ALL seemed delighted, though the elders more, Of course, than were the children. -- Thus, before Much interchange of mirthful compliment, The story-teller said @3his@1 stories "went" (Like a bad candle) @3best@1 when they went @3out,@1 -- And that some sprightly music, dashed about, Would @3wholly@1 quench his "glimmer," and inspire Far brighter lights. And, answering this desire, The flutist opened, in a rapturous strain Of rippling notes -- a perfect April-rain Of melody that drenched the senses through; -- Then -- gentler -- gentler -- as the dusk sheds dew, It fell, by velvety, staccatoed halts, Swooning away in old "Von Weber's Waltz." Then the young ladies sang "Isle of the Sea" -- In ebb and flow and wave so billowy, -- Only with quavering breath and folded eyes The listeners heard, buoyed on the fall and rise Of its insistent and exceeding stress Of sweetness and ecstatic tenderness. . . . With lifted finger @3yet,@1 Remembrance -- List! -- @3"Beautiful isle of the sea!"@1 wells in a mist Of tremulous. . . . . . . After much whispering Among the children, Alex came to bring Some kind of @3letter@1 -- as it seemed to be -- To Cousin Rufus. This he carelessly Unfolded -- reading to himself alone, -- But, since its contents became, later, known, And no one "@3played@1 so @3awful@1 bad," the same May here be given -- of course without full name, Facsimile, or written kink or curl Or clue. It read: -- "Wild Roved an indian Girl Brite al Floretty" deer friend i now take this These means to send that @3Song@1 to you & make my Promus good to you in the Regards Of doing What i Promust afterwards. the @3notes & Words@1 is both here @3Printed@1 sos you kin can git @3uncle Mart@1 to read you them those & cousin Rufus you can git to @3Play@1 the @3notes@1 fur you on eny Plezunt day His Legul Work aint Presein Pressing. Ever thine As shore as the Vine doth the Stump intwine thou art my Lump of Sackkerrine Rinaldo Rinaldine the Pirut in Captivity. . . . There dropped Another square scrap. -- But the hand was stopped That reached for it -- Floretty suddenly Had set a firm foot on her property -- Thinking it was the @3letter,@1 not the @3song,@1 -- But blushing to discover she was wrong, When, with all gravity of face and air, Her precious letter @3handed@1 to her there By Cousin Rufus left her even more In apprehension than she was before. But, testing his unwavering, kindly eye, She seemed to put her last suspicion by, And, in exchange, handed the song to him. -- A page torn from a song-book: Small and dim Both notes and words were -- but as plain as day They seemed to him, as he began to play -- And plain to @3all@1 the singers, -- as he ran An airy, warbling prelude, then began Singing and swinging in so blithe a strain, That every voice rang in the old refrain: II Come! come! come! Not a sigh, not a tear, E'er is found in sadness here; Music soft, breathing near, Charms away each care! Birds, in joyous hours among Hill and dell, with grateful song, Dearest strains here prolong, Vocal all the air! Tra la la la, tra la la! Tra la la la, tra la la! Dearest strains here prolong, Vocal all the air! III Come! come! come! When the day's gently gone, Evening shadows coming on, Then, by love, kindly won, Truest bliss be thine! Ne'er was found a bliss so pure Never joys so long endure; Who would not love secure? Who would joys decline? Tra la la la, tra la la! Tra la la la, tra la la! Who would not love secure? Who would joys decline? From the beginning of the song, clean through, Floretty's features were a study to The flutist who "read @3notes@1" so readily, Yet read so little of the mystery Of that face of the girl's. -- Indeed, @3one@1 thing Bewildered him quite into worrying, And that was, noticing, throughout it all, The Hired Man shrinking closer to the wall, She ever backing toward him through the throng Of barricading children -- till the song Was ended, and at last he saw her near Enough to reach and take him by the ear And pinch it just a pang's worth of her ire And leave it burning like a coal of fire. He noticed, too, in subtle pantomime She seemed to dust him off, from time to time; And when somebody, later, asked if she Had never heard the song before -- "What! @3me?@1" She said -- then blushed again and smiled, -- "I've knowed that song sence @3Adam@1 wuz a child! -- It's jes' a joke o' this-here man's. -- He's learned To @3read@1 and @3write@1 a little, and it's turned His fool-head some -- That's all!" And then some one Of the loud-wrangling boys said -- @3"'Course@1 they's none No more, @3these@1 days! -- They's Fairies @3ust@1 to be, But they're all dead, a hundred years!" said he. "Well, there's where you're @3mustakened!"@1 -- in reply They heard Bud's voice, pitched sharp and thin and high. -- "An' how you goin' to @3prove@1 it?" "Well, I @3kin!@1" Said Bud, with emphasis. -- "They's one lives in Our garden -- and I @3see@1 'im wunst, wiv my Own eyes -- @3one@1 time I did." @3"Oh, what a lie!"@1 -- @3" 'Sh!"@1 "Well, nen," said the skeptic -- seeing there The older folks attracted -- "tell us @3where@1 You saw him, an' all @3'bout@1 him!" "Yes, my son. -- If you tell 'stories,' you may tell us one," The smiling father said, while Uncle Mart, Behind him, winked at Bud, and pulled apart His nose and chin with comical grimace -- Then sighed aloud, with sanctimonious face, -- @3"'How good and comely it is to see Children and parents in friendship agree!'@1 -- You fire away, Bud, on your Fairy tale -- Your @3Uncle's@1 here to back you!" Somewhat pale, And breathless as to speech, the little man Gathered himself. And thus his story ran. |