Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-03-05
1t was not long before l noticed, from

ike one enuanced. She was about
fourteen, and she looked before the birth
Of our Savior--a pure, Madonna face,
with the hair brushed back from her
brow, and the earnest eyes full of Wis.
ions no other eyes could see. Her fig
ure alone was not pretty. 1t was very
thin and angular, suggesting painfully
The idea of hunger. She always wore
the plainest calico dresses, coarse shawl,
and straw bonnet trimmed with faded
ribbon. 1 found out afterward that she
was an orphan and earned a scauty sup
port by working in book-bindery in
the city.
She evidently came there from pure
love of music, for when the chants were
over she would hurry away, as if she
had not time to wait for the concluding
prayers. She would be silent at first,
and then her voice, so thrilling in it:
sweetness, would, as if involuntarily,
break out and join with the solemn
swell of the ergan. Then it was thai
Clyde Hepburn and the child. Martha
Warren, became acquainted. The first
time he heard her voice he paused mo-
ment as if doubling his own sense ol
hearing, and after that he never seemed
satisfied unless it blended with his strain.
One night she fingered until all the
prayers were over, and Clyde had com
menced praying again. as the people
were leaving chnrch. Once more. as il
were. involuntarily, her voice jyined in
the chant. The congregation left one
after another. until save myself. there
was no one in the house tut the organ
ist, the young girl. and the boy whose
business it was to lead Clyde Hepburn
back and forth, and to blow the bellows.
1t was a summer evening, and the pray.
ers had been concluded at half past six
but he played on until the last rays OF
the sunset began to steal through the
stained glass windows and make the sign
of red cross upon her pale brow, and
still Martha Warren sung, the boy at the
blllows worked-and / listened.
At last her voice ceased. 'I must
CO." she said, in half frightened tone;
''see. is sunset"
81 cannot see" the organist replied,
mournfnlly, "if 1 could should look at
you. You ale very young. are you
no: 90
Fourteen.
"And rich ?'' he continued, with an
accent of eager inquiry.
NO." she said. with the slightest pos
sible mournfuIness of tone, 81 am very
poor and an orphan"
His face Enlightened. he laid his hand
upon her head, and then with the habit
of the blind, smoothed it down over her
face, that he might picture to himself
her features.
+, care you hopeful, child ? Could you
bear to work hard, and be long time
in winning success ?"
"oh, yes, l am not easily discour-
aged. and l could wait very patiently
it would be blessed thing, for I've
nothing 10 wait for now
''Well, then, 1 viii help you. Come
here every night. after prayers are over,
and | will teach you music. Soon you
can sing in the church, and then you
can leave off working. and study all the
time. Your voice is wonderful YOU
will win fame and fortune both, SINE
day."
] don't think the child had ever felt
the need Of these; she was contented to
be poor, but theie was a sad word Of pa
thos in her voice, rs she murmured,
"Peihaps, oh perhaps. some one would
lsUe me-" Those few words gave utter.
ance 10 all the need of her woman S
heart. She missed nothing but love-
Sitting in the lonely attic of her boardin..
house, she had no mother SO dear that
her reproofs sounded like blessing, no
father who could take pride in her sweet,
young face, no baby brother to sing to
sleep with her matchless voice. They
we're all gone, better off, perhaps. in
their lonely graves, than many of the
struggling. tOiling living. No matter,
she had found friend. Her progress
was wonderful.
Soon the boy at the bellows was re-
leased from the duty of leading the or
ganist through the streets, and it was as
sumed by his grateful pupil. 1t was
not long before she was engaged to sing
in church, at a small salary, it is true,
but enough 10 supply her simple wants,
and give her time for constant study
She looked happier row. Her thin fig.
ure was becoming round and symmetri-
cal and her eyes wore look of Joy,
which made them almost lu
minous. She was learning lesson of
love, though she knew it not. She only
knew that her life was happier than ever
before-that to her heart and mind her
blind master was far nobler and greater
than any other human being. And he
the girls frank, guileless companion