“His Majesty always inquires in a friendly manner after my esteemed father, and often asks me—‘Will not your papa come once more to Berlin?’ This I would propose, with proper discretion; and I can promise beforehand, if my dear and esteemed father will visit us, he will be received with joy and honors by all. Be pleased to pardon my hasty writing; convey my best love and duty to my most honored mother, my beloved brothers and sisters, and make happy with a speedy answer
“Your dutiful son,
“Philip Emanuel Bach.
“Berlin, July 18th, 1750.”
Sebastian folded the letter again, and said, with a good humored smile—“His hasty writing I must indeed pardon for this once; for he has never written to me otherwise.”
“What think you of his proposition to visit Berlin once again?” asked Madam Bach. “The journey, I think, would do you good.”
“It would indeed!” replied Sebastian, cheerfully. “I would gladly see Berlin and His Majesty once more! Ay! twice in my life have I been wrought to believe there was something good in me; the first time was in the year seventeen, when Monsieur Marchand took himself quietly off, the evening before our appointed contest, so that I held the field alone in Dresden—ha! ha! ha! The second time, was three years ago, when the great King of Prussia came into the ante-chamber to meet me and give me welcome; and when some rude chamberlains began to laugh at my expressions of duty and homage, His Majesty chid them with ‘Messieurs! voyez vous, c’est le vieux Bach!’ That pleased me wonderfully, and Friedemann, too!”
“You will go, then?”
“Yes—if they will give me leave here—and there be a small overplus of money in the purse, I should be glad. It is strange that in my old days, I should be seized with a roving propensity, of which I had little or nothing when I was young. Enough for this time; let us go to dinner.”
The day was near its close, and Sebastian sat before the door of his dwelling, by the side of his wife, and surrounded by his family; his two eldest sons only, Friedemann and Philip, were wanting. The mother and daughters were employed in sewing and knitting work, and whispered now and then to each other. The sons listened to what the elder Bach was telling them of his youthful studies, particularly under the century-old organist, Reinecken, in Hamburg.
The setting sun threw his last rays upon the quiet group under the green and stately linden which shaded the entrance to the old Thomas school. A picture was presented, which in its true keeping might have inspired the genius of the greatest painter of that day.