The Wonderful World Of
MUSIC
from e. rowan s. trimble
"I hope someday that people will say that I touched their hearts
and left them gifts of music."
TOUCH OF THE MASTER'S HAND
'Twas battered and scarred and the autioneer Thought it was scarcely worth his while To waste much time on the old violin, But he held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks?," he cried; "Who'll start the bidding for me? A dollar - a dollar - now two, only two, Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice, Going for three." - but NO! From the room, far back, a gray-haired man Came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, And tightening up all of the strings, He played a melody, pure and sweet - As sweet as an angel sings. The music ceased, and the autioneer, With a voice that was quiet and low, Said, '"What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow; "A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two? Two thousand - and who'll make it three? Three thousand once, three thousand twice- And going, and gone!," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not quite understand- What changed its worth?" -The man replied, "The touch of the Master's hand!" And many a person, with life out of tune And battered and torn with sin, Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd, Much like the old violin. A mess of pottage, a glass of wine, A game - and they travel on. They're going once, and going twice. They're going - and almost gone; But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd Never can quite understand The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought By the touch of the Master's hand. -Myra Brooks