“But the blessed song of mercy.”
Once more the pipe took up its pleading melody, but the chorus now took up the refrain with full strength and the words this time sounded like the veriest jubilation:
“But the blessed song of mercy
Resounds through all eternity.”
The pipe joined in here with notes of triumph, and together with the voices all ended in a happy song of joy.
Everything was quiet as the grandfather sat motionless with his hands folded on his knees. One of the boys started to run away, then more followed, and soon all of them were hurrying towards the green meadow where the cows from the valley were grazing. Here they found their comrades who were in charge of the cattle. Vereli alone had remained beside Jos and Vinzi, but he also disappeared, because such quiet was not long to his taste.
When the grandfather raised his glance he seemed to return from some far-away place.
“You sang me a beautiful song,” he said kindly. “Where did you find it? I suppose you taught it to the others, Vinzi?”
“I got the idea from you,” replied Vinzi.
“Hm, hm,” said the grandfather, “you seem to comprehend pretty well what one says to you. But where did you find the music?”