“The bell in yon valley breaks faint on the air,
Stranger! haste not away! pause and breathe first a prayer,
And give thanks to our Maker, on whom good men call—
Who created in love, and sustaineth us all.”
“Is that your boy—fiddler?” asked the teacher, when the song was at an end. Jobst answered,
“Yes, sir, that is my little Seperl.”[3]
“The little fellow seems to have a taste for music.”
“Why not? if it depends on me, I will take him, as soon as I can do so, to one who understands it well, and can teach him. But it will be some time yet, as with all his taste and love for it, he is very little and awkward.”
“We will speak further of it,” said the teacher, and went his way. Jobst and Elschen began their song anew, and the little Joseph imitated his father on his fiddle, and joined his infant voice with theirs when they sounded the ‘Hallelujah!’
The cantor came from this time twice a week to the house of merry Jobst to talk with him about his little son, and the youngster himself was soon the best of friends with the good-natured old man. So matters went on for two years, at the end of which, the cantor said to Jobst, “It is now the right time, and if you will trust your boy with me, I will take him, and teach him what he must learn, to become a brave lad and a skilful musician.”