登陆注册
5272500000010

第10章 CHAPTER IV: GOING THE ROUNDS(2)

"Strings be safe soul-lifters, as far as that do go," said Mr. Spinks.

"Yet there's worse things than serpents," said Mr. Penny. "Old things pass away, 'tis true; but a serpent was a good old note: a deep rich note was the serpent."

"Clar'nets, however, be bad at all times," said Michael Mail. "One Christmas--years agone now, years--I went the rounds wi' the Weatherbury quire. 'Twas a hard frosty night, and the keys of all the clar'nets froze--ah, they did freeze!--so that 'twas like drawing a cork every time a key was opened; and the players o' 'em had to go into a hedger-and-ditcher's chimley-corner, and thaw their clar'nets every now and then. An icicle o' spet hung down from the end of every man's clar'net a span long; and as to fingers--well, there, if ye'll believe me, we bad no fingers at all, to our knowing."

"I can well bring back to my mind," said Mr. Penny, "what I said to poor Joseph Ryme (who took the treble part in Chalk-Newton Church for two-and-forty year) when they thought of having clar'nets there.

"Joseph," I said, says I, "depend upon't, if so be you have them tooting clar'nets you'll spoil the whole set-out. Clar'nets were not made for the service of the Lard; you can see it by looking at 'em," I said. And what came o't? Why, souls, the parson set up a barrel-organ on his own account within two years o' the time I spoke, and the old quire went to nothing."

"As far as look is concerned," said the tranter, "I don't for my part see that a fiddle is much nearer heaven than a clar'net. 'Tis further off. There's always a rakish, scampish twist about a fiddle's looks that seems to say the Wicked One had a hand in making o'en; while angels be supposed to play clar'nets in heaven, or som'at like 'em, if ye may believe picters."

"Robert Penny, you was in the right," broke in the eldest Dewy.

"They should ha' stuck to strings. Your brass-man is a rafting dog--well and good; your reed-man is a dab at stirring ye--well and good; your drum-man is a rare bowel-shaker--good again. But I don't care who hears me say it, nothing will spak to your heart wi' the sweetness o' the man of strings!"

"Strings for ever!" said little Jimmy.

"Strings alone would have held their ground against all the new comers in creation." ("True, true!" said Bowman.) "But clarinets was death." ("Death they was!" said Mr. Penny.) "And harmonions,"

William continued in a louder voice, and getting excited by these signs of approval, "harmonions and barrel-organs" ("Ah!" and groans from Spinks) "be miserable--what shall I call 'em?--miserable--"

"Sinners," suggested Jimmy, who made large strides like the men, and did not lag behind like the other little boys.

"Miserable dumbledores!"

"Right, William, and so they be--miserable dumbledores!" said the choir with unanimity.

By this time they were crossing to a gate in the direction of the school, which, standing on a slight eminence at the junction of three ways, now rose in unvarying and dark flatness against the sky.

The instruments were retuned, and all the band entered the school enclosure, enjoined by old William to keep upon the grass.

"Number seventy-eight," he softly gave out as they formed round in a semicircle, the boys opening the lanterns to get a clearer light, and directing their rays on the books.

Then passed forth into the quiet night an ancient and time-worn hymn, embodying a quaint Christianity in words orally transmitted from father to son through several generations down to the present characters, who sang them out right earnestly:

"Remember Adam's fall, O thou Man:

Remember Adam's fall From Heaven to Hell.

Remember Adam's fall How he hath condemn'd all In Hell perpetual There for to dwell.

Remember God's goodnesse, O thou Man:

Remember God's goodnesse, His promise made.

Remember God's goodnesse;

He sent His Son sinlesse Our ails for to redress;

Be not afraid In Bethlehem He was born, O thou Man:

In Bethlehem He was born, For mankind's sake.

In Bethlehem He was born, Christmas-day i' the morn:

Our Saviour thought no scorn Our faults to take.

Give thanks to God alway, O thou Man:

Give thanks to God alway With heart-most joy.

Give thanks to God alway On this our joyful day:

Let all men sing and say, Holy, Holy!"

