at the very moment of exerting his talent。 And the singing women！
Once in a while； in the course of my life； I have found myself in the
midst of a tulip…bed of full…dressed； handsome women in all their
glory； and when some one among them has shaken her gauzy wings； and
sat down before the piano； and then； only giving the keys a soft
touch now and then to support her voice； has warbled some sweet； sad
melody intertwined with the longings or regrets of some tender…
hearted poet； it has seemed to me that so to hush the rustling of the
silks and silence the babble of the buds； as they call the chicks of
a new season； and light up the flame of romance in cold hearts； in
desolate ones； in old burnt…out ones；like mine； I was going to say；
but I won't； for it isn't so； and you may laugh to hear me say it
isn't so； if you like；was perhaps better than to be remembered a
few hundred years by a few perfect stanzas； when your gravestone is
standing aslant； and your name is covered over with a lichen as big
as a militia colonel's cockade； and nobody knows or cares enough
about you to scrape it off and set the tipsy old slate…stone upright
again。
I said nothing in reply to this； for I was thinking of a sweet
singer to whose voice I had listened in its first freshness； and
which is now only an echo in my memory。 If any reader of the
periodical in which these conversations are recorded can remember so
far back as the first year of its publication； he will find among the
papers contributed by a friend not yet wholly forgotten a few verses；
lively enough in their way； headed 〃The Boys。〃 The sweet singer was
one of this company of college classmates； the constancy of whose
friendship deserves a better tribute than the annual offerings；
kindly meant； as they are； which for many years have not been wanting
at their social gatherings。 The small company counts many noted
personages on its list； as is well known to those who are interested
in such local matters； but it is not known that every fifth man of
the whole number now living is more or less of a poet；using that
word with a generous breadth of significance。 But it should seem
that the divine gift it implies is more freely dispensed than some
others； for while there are （or were； for one has taken his Last
Degree） eight musical quills； there was but one pair of lips which
could claim any special consecration to vocal melody。 Not that one
that should undervalue the half…recitative of doubtful barytones； or
the brilliant escapades of slightly unmanageable falsettos； or the
concentrated efforts of the proprietors of two or three effective
notes； who may be observed lying in wait for them； and coming down on
them with all their might； and the look on their countenances of 〃I
too am a singer。〃 But the voice that led all； and that all loved to
listen to； the voice that was at once full； rich； sweet； penetrating；
expressive； whose ample overflow drowned all the imperfections and
made up for all the shortcomings of the others； is silent henceforth
forevermore for all earthly listeners。
And these were the lines that one of 〃The Boys；〃 as they have always
called themselves for ever so many years； read at the first meeting
after the voice which had never failed them was hushed in the
stillness of death。
J。 A。
1871。
One memory trembles on our lips
It throbs in every breast；
In tear…dimmed eyes； in mirth's eclipse；
The shadow stands confessed。
O silent voice； that cheered so long
Our manhood's marching day；
Without thy breath of heavenly song；
How weary seems the way！
Vain every pictured phrase to tell
Our sorrowing hearts' desire；
The shattered harp； the broken shell；
The silent unstrung lyre；
For youth was round us while he sang；
It glowed in every tone；
With bridal chimes the echoes rang；
And made the past our own。
O blissful dream！ Our nursery joys
We know must have an end；
But love and friendships broken toys
May God's good angels mend！
The cheering smile； the voice of mirth
And laughter's gay surprise
That please the children born of earth；
Why deem that Heaven denies？
Methinks in that refulgent sphere
That knows not sun or moon；
An earth…born saint might long to hear
One verse of 〃Bonny Doon〃；
Or walking through the streets of gold
In Heaven's unclouded light；
His lips recall the song of old
And hum 〃The sky is bright。〃
And can we smile when thou art dead？
Ah； brothers； even so！
The rose of summer will be red；
In spite of winter's snow。
Thou wouldst not leave us all in gloom
Because thy song is still；
Nor blight the banquet…garland's bloom
With grief's untimely chill。
The sighing wintry winds complain；
The singing bird has flown；
Hark！ heard I not that ringing strain；
That clear celestial tone？
How poor these pallid phrases seem；
How weak this tinkling line；
As warbles through my waking dream
That angel voice of thine！
Thy requiem asks a sweeter lay；
It falters on my tongue；
For all we vainly strive to say；
Thou shouldst thyself have sung！
V
I fear that I have done injustice in my conversation and my report of
