The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-10-11

l said.
"Never mind, Sam, my boy, he shall
be glad to know it."
He told me his plans. At certain
times 1t was customary for the choirs of
neighboring churches to help each 9TH
er, and it was arranged that the choir Of
our parish should play and sing on the
next Sunday morning at his parish
church, and that he and his choir should
come over to our parish for the even
ing service.
"And you SAM" said he, shall take
my place in your own church, and
please God, if you do as well as you have
done here, it will be the proudest day
| shall know, Sam, my BOY, and your
father and mother shall say so, too"
How I practised, morning, noon and
night, for the great day; how the old
man darllly limited at a prodigy that
was to be forthcoming at the festival;
and then the day itself, with its events
all is as vivid before HE as If it were
but yesterday.
The evening came; and there in the
dimly lit gallery | sat waiting, with my
master beside me.
"Sam, my boy" said my master, Its
a great risk; its getting very full.
There's the Squire and my lady just
come in. Keep your eyes on your book
and feel what you are playing, and think
you're in the little shop. I've brought
bit of leather to help;" and he put
piece of that black leather, that has a
peculiar acid scent, in front ofme. The
scent of it revived me; the memory of
the many hours had spent there came
back to me at once, and | felt as calm as
if was indeed there.
She came at last, and service began.
o, that night! Shall I ever forget its
pleasures? the wondering looks of the
friends and neighbors who came in and
found in me the despised, awkward,
left-handed saddler's apprentice, the
prodigy of which they had heard ru-
mors. Oh, it was glorious! The first
few strokes of my bow gave me conf
dence, and did we'll, and knew it,
through the hymn, through the chants,
and on to the anthem before the sermon,
That was to be the gem of the evening;
it was Handel's then new anthem, 81
know that my Redeemer iveth."
/ began--harsh, inharmOnious and
out of tune-I know not why or how;
but as it progressed a spell seemed upon
all but her and myself; one by one the
instruments ceased and were silent; one
by one the voices died away and were
lost, and she and l, bound together and
driven on by an irresistible impulse,
went through the anthem; one soul, one
spirit, seemed to animate both. The
whole congregation listened breathless
as to an angel; and she, self-absorbed,
and, like one in a trance, sang, filling
me with a delicious sense of peace and
exultation, the like of which l have
never known since.
1t came to an end at last, and with
the last triumphant note | fell forward
on the desk in a sWoon.
When / recovered | found myself at
home in my own room, with the rector,
the doctor and my parents there, and l
heard the doctor say:
II told you he would, my dear mad
anne; I knew he would"
"Thank God!" murmured my moth
er, "my dear boy, how we have feared
for you!"
What differences! l was courted
livery clever!" and delightful talent"
such were the expressions I now heard,
instead of sstupid!' and .suntit for any
thing!"
NY father bought me fine instru-
ment, and / was the hero of the village
for months.
1t was some days after that Sunday
that I ventured to ask about the rector's
neice.
"My dear boy" said my mother, 1.-THE
like was never heard. We saw you
there, and wondered what you were do
ing; but as soon as we saw you with
the bow, we knew you must be the per-
son there'd been SO much talk about;
and then, when the anthem came and
we all left off singing, and they all left
off playing, and only you and Miss Ce-
celia kept on, we were all in tears. l
saw even the poor rector crying; and
poor girl, she seemed as if in dream,
and so did you; it was dreadful for me
to see you with eyes fixed on her,
watching her so eagerly. And then to
look at he4 staring up at the stained
glass window as if She could see miles
away in thesky. Oh, am sure the like
never was. and then when you fell down,
l screamed, and your father ran up and
carried down, and brought you home in
farmer SHADES four-wheeler."
After this had an invitation to go
up to the rectory, and there inlong Win
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