Having concluded the last note, they listened for a minute or two, but found that no sound issued from the schoolhouse.

"Four breaths, and then, "O, what unbounded goodness!" number fifty-nine," said William.

This was duly gone through, and no notice whatever seemed to be taken of the performance.

"Good guide us, surely 'tisn't a' empty house, as befell us in the year thirty-nine and forty-three!" said old Dewy.

"Perhaps she's jist come from some musical city, and sneers at our doings?" the tranter whispered.

"'Od rabbit her!" said Mr. Penny, with an annihilating look at a corner of the school chimney, "I don't quite stomach her, if this is it. Your plain music well done is as worthy as your other sort done bad, a' b'lieve, souls; so say I."

"Four breaths, and then the last," said the leader authoritatively.

"'Rejoice, ye Tenants of the Earth,' number sixty-four."

At the close, waiting yet another minute, he said in a clear loud voice, as he had said in the village at that hour and season for the previous forty years--"A merry Christmas to ye!"

同类推荐
  • 秘本诸葛神数

    秘本诸葛神数

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 塞下曲

    塞下曲

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚顶莲花部心念诵仪轨

    金刚顶莲花部心念诵仪轨

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX

    THE ADVENTURES OF REDDY FOX

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 汉武帝外传

    汉武帝外传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 侠盗神捕轶事

    侠盗神捕轶事

    男孩子向来都有英雄情结,小时候听那些大孩子吹牛,不是说孙悟空厉害,就是说李向阳本事大,所以玩游戏时全都要争当这些人。不过老是扮孙悟空或李向阳也会烦,有一次,一个孩子说那就扮一扮胡大烟杆。那时谁也不知道胡大烟杆是什么人,有人便问了,那孩子说,胡大烟杆是一百来年以前当地的一个捕快,本事非常大,那些小偷强盗有句俗话叫:“不怕地,不怕天,就怕胡家大烟杆。”
  • 政府应对境外媒体策略研究

    政府应对境外媒体策略研究

    政府与新闻传媒之间的关系,越来越成为政府“软实力”的重要组成部分。主动运用传媒提高政府部门执政形象、引导舆论的“新闻执政”理念不仅是西方现代政府的共识,同时也是我国各级政府努力的方向。本书介绍了境外主流媒体、驻华新闻机构及其涉华报道的主要特点,在分析典型案例的基础上,提出了当前我国各级政府应对境外媒体的各种策略。适读对象:各级政府对外宣传管理人员,国际关系、新闻传播等相关专业研究人员及广大师生。
  • 拿下混血冷帅哥

    拿下混血冷帅哥

    景阳高中的小太妹竟然把华丰高中一等一的混血帅哥给强了!还嚣张高调的宣布“他是姐的男人,谁敢犯姐男人—杀!”原来混血帅哥早就窥视她很久了呢!她是自动送上门的,被拐着就开始了一场生生死死轰轰烈烈的另类旅程。“我告诉你,我就肤浅就不懂付出,要死一起死要活一起活,你他妈要让我一个人,我一定到阴曹地府去鞭你的尸!”不管是她先招惹的他,还是他先窥视她,反正他们是绑在一起了,任何事任何人都不得让他们分开!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 木石相约

    木石相约

    重生女携空间穿越到龙腾国,变成一个小女孩,不记前尘往事,却凭经验常识,带着家人种田致富,帮助了许多人,最终收获幸福的故事。有温馨,有痛苦,酸甜苦辣兼具;有田园,有战争,风景五味各异。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 穿越悍妃驯懒王

    穿越悍妃驯懒王

    不能怪我贪吃,谁让我上辈子是饿死的呢!还好上天对我不薄,穿越到大户人家。不过我的“母大虫”称号让男人闻风丧胆呀,不然凭我的姿色怎么会二十二岁还待字闺中呢,这在古代可是老姑娘了呀!好在姐夫姐姐帮我绑架了新郎,终于把我成功嫁了出去。可新郎居然是个懒汉。哼!看我的。我就不信我的现代驭夫术不能把你驯的服服帖帖的!【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 犹太人财富与智慧

