noon
But in a moment thought recalled them to themselves , and they realized the mastery of the power that had held them at its will and the applause broke out in showers of happy tumult . They crowded around the Lad -- strong men and beautiful women , -- gazing at him in wonder ; then broke up into knots talking and marvelling . To the old Trapper 's face , as he gazed at the Lad , a strange look came , -- the look of a man to whose soul has come a revelation so pure and sweet that he is unable at first to compass it with his understanding . He came close to the Lad , and , sitting down on the edge of the platform , put his hand on the knee of the youth , and said : `` I have heerd most of the sweet and terrible noises that natur ' makes , boy : I have heered the thunder among the hills , when the Lord was knockin ' ag ` in the ` arth until it jarred ; and I have heered the wind in the pines and the waves on the beaches when the darkness of night was on the woods , and Natur ' was singin ' her evenin ' psalm ; and there be no bird or beast the Lord has made whose cry , be it lively or solemn , I have not heerd ; and I have said that man had never made an instrument that could make so sweet a noise as Natur ' makes when the Sperit of the universe speaks through her stillness : but ye have made sounds to-night , Lad , sweeter than my ears have ever heerd on hill or lake-shore , at noon or in the night season , and I sartinly believe that the Sperit of the Lord has been with ye , boy , and gi 'n ye the power to bring out sech music as the Book says the angels make in their happiness in the world above . I trust ye be grateful , Lad , for the gift the Lord has gi 'n ye ; for , though yer tongue knows leetle of speech , yit yer fingers can bring sech sounds out of that fiddle as a man might wish to have in his ears when his body lies stiffenin ' in his cabin , and his sperit is standin ' on the edge of the Great Clearin ' . Yis , Lad , ye must sartinly play for me when my eyes grow dim , and my feet strike the trail that no man strikes but once , nor travels both ways . '' At this point the announcement of supper was made ; and the company streamed towards the tables .