Once upon a time, in a little red house on Main Street, a father brought home a harmonium. The harmonium was very curious about this man, for it had been abandoned by the last people who had had it. Just left on the side of the street. The harmonium had never felt so sad. It wanted people to breathe life into it so it could bring people joy. The man that had taken the harmonium was an organist and this harmonium was a treasure for him. He treasured all music and believed that everyone should feel the joy of it. That was his job as an organist. Watching him play you were transported into the music. He would take you with him on a journey though meadows of grass and through the dark thickets of the woods. He loved the harmonium like no one else and the harmonium grew to love him. Before this man, the harmonium had been on the side of the street, abandoned, not being used. But this man had given it life and the harmonium loved him like no one else. When the man’s granddaughter was born, she and her parents came up to visit and he would play the harmonium day and night. The harmonium loved watching the little baby girl who looked at her grandfather with wide eyes; like no one else could make music this beautiful. The man loved making music for others and even as he got older he would still continue on that harmonium. Eventually, he had lost most of his eyesight and hearing and his family and the harmonium were becoming increasingly concerned about him, but he still played that harmonium, which made the harmonium feel so grateful for this man. For he was a musician and he continued giving that harmonium life with his music. Until one day, he was rushed to the hospital. The harmonium waited and waited for him to come home. And then one fateful night, the granddaughter was there, now 10 years old. Her father got a call. The harmonium watched as they sobbed and felt something inside. For it knew this father, this grandfather, this musician was no more. Until, the granddaughter walked over to the harmonium and said “This is for you Grandpa” And she played. It was a song that she had played on that harmonium many times. It was one of her grandfather’s favorites and the harmonium would always remember the love in his eyes as he looked at his granddaughter. She took after him, thought the harmonium. And she would keep the harmonium alive in his memory. The granddaughter finished the song, tears streaming down her face. Her family came over and wrapped in a hug as she cried. The harmonium watched and it cried too. It cried for her grandfather, for he had given the harmonium life. And it cried for the granddaughter, because it was so grateful that she would keep the harmonium alive with her music for generations to come.
Categories:
The Harmonium
Lillian Parrella ‘27
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September 6, 2023
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