Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-16


humbug!''
Here the burly blacksmith, Sledge, who pre-
ferred a fight to the harmony Of sweet sounds,
stepped to the rescue of Fudgetown's chosen
musical oracle. Throwing aside his coat and
rolling up his shirt sleeves, he placed himself
in manly attitude before the astonished
coppel maister, and with pair of fists which
we can only compare to two monster goards
pending from as many vines, delivered himself
of the following speech
''Look here, old sourkrout and switzer-case!
this here practise is a respectful one, and Dea-
con Potts understands what he's about more
nor you does IF you don't mozey and make
yourself scarce, here's couple of thrashing
machines that will teach you manners
Klineberg did not lack courage, but, he had
great respect for the vulgar adage-' 'discre
ton is the better part of valor' so he placed
his hat upon his head with much dignity, gave
the blacksmith and director look of inefable
contempt and left the choir.
The affair created quite futter among the
singers, particularly the females, some of them
very pretty girls and great admirers of the Pro-
fessor, whose fitness for the position he held as
teacher in the academy they could not but ac-
knowledge. Some of the imported talent also
began to imagine that they were in bad COM
pany, while the Prussian trombone player open
ly expressed his Indignation at the term organ
grinder, as applied to foreigners. 1t was with
difficulty that Potts restored the unruly ele-
ments to order; by little coaxing, however,
and an expression of pleasure at having re-
moved stumbling block to their progress, he
persuaded the singers to resume their seats and
continued the rehearsal.
Among the leading vocalists, was a truly
pretty girl, blond, with soft, faxen hair and
eyes of the purest blue. 1t was Efie, the only
daughter of the musical Deacon-the prima
donna of the choir, and the proficient to whom
was allotted the duty of rendering the brilliant
solo of 'On mighty pens,' with proper spirit
and expression. She had been some months
practising it under the very professor whom her
father had denounced in such round terms -
The quarrel had unnerved her, and when she
stood up to face the music she could hardly
pared her for the very thing she did not wish.
With trembling hand she held her part icon
siderably simpi6ed by Potts. and, with heart
palpitating between doubt and fear, she heard
the last notes of the curtailed symphony, and
with desperation struck off boldly, but broke
Again, and again with mighty effort to bring
her nerves to their usual quietude, she essayed
to accomplish the task-but in vain. Bursting
into tears, and with her neck and face sufused
with bushes, she took her seat.
ga pretty lump of affectation - cruelty ex-
claimed her father. How is it, Miss, that you
have been brought to make such a confounded
fool of yourself?"
Father, I knew it we'll enough before the
meeting took place, replied she timidly shrink
ing under his frown. II have lost all conf
dence in myself"
"And all shame too, I'm afraid Kissed the
unfeeling parent through his jagged teeth.
She said nothing, but her sobs told the NOR
tifcation she felt.
A tall and we'll formed young man, had
watched her efforts with much anxiety; and
as soon as she abandoned the music in despair
and resumed her seat, he made his way to her
side, and by soothing words endeavored to
drive away her chagrin. His name was Preston
Wallace, and he held the unenviable position
of clerk in Potts store, not so much on account
of his rare integrity and aptness at accounts,
but he was a music scholar and possessed an ex-
cellent tenor voice; these last were high quail
ties in the estimation of Potts; who would
rather have good singer in his establishment
than faithful book keeper.
1t is hardly necessary that we should inform
the reader that this young man was lover of
EAie sand an accepted one, too; and, to car
ry out the story in the usual way, the father
was opposed to the alliance, Wallace being poor,
while Effie's expectations were briliant-a
house and we'll filled store in town, and we'll
stocked farm with some thirty or forty hands
in the country.
''Mr. Wallace, you can resume your seat, !"
said the director rather authoritatively. i see
no reason why the reheasal should be Interrupt
ted, because Effie chooses to give herself airs.
Lets pass on to the next chorus"
After this the rehearsal dragged very heav-
lily. Every one seemed to be out Of humor-
Suffice it by stating that the meeting broke up
at a late hour-no one improved-no one salts
fed In the course of week sacred concert
was announced-mostly made up of selection S
from Haydn oratorio of the Creation, altered
and Improved by Pheleg Potts! That even the
amendment was failure, no one can doubt.
To be continued.
The Boston Post thinks, that according to
the statistics in Virginia, ''the colored peo.
pie in Virginia are much more numerous when