In our little townhouse group we have a countertenor who has a wonderful voice. It is nearing Christmas and we are to have a carol party on tap to which the pianist and I are going and looking forward to and the hostess has invited the townhouse gang. The carol of good King Wenceslas invariably over the years always brings tears to my eyes as the snow, deep and crisp and even is hard for the young page to tread so he steps in the old king's footsteps as they go the distance to help yonder poor peasant collecting crude sticks in the freezing cold for his meagre winter fuel. They will bring him back for " flesh and wine" on the night of the Feast of Stephen since the night was cruel. The carol is sung in three parts, the KIng and page's dialogue and the narrative. I am sure our countertenor and the townhouse gang could do a bang-up job of the carol, the act of the old Saint to his page and peasant. I can't tell you why it always evokes tears but it is true that as one becomes older, simple acts of kindness frequently trigger the right brain into self expression. The hostess, the pianist and the countertenor may say to me that I should mind my own business but on the other hand, "nothing ventured, nothing gained."
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