Page:Oregon Literature by Horner.djvu/20

12 Some of that band have gone to join the choir immortal where they will chant blessed songs forevermore amidst an array of angelic hosts. Others whose lives were influenced by those songs have been spared a little longer; yet the meeting will be bye and bye, and they'd like to think that they could take those dear old songs along with them. They love to hear them during hours of joy, during prosperity, and during hours of sickness; and, what is more comforting and consoling in that darkest of hours than one of those dear old songs?

A little midget in a home was piping one of those songs; and I could not help but think that a half century had rolled by since a master trained the tuneless voices heard then among men; and I wished he were still here that he might listen to the little one sing. Then he could see that he had taught better than he knew, for he taught an unborn generation to sing; and thus he tuned their hearts to sweeter, softer, gentler strains. Those songs have softened the soul and sweetened the literature of Oregon, for they have become a part of of Oregon life.

I sometimes think the muse that first sung the "Beautiful Willamette," that poem which was set to the gliding movement, waltz-like measure, and rippling music of our poetic river was inspired by the spirit of those beautiful songs—the songs of