86 FROM A NEW ENGLAND HILLSIDE. 



played this afternoon, and we all rejoiced. 

 And Brunella, from the cold ivory keys, 

 drew a fitting harmony upon which the 

 lingering and sparkling tones of the violin 

 floated and danced, as upon the crest of the 

 waves. And then from the same keys rip 

 pled the tripping melody, and deep and 

 solemn chords responded to an assured and 

 sympathetic touch. 



What can one do or say in return for such 

 a pleasure ? The scribe ventured only to 

 remark that what was so charming to the 

 hearer must be even a greater delight to the 

 performer. Brunella suggested that the per 

 former suffered sometimes from a conscious 

 ness of unsympathetic hearers. But what 

 hearers could fail to be sympathetic under 

 such a spell ? Ah ! doubtless there are dull 

 ears, and nerves so heavy or so weary,, that 

 they fail to respond to the message borne 

 by the pulsing air. And perhaps there may 

 be hearts that are not wholly awake to the 

 finer melodies and harmonies of the uni 

 verse, to which these tones are but as sound 

 and fury, signifying nothing. 



I sometimes wonder why it is that so 

 many people miss the finer shades of mean 

 ing in this harmony that we call life, and in 



