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assortment of luxuries procured with the five…cent piece given him by
the kind…hearted old Master。 But yon need not think I am going to
tell you every time his popgun goes off； making a Selah of him
whenever I want to change the subject。 Occasionally he was ill…timed
in his artillery practice and ignominiously rebuked； sometimes he was
harmlessly playful and nobody minded him； but every now and then he
came in so apropos that I am morally certain he gets a hint from
somebody who watches the course of the conversation； and means
through him to have a hand in it and stop any of us when we are
getting prosy。 But in consequence of That Boy's indiscretion； we
were without a check upon our expansiveness； and ran on in the way
you have observed and may be disposed to find fault with。
One other thing the Master said before we left the table； after our
long talk of that day。
I have been tempted sometimes；said he； to envy the immediate
triumphs of the singer。 He enjoys all that praise can do for him and
at the very moment of exerting his talent。 And the singing women！
Once in a while； in the course of my life； I have found myself in the
midst of a tulip…bed of full…dressed； handsome women in all their
glory； and when some one among them has shaken her gauzy wings； and
sat down before the piano； and then； only giving the keys a soft
touch now and then to support her voice； has warbled some sweet； sad
melody intertwined with the longings or regrets of some tender…
hearted poet； it has seemed to me that so to hush the rustling of the
silks and silence the babble of the buds； as they call the chicks of
a new season； and light up the flame of romance in cold hearts； in
desolate ones； in old burnt…out ones；like mine； I was going to say；
but I won't； for it isn't so； and you may laugh to hear me say it
isn't so； if you like；was perhaps better than to be remembered a
few hundred years by a few perfect stanzas； when your gravestone is
standing aslant； and your name is covered over with a lichen as big
as a militia colonel's cockade； and nobody knows or cares enough
about you to scrape it off and set the tipsy old slate…stone upright
again。
I said nothing in reply to this； for I was thinking of a sweet
singer to whose voice I had listened in its first freshness； and
which is now only an echo in my memory。 If any reader of the
periodical in which these conversations are recorded can remember so
far back as the first year of its publication； he will find among the
papers contributed by a friend not yet wholly forgotten a few verses；
lively enough in their way； headed 〃The Boys。〃 The sweet singer was
one of this company of college classmates； the constancy of whose
friendship deserves a better tribute than the annual offerings；
kindly meant； as they are； which for many years have not been wanting
at their social gatherings。 The small company counts many noted
personages on its list； as is well known to those who are interested
in such local matters； but it is not known that every fifth man of
the whole number now living is more or less of a poet；using that
word with a generous breadth of significance。 But it should seem
that the divine gift it implies is more freely dispensed than some
others； for while there are （or were； for one has taken his Last
Degree） eight musical quills； there was but one pair of lips which
could claim any special consecration to vocal melody。 Not that one
that should undervalue the half…recitative of doubtful barytones； or
the brilliant escapades of slightly unmanageable falsettos； or the
concentrated efforts of the proprietors of two or three effective
notes； who may be observed lying in wait for them； and coming down on
them with all their might； and the look on their countenances of 〃I
too am a singer。〃 But the voice that led all； and that all loved to
listen to； the voice that was at once full； rich； sweet； penetrating；
expressive； whose ample overflow drowned all the imperfections and
made up for all the shortcomings of the others； is silent henceforth
forevermore for all earthly listeners。
And these were the lines that one of 〃The Boys；〃 as they have always
called themselves for ever so many years； read at the first meeting
after the voice which had never failed them was hushed in the
stillness of death。
J。 A。
1871。
One memory trembles on our lips
It throbs in every breast；
In tear…dimmed eyes； in mirth's eclipse；
The shadow stands confessed。
O silent voice； that cheered so long
Our manhood's marching day；
Without thy breath of heavenly song；
How weary seems the way！
Vain every pictured phrase to tell
Our sorrowing hearts' desire；
The shattered harp； the broken shell；
The silent unstrung lyre；
For youth was round us while he sang；
It glowed in every tone；
With bridal chimes the echoes rang；
And made the past our own。
O blissful dream！ Our nursery joys
We know must have an end；
But love and friendships broken toys
May God's good angels mend！
The cheering smile； the voice of mirth
And laughter's gay surprise
That please the children born of earth；
Why deem that Heaven denies？
Methinks in that refulgent sphere
That knows not sun or moon；
An earth…born saint might long to hear
One verse of 〃Bonny Doon〃；
Or walking through the streets of gold
In Heaven's unclouded light；
His lips recall the song of old
And hum 〃The sky is bright。〃
And can we smile when thou art dead？
Ah； brothers； even so！
The rose of summer will be red；
In spite of winter's snow。
Thou wouldst not leave us all in gloom
Because thy song is still；
Nor blight the banquet…garland's bloom
With grief's untimely chill。
The sighing wintry winds complain；
The singing bird has flown；
Hark！ heard I not that ringing strain；
That clear celestial tone？
How poor these pallid phrases seem；
How weak this tinkling line；
As warbles through my waking dream
That angel voice of thine！
Thy requiem asks a sweeter lay；
It falters on my tongue；
For all we vainly strive to say；
Thou shouldst thyself have sung！
V
I fear that I have done injustice in my conversation and my report of
it to a most worthy and promising young man whom I should be very
sorry to injure in any way。 Dr。 Benjamin Franklin got hold of my
account of my visit to him； and complained that I had made too much
of the expression he used。 He did not mean to say that he thought I
was suffering from the rare disease he mentioned； but only that the
color reminded him of it。 It was true that he had shown me various
instruments； among them one for exploring the state of a part by
means of a puncture； but he did not propose to make use of it upon my
person。 In short； I had colored the story so as to make him look
ridiculous。
I am afraid I did；I said；but was n't I colored myself so as to
look ridiculous？ I've heard it said that people with the jaundice
see everything yellow； perhaps I saw things looking a little queerly；
with that black and blue spot I could n't account for threatening to
make a colored man and brother of me。 But I am sorry if I have done
you any wrong。 I hope you won't lose any patient