The Wedge of Gold

  CHAPTER XXX.

  GRAND OPERA.

  Jordan improved rapidly, and soon began to take long drives to differentpoints of interest. After a month it was one evening proposed that theyshould all attend the theater. It was agreed to, and it was left toJordan to decide where to go. Queerly enough, he selected a theater wherethe opera of "Tannhauser" was to be performed.

  "Did you ever attend a grand opera performance, Tom?" asked Sedgwick.

  "No," was the response. "Thet's ther reason I wanter go."

  He seemed greatly absorbed throughout the performance. The opera wasput on with every splendor possible, and the strange man sat almostmotionless through the mighty rendition, and was unusually silent allthe way home.

  Arriving there, Grace said: "Mr. Jordan, give us your idea of the opera."

  "I reckon yo' might laugh at me ef I should," said Jordan.

  "No, we will not," said Grace; "for when it comes to that, we are noneof us quite up to the comprehension of the mystery of a grand opera--atleast, none but Margaret."

  "Well," said Jordan, "mystery are a good word ter use thar. If yo' jestoccerpy yo'r eyes and ears, yo' hear mostly only a ocean roar uv singin',a brayin' uv trumpets, a clashin' uv cymbals, a beatin' uv drums, withther soft strains uv viols, harps 'nd flutes, and not much music. Ef yo'set yo'r mind workin' ter foller ther myths outer which ther story of theopera war made, then ther tones become voices, 'nd ther music only tellser story. But ef yo' give yo'r soul a chance, then it's different. Thermusic assumes forms of its own; it materializes, as Jim would say, andeach man as listens understands in his own way its language. It bringster ther human ear the tones uv ther ocean when it sobs agin ther sands;it steals ther echo of the melodies thet the winds wakes when theytouches ther arms uv ther great pines on ther mountain tops and makes 'emther harps; it steals ther babble from the brooks; it calls back all thervoices of the woods when within 'em ther matin' birds is all singin' inchorus; it borrers ther thunder from ther storm; it sarches ther wholeworld for melodies, 'nd blends 'em all for our use.

  "Still, they all ter-night war, ter me, only compniments. Underneath allwur a symphony which wur thet of a higher soul singin' ter my soul--maybe 'twere my mother's singin' ter my soul uv glories thet we hasn't yetreached. It war a call fur men ter look higher ter whar thar is melodiestoo solemn 'nd sweet fur ther dull ears uv poor mortality ter hear, terwhar ez picters too fair fur our darkened eyes ter see, but which allaugust is a-waitin' fur us.

  "When I war sick, I thot one night I hearn Margery prayin' fur me; someuv thet music ter-night seemed like a rehearsal uv thet prayer."

  "Why, Mr. Jordan, that is better than the opera itself," said Grace; andMargaret bent and kissed the brave man's hand, while he blushed like agirl, and said, "Sho'."