Then they began from the beginning and sang all the verses over and
over again, and the more they sang them the better they liked their
song. They tried to sing other songs during the afternoon, but every
little while they would go back to what Rico called "Stineli's song,"
but what she called "our own song."
Once while they were singing, Stineli stopped abruptly and clapped her
hands for joy. "I have just thought of a way to get to your pretty
lake without money," she said exultantly.
Rico looked inquiringly at his companion.
"Don't you see?" she added hastily. "Now that you have a violin and
know a song, it is very simple. You can stop at the door of the inns
to play and sing; then the people will give you something to eat and
let you sleep there, for they will know that you are not a beggar. You
can keep on going until you get there, and you can come back in the
same way."
They were still discussing the plan when they noticed that it was
growing dark. They had not heard the vesper bell. Running down the
hill, they found the grandmother out looking for them.
They ran joyfully to her, taking it for granted that she knew they
would have come earlier had they been aware of the time. "Oh,
grandmother!" exclaimed Stineli; "you will be astonished to find how
well Rico can play. We have a song all our own that we want to sing
to you."
The grandmother smiled. It was a pleasure to her to see the children
together. "I can see that you have enjoyed the afternoon," she said
when the song was ended. "I wonder, Rico," she continued, "if you can
play my favorite tune, 'With heart and voice to Thee I sing.' We will
all sing if you can play for us."
The grandmother sang softly the first verses of the hymn and Rico took
it up readily, for it proved to be familiar. Then the three joined in
the singing, the grandmother speaking each verse before they began:
"With heart and voice to Thee I sing,
Lord of my life's delight!
O'er all the earth let love take wing
To make dark places bright!
"I know that Thou the well of grace
And everlasting art;
Thou, Lord, to whom we all can trace
The pure and true of heart.
"Why then unhappy should we live
And sorrow day and night?
Oh, let us take our cares and give
To Him who has the might.
"He never will refuse His aid
If you a prayer will send;
Whatever in His care is laid
Shall have a happy end.
"Then let the blessing onward go,
And cause it not to stay,
That you may rest in peace below
And happy be alway."
"There, that was a real benediction," said the grandmother. "You may
go to rest in peace, children."
"And I believe I like the violin just as well as Rico does," said
Stineli. "Aren't you glad he can play so well? And it's so nice here,
wouldn't you like to have him play some more?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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