted
the candles on two large evergreen
trees laden with gifts. Pastor Mohr
ascended the high, carved pulpit
and preached an inspiring sermon.
In the hush that followed the fin
al prayer, Gruber joined Mohr In
singing their Christmas hymn.
Contemporary accounts reveal
that after the strains OF their
voices were lost in the deep silence
of the chapel, the CONGREGATION re-
mained spellbound and then sud
denly gave way to a "veritaole
storm Of ecstacy, overwhelming
the pastor and the school master
with a perfect torrent Of praise and
alteration" /
It was almost q year later hat
the elders of the church engaged
Matthias Mauracher, an expert or