RICH, POWERFUL TONES FLOATED THROUGH THE QUIET CHURCH
Stefeli uttered a low cry and violently pulled her mother’s sleeve. “It is Vinzi, mother,” she said in intense excitement. The mother also had recognized her boy’s curly head at her first glance toward the organ. It had so surprised and overcome her that she could barely keep from sobbing aloud.
She wanted her husband to share her deep emotion. Quietly touching him, she whispered, “Vinzenz, it is Vinzi.”
He gave no reply, nor looked up, seemingly unwilling to show he had been moved. The music suddenly changed. From a low plaint it swelled to a tremendous wail, is if a chorus of despairing creatures were cast down by sorrow and contrition. In the midst of this, their grief reached its height and changed into meek, ardent entreaties for help and mercy. At that moment the heavens seemed to open and a clear, lovely chant of angels brought down a message of love and eternal joy. Just in the middle of the angels’ choir, a rich, clear voice rang out and filled the church with the words:
“And the blessed song of mercy—”
Jos, upon hearing the well-known sounds, so much more glorious and inspiring than he had ever imagined them, had been completely carried away. At the ending where he had always joined in he could not stop himself from lustily singing his words to the chorus of angels.
When the last tone faded away a deep silence reigned in the church. After a while both gentlemen rose. Vinzenz Lesa also got up, but he had been obliged to wipe his eyes a number of times.
“How can you believe such a thing,” he said to his wife in a hoarse voice in answer to the words she had whispered to him. “No one can tell me that was Vinzi.”
Mr. Delrick stood immediately behind him. “Mr. Lesa,” he said, patting him on the shoulder, “we don’t need to believe anything till we have gone to the organ to see for ourselves.”
“He can certainly play, I know that,” said Mr. Thornau satisfied. “How did you like it, Alida?”