But these were all as trifles to the fact that she sang. That was her crowning glory. My mother sang sweetly, too, the beautiful songs of "her day": "Flow Gently, Sweet Afton," "Lightly the Troubadour," "Ye Banks and Braes," "The Gypsy's Warning," "Roll On, Silver Moon," "Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms"—and many more. When she sang them, she played on the old Steck piano or softly plucked the strings of the old Martin guitar—simple and trill-less accompaniments.
But you, Miss Lou Brooks! You, oh, you!—compounded of every creature's best,—could sing the old and simple songs, if you chose, and very graciously, for any one who asked for them; but better still if, left to your own preference, you could take your seat how languidly at the piano, how gracefully play a prelude in which the white jeweled hands followed each other up and down the keyboard over and under, in what moods and fancies, in what rippling runs and rapid arpeggios; now lighting to flutter in a twinkling trill, with jewel-flash, like whirring hummingbirds; now resting humble, two meek white doves, in the long and waited-for preliminary pause. Then, you could break forth at last into what burst of passion and fire of song!
I can close my eyes still and see her. I have not a good memory, but the words come to me almost unerring across the past (and I have to remind you that I was a little over five years old):—
"The stars shine o'er his pathway!
[Long pause, with the white hands quivering on the pressed keys!]
"The trees bend back their leaves,
[Languid softness]
"To guide him to the meadow
Among the golden sheaves;
[Trills and expectancy!]
"Where stand I, loving, longing,
And list'ning while I wait
To the nightingale's sweet singing,
Sweet singing to its mate.
Singing!—Singing! [The last, soft like an echo]
Swe-e-eet singing to-oo its mate!"
[More trills and arpeggios to send shivers of delight over you—then in a new measure.]
"Come, for my arms are empty,
Come for the day is long.
Turn the darkness into glory;—
The sorrow into song!"