it to a most worthy and promising young man whom I should be very
sorry to injure in any way。 Dr。 Benjamin Franklin got hold of my
account of my visit to him； and complained that I had made too much
of the expression he used。 He did not mean to say that he thought I
was suffering from the rare disease he mentioned； but only that the
color reminded him of it。 It was true that he had shown me various
instruments； among them one for exploring the state of a part by
means of a puncture； but he did not propose to make use of it upon my
person。 In short； I had colored the story so as to make him look
ridiculous。
I am afraid I did；I said；but was n't I colored myself so as to
look ridiculous？ I've heard it said that people with the jaundice
see everything yellow； perhaps I saw things looking a little queerly；
with that black and blue spot I could n't account for threatening to
make a colored man and brother of me。 But I am sorry if I have done
you any wrong。 I hope you won't lose any patients by my making a
little fun of your meters and scopes and contrivances。 They seem so
odd to us outside people。 Then the idea of being bronzed all over
was such an alarming suggestion。 But I did not mean to damage your
business； which I trust is now considerable； and I shall certainly
come to you again if I have need of the services of a physician。
Only don't mention the names of any diseases in English or Latin
before me next time。 I dreamed about cutis oenea half the night
after I came to see you。
Dr。 Benjamin took my apology very pleasantly。 He did not want to be
touchy about it； he said； but he had his way to make in the world；
and found it a little hard at first； as most young men did。 People
were afraid to trust them； no matter how much they knew。 One of the
old doctors asked him to come in and examine a patient's heart for
him the other day。 He went with him accordingly； and when they stood
by the bedside； he offered his stethoscope to the old doctor。 The
old doctor took it and put the wrong end to his ear and the other to
the patient's chest； and kept it there about two minutes； looking all
the time as wise as an old owl。 Then he； Dr。 Benjamin； took it and
applied it properly； and made out where the trouble was in no time at
all。 But what was the use of a young man's pretending to know
anything in the presence of an old owl？ I saw by their looks； he
said； that they all thought I used the； stethoscope wrong end up； and
was nothing but a 'prentice hand to the old doctor。
I am much pleased to say that since Dr。 Benjamin has had charge of
a dispensary district； and been visiting forty or fifty patients a
day； I have reason to think he has grown a great deal more practical
than when I made my visit to his office。 I think I was probably one
of his first patients； and that he naturally made the most of me。
But my second trial was much more satisfactory。 I got an ugly cut
from the carving…knife in an affair with a goose of iron constitution
in which I came off second best。 I at once adjourned with Dr。
Benjamin to his small office； and put myself in his hands。 It was
astonishing to see what a little experience of miscellaneous practice
had done for him。 He did not ask me anymore questions about my
hereditary predispositions on the paternal and maternal sides。 He
did not examine me with the stethoscope or the laryngoscope。 He only
strapped up my cut； and informed me that it would speedily get well
by the 〃first intention；〃an odd phrase enough； but sounding much
less formidable than cutis oenea。
I am afraid I have had something of the French prejudice which
embodies itself in the maxim 〃young surgeon； old physician。〃 But a
young physician who has been taught by great masters of the
profession； in ample hospitals； starts in his profession knowing more
than some old doctors have learned in a lifetime。 Give him a little
time to get the use of his wits in emergencies； and to know the
little arts that do so much for a patient's comfort；just as you
give a young sailor time to get his sea…legs on and teach his stomach
to behave itself；and he will do well enough。
The old Master knows ten times more about this matter and about all
the professions； as he does about everything else； than I do。 My
opinion is that he has studied two； if not three； of these
professions in a regular course。 I don't know that he has ever
preached； except as Charles Lamb said Coleridge always did； for when
he gets the bit in his teeth he runs away with the conversation； and
if he only took a text his talk would be a sermon； but if he has not
preached； he has made a study of theology； as many laymen do。 I know
he has some shelves of medical books in his library； and has ideas on
the subject of the healing art。 He confesses to having attended law
lectures and having had much intercourse with lawyers。 So he has
something to say on almost any subject that happens to come up。 I
told him my story about my visit to the young doctor； and asked him
what he thought of youthful practi