    犹太人财富与智慧

    相信“上帝”更要相信自己;要注意,陋习是你的绊脚石;对不明白的事情要小心;“爱钱”会管钱,花钱会赚钱;家庭是神赐的礼物;爱情是幸福的根本;医生:生命的守护神;养生:生命的护航员;国民素质靠教育,民族兴旺靠知识;诚信是经商的之本,契约是赢利保障,善于把握商机,找到赚钱门路,外力越借越活,观念常变常新,重谋略,懂技巧,让大脑活起来,注重收账方法,讲究谈判策略,《犹太人的财富与智慧》通过通俗的语言,解读了犹太人的赚钱之道,剖析了犹太人的处世智慧。
  • 恶霸正妻踢娇妾

    恶霸正妻踢娇妾

    夫君丢给她一纸休书,理由是她五年无所出。小妾骄傲的挺着大肚子,扬言她的孩子应该是嫡出。婆婆大姑子将她的陪嫁搜去了大半,还嘲讽她只剩一身铜臭味。啥?她三年来日日给夫君悄悄熬药?原来不下蛋的是他?!她一个巨富长女混的连嫁妆都守不住,居然还为别人做了嫁衣?是可忍,孰不可忍!休书?看看谁休谁!*“嫂嫂,你前脚走,我后脚就去你家提亲。”小叔子弯着一双猫眼,似真似假地道。“切,你们白家的男人没一个是好东西!”“嫂嫂,我可跟哥不一样。”“还不一样,瞧你那屋里不知道藏了几个姑娘了,我看着就恶心。”她红了脸,低声骂:“油嘴滑舌……”“简墨兰!白阡陌!你们叔嫂勾搭,不知羞耻!”白思陌突然出现,脸色铁青。她一扬手中休书,“这可是你亲自画押的,别给我乱盖帽子,我现在是自由身。”*美七群:38830464努力打造不一样的加宅斗的小种田~~~~本文女主不圣母也不圣斗士,实乃有血有肉的小女子一枚。本文不是回头文!本文一对一。
  • 卓越团队的人才经营

    卓越团队的人才经营

    本书中的所有内容,是针对企业管理的各种状况,针对企业的人才经营并以服务于各级管理者而写成的。书中的各部分内容,或多或少都能够反映出当今企业管理者所面临的境况。任何一个章节,即使是很不起眼的一段文字,或者是那些看似琐碎的处方建议,都可以为每一个管理者提供切实有效的帮助。
  • 古锁奇谈

    古锁奇谈

    一个弃婴,因为一次纹身,进入了一场千年的阴谋。一只古锁,因为它的打开,一段段诡异事件从此络绎不绝。他叫张默,一个普通人,因为身上的纹身和古锁的秘密不得不走遍天涯海角。从蒙古草原到东海深处。从懵懂少年到天命之人。一处处恐怖绝境,一个个神秘势力,让他的故事诡异而传奇。不是《盗墓笔记》胜似《盗墓笔记》,古锁奇谈带你走入神秘的世界!
  • 悍妻之老公太娇气

    悍妻之老公太娇气

    巴顿。乔治193的身高,俊朗的五官,高贵优雅的外表,是巴顿集团大财阀的独子;他不务正业,看清了家族企业那股涌动的黑暗。***贺敏,只是出生在一个普通家庭的大高个,即使有着天生丽质的外在也因为身高而不受待见。她大学毕业后到了美丽的风车之都荷兰,只为实现灰姑娘穿高跟鞋的梦想。***★相见他耍赖要睡在她的房间,只为试探她。她妥协,因为她相信他。★相处他与她达成协议只为博得老爷子的认可,得以实施他的计划。她同意她的协议,只因不希望再成为同伴的累赘。她夺走他清白,拿了钱从人间蒸发。她献出她的身子,销声匿迹只为抚平那颗不安的心。再次遇到他,他变得阴沉暴戾,口口声声让她还钱。再次遇到她,她怀了他的孩子,她变得懦弱爱哭。