‘When they saw the star, they rejoiced’

 (Except from my book A Stick in Time - Purchase a copy at Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yb9c4vh4

Virgin Rock was rapidly disappearing behind the curtain of darkness that was being lowered into place. A ‘Bush Band’ was tuning up as the people plunked themselves down on and around the strategically placed logs that were to serve as seats. There was some electric power to amplify the musical equipment. They began to play the well-known Christmas Carols, all of which Bram and Thomas had never heard before! They sat in silence while everyone else joined in the singing.

After a while Erin was invited to sit down and play the clarsach or Irish Harp which some called the ‘musical tree.’ As her nimble fingers strummed the harp, unseen angels began to gather in the surrounding trees like birds coming home to roost for the night. The stars in the bright sky began to twinkle in time to Erin’s voice as it softly echoed off of Virgin Rock. When she slowly sang Child in a Manger to a Gaelic melody, though there was no breeze, the leaves in the trees began to rustle, especially when she got to the line,

Prophets foretold Him,

Infant of wonder:

Angels behold Him

On His throne;

Worthy our Saviour

Of all their praises;

Happy for ever are His own.

I could not help myself, but my own voice began to blend in with voices of the angels on High as we sang a (silent to the human ear) descant. Bram and Thomas sat wide-eyed with no sound issuing from mouths open. They could not believe the sweetness that came from the lips of Erin. It was nectar dripping from a flower. Indeed, angels began invisibly hovering around her like humming birds! Her face glowed as the burning embers of the camp fire reflected off of her perfect complexion.

There was no applause when she finished. Instead the audience was awe-struck, angels included. They praised God for the gift He had given Erin. One of the band members handed her a violin from a wooden case. She lifted it and pointed the bow to the stars, stabbing at the Southern Cross formation. With the rest of them Thomas and Bram lifted their eyes to the heavens. There was no moon this Christmas Eve, nor were there city lights stealing the constellation’s bejewelled lustre. Yes, the stars were especially bright tonight. Indeed, many of the surrounding towns and homesteads bore the names of stars and their constellations: Comet, Arcturus Downs, and Orion, for example, so named after the explorer Leithart’s nocturnal visions.

Erin tapped the back of the violin with the back of the bow. All eyes were now upon her once more. She started slowly. It was Vivaldi’s ‘Summer.’ She played a short portion of the Adagio then she speeded things up a little with the Allegro. Next it was full on with the Presto!

Thomas and Bram could not believe their ears. They wanted to rise to their feet and applaud before she had finished! After this she began slowly to transform the violin into a fiddle with an air, a jig, and then a reel. The people were on their feet dancing around their partners as if they just had to express the joy of life! As Erin put the violin down the band struck up. However, it was unanimously requested that the band accompany Erin as she sang Fear a’ Bhàta, (a Scottish Gaelic song about a woman whose heart yearns for her love, a boatman). Of course Bram and Thomas had never heard of this song. Interestingly, the last word in the title, depending on whether the first vowel is stressed or not, can mean ‘boat’ or ‘stick’.

‘Boatman?’ Bram’s ears pricked up. ‘Does she mean me?’ he thought to himself.

‘The Man of the Stick?’ This is what Thomas thought he had heard the song called.

Bram said to Thomas, ‘Is there no end to this woman’s talent?’

‘Get your eyes off of her. I saw her first!’ he replied half seriously.