FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 85 



XVI. 



$a Graig--2Bcibltcf)e 

 3icf)t un fyinan. 



AMATI, Stradivarius, Guarnerius, O 

 sons of Cremona, what subtile spirit 

 taught you how to shape and tune that 

 divine instrument which can express as 

 no other all the aspirations and passions 

 of the human heart ? How its tones twist 

 and twine around our nerves, until we vi 

 brate in unison with its quivering strings, 

 and are played upon as though we our 

 selves were the instrument ! And she that 

 handles the bow, how fine her dower, to be 

 able to evoke at will that mystic charm, 

 and rule our ear and heart and soul, with 

 a greater spell than that of the Pied Piper 

 of Hamelin-town, leading us all a-dancing 

 through the charmed aisles of wonderland. 

 We that have not the gift can do no less 

 than render just homage where it is due, 

 not unmingled, perhaps, with a righteous 

 envy of the power to confer upon others 

 so great a draught of pleasure. So Viola 



