THE MERRY MUSICIANS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1929, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE MERRY MUSICIANS.

A CHRISTMAS STORY. '',. ' "I mind iny father telling me it used to be an orchestra as . played of a Sunday in this very church not a hundred years agone,” said the Sexton. “There was fiddle, flute, bassoon and ’cello in thfm days. Now :the self same old bassoon the Vicar -has up, on . his study wall, and it’s worth casting your ; eye over, though the wind comes out. of>-th® •worm holes nowadays. As for the flute and fiddle, they are lost and gone for all I know, • but the ’cello can,.stilt. > ; tell a. good tale; a fl you shall read for yourself -if ■ you care to come -along to my house.” * /:• .'••'( ' ■> We went together to a‘ rose-bowered- cottage and into the crowded parlour. From a cupboard the Sexton 1 ■ drew out' an antiquated violincello- in-a green baize bag. ■•■ He handed it to me with twinkling eyes. “No, kindly don’t-tune it up, sir, if you don’t mind,” he said. “It isn’t as strong a® it used to be. You see, it met with an accident, as you may read for yourself, and since then nobody has felt sure enough of it

to play it much, though it was old Daddy Love as put it together again, and he was as clever an old ’un with his fingers as ever lived. Used to stuff birds and what not, ho did, to the’life. However, there’s the instrument, and the story is inside if you care to look through, one of them curly holes. I took the ’cello to the window and peered into its inward parts. Pasted to the back • was this inscription written in faded ink and •in an old-fashioned hand. Taken from the Chronicle, January 2fi, 1882, and put in here by me when I had mended the instrument for Abel Cadwallader. Signed, John Love.” I went on to read the yellowed newsPaPC “An unusual incident is recorded by our reporter at C—it said. "The curate in charge at L— —, the Rev, Mr. Slight, had invited the musicians from C -parish to provide music on the occasion of the Chnstmas service. Accordingly, with the vicar ft permission, they walked over with their instruments for Evensbng. Their services were so much appreciated by several substantial farmers and their families in the village that tiiey were freely entertained in several houses before they set out to return about 9.30 pan. It was then dark, though a fine night. It is said that the four musicians cheered their way with a few staves, and made fair progress until they reached the ford on the lower road. Here misfortune befell them. ‘■•The water, was rijnping fast over the stones on account ofrecent rain the passa°-? which would have been difficult in any case at thatrtime of night, was made more difficult for the ,’cello play#,. encumbered as he was by the burden of His instrument, a . lan thorn,' etcetera. He started the crossing but, alas! he had scarcely reached the middle when he slipped on one of the stones. It is reported that he fell on the broadest part of his back, and t'hathe was. only saved from doim* himself serious hurt by landing with the parish ’cello Between him and the stepping stone. . • , “The other musicians hardly realised what had befallen their comrade, but the resound-* ing explosion made by the ’cello when it parted asunder attracted the attention of a cot- , tager who was shutting up for the nn the struggling player was rescued Jittle tho worse for his wetting. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for the ’cello, which was carried home a bagful of wet fragments. At . the suggestion of the Vicar the four musiciana have agreed to club together to provide the parish with a new instrument-.” When I had finished reading I found tho a Sexton silently shaking with laughter be- ' side me.- ’ ':?• “The best bit of the lot is now to bo told,” he said. “The present Vicar has tho old bassoon in his possession as I said, and having heard the story of the .broken ’cello, he has often said how he wished, he;; could trace it and conic, by it for . the parish/ Ho doesn’t know tjidt I got the very article; from a grandson of' old Abel Cadwallader.Nqu be- ■ ing. a stranger.hereabouts, I don’t min'd letting you know as I’ve got it, long as you don’t tell the. Vicar.” , : ! ~ The Sexton stroked the instrument lovingly, and added: “This thing is worth ia bit to me, as many a stranger has given me hall a crown for' the. pleasure of looking intp it.”