The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-01


that he was not music-larntn HereupOn, the
"head choristerp arose, and with small -four
ish in imitation Of his professors most graceful
gestures, proposed that the homer under consid-
GRAFTON should not be restricted to the sterner and
bass voiced sex, but that fair trio Of feminine
choristers should be chosen, to share with their
brethren the musical burden Of responsibility
A vehement whispering ensued on the ladies'
side in the midst Of which the motion was carried
by reclamation; and three who made distressing
protestations, in an undertone of vexation, that
they should forever remain as mute as fishes in
Botany Bay, were elevated to the rank of choris-
tresses.
The winter went swiftly and delightfully."- by
us, and at the opening Of spring we could boast Of
quite an addition to choir and TO its stock Of
tunes. More than sill this, the members had
been taught TO spell out their own music instead
of repeating il in parrot fashion from the lips Of
| another. Thus had been laid good foundation
stone
The day came at length, when our good Mr..
Disney was to give US his last criticisms his last
tuning stroke. Each Of us, from oldest to
youngest, lamented over his departure He had
his oddities end his sffectatics but we were all
20 accustomed TO the weekly sight OF him, with
his lame white horse and his csrrot-headed cane,
which he used to thump upon the table whenever
his voice was drowned in the confusion Of tongues
that 1t seemed quite like parting with an old
friend, to bid him good bye. He descended from
his dignity little-patted the children on the
head, and charged them not to forget the songs
he had taught them. His parting word to their
seniors was charge to neglect by no means, the
weekly assembling of themselves together, even
after his departure but to improve their fast de-
veoping powers by independent and frequent
exercise
Mr.. Disney went his way to some other corner
Of the wide world, to awaken the harmonies slum-
bering in hundred other brawny chests and
our timid band Of fedgeling musicians turned
to lean on one other.
Our choir-gstherings were held principally at
the houses Of the elect leaders scattered here and
there on the prairie. Many time did the bright
moon look down upon q merry train winding
across the mist-veiled prairie under the silver
dropping sjv9ows of the Svoye-boughs More
commonly, however, a large prairie wagon was
loaded with the musical candidates and ratified
over stump and through "slue,n to the place of
vocal rendezvous Perseverance overcame noun
tains" even of difficult cadences; and the choir
gradally drilled itself into unhesitating harmony
in the performance Of a goodly number of tunes
which made quite an inroad on our established
Sabbath performances. Occasionally there was
provoking breakdown Of all parts in confusion
but such accidents are by no means confined to
prairie chors and we did not permit our conf
dence to faint. Then, one of the chief female
singers took a fit of the sulks, because she was
not promoted to the head of her rank, and de-
serted from our corps for q few Sabbaths But
the instinct of song was stronger than the in
stinct of pride in her heart, and she came back
smiling to US at last
The head chorister now introduced bsss-viol
into the gallery. This innovation provoked some
violent discussions among the stanch Scotch Pres
byterians. Being convinced at last that the VOL
was nothing more than kind Of graduated tun-
ing to prop up unsteady voices, they yield
ed with what grace they could. The prop was
sorely needed for our leaders were by no means
confident or infallible guides
On one stormy Sabbath morning, scanty dele
cation of choir members had scattered themselves
over the little gallery. Anxiously did their eyes
turn at every rustic of the door-latch; but he
came not-the expected head chorister, with the
dscord-drowning viol. The second chorister had
left the settlement; and only the third, the wor-
thy but inexperienced farmer, was at his post
One solitary chorisTess sat opposite to his bench
The clergyman arose calmly, and read the nrst
hymn, as usual There was moments pause In
the gallery, as he closed. All eyes were turned
upon the man of untried responsibility whose
lips worked convulsively, as though he wished
himself hidden under his tallest haystack-any-.
where, away from that petrifying gaze Of wait
ing congregation He grasped his tuning-fork
the parting bequest Of Mr.. Disney at last, in
sort Of desperation, struck 1t fercey and essayed
to open his lips to an echo Of it's ring. But the
echo refused to come through the open gateway
of vocal sound 1t was Of no use; he drew In
his breath heavily gasped, turned pale, and final.
ly, trembling with nervous trepidation, he turned
to the young lady beside him. as to forlorn hope.
al can't" be whispered, in agitation. " Do
start the tune-do take It % and he stretched out
the magic bit Of steel at arms length.
What moment for bashful girl, whose voice
scarcely dared to endure the criticism Of her own
ears! Half the congregation had witnessed the
maneuvre Gathering up all her crumbs of
courage, and softly clearing her throat she arose
pale but trembling The choir arose with her
and the silence was waiting for her first word
winged breath. A practced singer can scarcely
realize or sympathize with the nightmare weight
that presses on the lips and chest of q novice in
such predicament. Summoning all her strength,
and fixing her dizzy gaze on the notes she did not
see she broke that distressing stiffness 1t was a
faint, quivering note like the first futter of q
nesting bird but it breathed courage into the
stalwart and shrinking forms around her, and,
one by one, deep voices chimed in, until the roof
echoed back the sounding hymn Of praise
Praire de la Fleur has other birds besides the
winged ones, now. The romping children have
we'll remembered their favorite Mr.. Disney's
parting wish, and others have caught the trick"
Of singing upconsciously from their parents and
their mates. Sweet juvenile concerts swell through
the grove-temples, when the school-children wan
der through their arches in search Of bsckber-
ries or of wild plums. One wee, pet birdie there
is sweeter- voiced than all the winged wingess
songsters beside-one whom the angels taught to
sing in her CRADLE and who has carried from that
cradle the song Of happy child-heart, to pour
in warbling showers over the clover-heads and
daisies of Prairie de la Fleur.
God keep thee, my pet birdie and train thee
TO sing in haaven