COWSLIP.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 71

COWSLIP.

They were going down the worn stone steps of the castle to tea, coming very carefully, first old Mrs Nettleton and Mrs Evans, and then Miss Nettleton and Miss Evans, and behind them Cowslip was skipping down, wishing the grown-ups would go faster. It was a very old castle indeed, built just after the battle of Marston Moor, and Cowslip, who loved history and was hoping one day to take a scholarship for Cambridge, could not help patting the vast ancient walls as she came, down. She had never, never been in such a place. Her mother and aunt had brought her, and had told her that it was very sad because the family of Nettleton, who had lived in the castle for centuries, were obliged to sell it because they had become so poor. They had been in Miss Nettleton’s bedroom, with its marvellous illuminated ceiling; and they had been in the little chapel with its stone altar, where it was said two ghosts met to whisper. But they had not had time to climb to the top of the turret. Cowslip’s head was full of romance; her mother had seen her getting pale as she did when she was excited. Down they came to tea in the great Baron’s Hall, where the carpet was so vast and so shabby, and the ancestors’ portraits hung round all soon to be removed and sold, while Mrs Nettleton and her daughter moved to a new little red brick house. “Come along, Cowslip,” said Mrs Evans, looking round for her daughter. Old Mrs Nettleton had gone to sit in her high carved chair. She was already busy with a fine old Queen Anne teapot, and Miss Nettleton was. passing the scones, and nobody missed Cowslip but her mother. “ I’ll just look outside, if you don’t mind,” said Mrs Evans, and went out. But Cowslip was not be seen, and the deer’s antlers and old armour looked on to a silent hall. “Cowslip, Cowslip! ” Mrs Evans did not wish to make a fuss. She said quietly,- “ Perhaps she has gone up to the library again. She is very fond of poetry; she may be reading something interesting and have forgotten the time.” But when they went upstairs after a few minutes there was no sign at all of Cowslip. It was rather alannng and mysterious. The old castle was very eerie, at least, so Mrs Evans thought; and Mrs Nettleton, who didn’t seem at all concerned because she did not understand young people, said, “It is queer. I told your daughter about the legend that has to do with this old place. There is supposed to be a water elf in that pond just outside; it drags children down to the bottom. It comes up out of the water just to that window in the lower hall, which looks out on the pond.” “Of course, that is nonsense”, said Mre Evans, though her heart beat fast. “It is quite an absurd story! ” “Won't you have some tea. dear Mrs Evans? Your daughter is bound to run in in a minute.”

“What is it all about?” cried old Mrs Nettleton, who was very deaf. “ I wa_s hearing about the water sprite,’ said Mrs Evans. “ Ah, It’s quite true about that,” said the old lady, nodding. “ But where’s your nice little golden-haired Cowslip gone ? ” “We —we do not know,” stammered poor Mrs Evans. “ We really must have a proper search,’ she added. And so, with the servants, they hunted all the castle, and presently they went up the turret stairs. And there came

a friendly squeak from a hole in the wall —where sat Cowslip. Mrs Evans almost wept with relief. “My darling! We were so anxious. What on earth ? ”

“ Oh, mother, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know you’d miss me till after tea,” said Cowslip. “I just turned round and went upstairs to explore, because I know I would never have the chance again, and I should so like to write some verses about Castle Nettleton, and give them to the ladies that have to leave it.”—My Magazine. TO ALL. Dear Little Folk, Michael and Erin—a pair of twins, of whom I am particularly fond, and whose questions are enough to turn my hair grey—came to me last Saturday with mouth organ apiece, and wished me to tell them all I knew about such instruments. Now' at the time I knew nothing; I don’t mind admitting as much. But since then 1 have found a piece of information by a writer named O. Meyer, who evidently knows a great deal, and whose words proved so satisfactory to the twins that I am passing them on to you. He says:—

“ Few people perhaps realise that the mouth organ, or harmonica, is not a toy, but a musical instrument, that can be played with as much pleasure ami feeling as any other. “ Lord Baden-Powell, who is himself a great friend of the harmonica, likes to tell his friends the history ot tms small musical instrument. The very first were made in Vienna more than 100 years ago, and they were meant to be nothing more than a plaything of little children. One of these rather primitive articles happened to fall into the hands of a Suabian boy who was attracted by this new instrument, and liked to play the songs of his country on it, but alas! very soon the instrument broke. His chief aim was to repair it, but there was nobody in his village who knew how to handle this almost unknown thing. His father grew angry, for he wished his son to learn something practical, and not waste his time in fussing about with a toy, but the young fellow was so keen on it that he sought means to carry out his work. He climbed on to the roof of the house and and installed himself in the dovecot; there, uncomfortable but secure, he succeeded at last, not only in repairing the old instrument. but in making a new one. His friends wanted to have them too, and urged him to make more of these mouth organs, which he was happy to do in spite of the inconveniences. Soon the demand for his harmonicas was so great that he had to give his secret away to some of his boy friends and cousins, who began also to make mouth organs in their spare time. “ These instruments were far from being perfect, but in the second half of the last century one of the young inventor’s relatives thought it was time to let everybody know of their secret. He opened a workshop, took apprentices and taught them how to make mouth organs; then he himself travelled from fair to fair and showed his article, which sold with unexpected rapidity. He employed more and more workmen, bought machines, and . thought out improvements, and steadily the new industry grew and grew until it became world ■ famous. The factory in the once insignificant village near the Blatk Forest in Germany now employs about 5000 workmen, and every year about 30 million harmonicas are made and sold. And it seems as if the demand is not yet near its highest point. “The United States began to form mouth organ bands in schools, among the Boy Scouts and in similar organisations. They had such excellent success that one by one other countries followed their example and found out for themselves the possibilities in this ' toy,’ for now the harmonica can indeed compete with other musical instruments, and surprising results are obtained when played in combination with other instruments in already existing school bands. Au orchestra formed only of harmonicas provides simply wonderful effects with its fine and clear tones, and you can easily imagine you are listening to a string orchestra. As the mouth organ is very cheap, compared with any other instruments, everybody can afford to buy one, and its handiness is a great advantage as well. You can always have one in your pocket ready for use in the boat, on a march, or sitting rounjJ the camp fire, but probably the greatest advantage is its simplicity. We may not all be good musicians, but almost anybody can become a good harmonica player. Formerly everybody played the mouth organ by ear. but now there are good instruction books and a lot of music which is specially written for harmonicas. “ In the United States there are already 25,000 to 30,000 bands, and concerts have been given by an orchestra of about 2000 players. Contests are being held between schools in various towns and cities which give as much pleasure to the players as to the listeners. On the Continent thousands of orchestras have been formed in the last few years, Germany, for instance, has introduced harmonica playing into more than 5000 schools. In Bulgaria the Board of Education ordered courses to be held for teachers, so that they might be able to give harmonica lessons in their schools. Great Britain has not yet attained such progress, but it is certain that with its innate love of music, it will soon be leading. Some schools have already made a start, and they are delighted with the good results. “To begin learning, one should take diatonic instruments; these are harmonicas with scales in one key only, without half notes; later on. chromatic harmonicas, which have half notes may be used, but as these mouth organs can be played in any key, and are somewhat more difficult to. manage, they are more expensive. Music shops are selling them at 5s to 10s each. There are special types for accompaniment—-which can be used for solo playing also.”—Your loving DOT.