Touching in its simplicity, and characteristically local is this final fairy-tale of “The Player on the Jew’s-Harp” (Bergh, p. 38). In its cheerful beginning, and toward its sad close sounds the magic music of “The Blue Melody,” which some one caught from the underground folk in ancient times. From primal days folk-lore has glorified the irresistible power of music as magic of supernatural origin. Horand in the “Hegeling Saga” is credited with having learned this melody on the wild wave, from a water-spirit; and the legend that his compelling art was a gift of the underground folk was even current of the Norwegian fiddler Ole Bull (1880).
Transcriber’s notes
The illustrations have been moved slightly for reader convenience. A few obvious printer’s errors have been corrected. Otherwise the original text has been preserved, including inconsistent spelling and hyphenation.