Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1868-06-04

OoSn SH0 Sooo1 o"hAnS WV SAohoAS AS@'iAS's
Ito bring it in.
We reached the house, and waited il
the passage while he went to fetch it.
He came back with large vase tenderly
wrapped in the feathers. Alas at thai
moment there came from the room against
the door of which I was standing the sound
of a voice singing. A voice that thrilled
me through voice I hear now as I write
these lines-so clear, SO sweet, SO pure,
lit was as if an angel had revealed itself tc
me.
I trembled, and forgot the precious bur.
den in my hands; it was dropped to the
ground and was shattered to pieces.
How shall I describe the rector's ragei
1 fear he said something for which he would
have blushed in bis calmer moments, and
she came out.
She who had the angel voice--his niece
came out, and I saw her. forgot the
disaster, and stood speechlessly gazing at
her face.
"You awkward scoundrel! Look at
your work. Thirty pounds fifty pounds
an invaluable treasure gone irreparably in
q moment! Why don't you speak! Why
did you drop it?"
'Drop it," I said, waking up. drop
what?' And then it flashed upon me a
gain. and I stammered out. "She sang! p
.'And if she did sing, was there any
occasion to drop my beautiful vase, you
doubly stupid blockhcad There 60 out
of the house, do, before you do any furth-
er mischief, and tell your father to horse
whip you for stupid dolt."
I said nothing, did nothing, but only
looked at her face and went shambling a.
way, changed and altered being. There
was world where horse-callars and horse
shoes. lemons and mortices, right hands or
left entered not. That world had seen.:
had breathed it's air and heard its voices.
My father heard of my misfortune, and
laid the strap across my shoulders without
hesitation. for in my young days boys
were boys until eighteen or nineteen
years old. l bore it patiently, uncom-
plainingly.
'.What is he fit for 7" every one would
ask, and no one could answer. not even
myself.
I wandered about the rectory in the
summer evenings and heard her sing; I
tried hard to get the old gardner to let me
help him carry the watering pots, and
when succeed felt, as I entered the rec
tors garden, that was entering para
disc. Oh, happy months. when, after the
horrible labors of the weary day, I used
to follow the old gardner and hear her
sing.
My old withercd heart beats fuller and
freer when the memory comes back to me
now.
Alas! alas my awkwardness again BAN
ished me. She met me one evening in
the garden as was coming along the path
with my cans full of water. and spoke to
me, and said:
"You're the boy that broke the vase,
aren't you?"
I did not, could not reply; my strength
forsook me, I dropped my cans on the
ground, where they upset and flooded a.
way in moment some seeds on which
the rector set most especial store.
''How awkward to be surep' she ex-
claimed. ''And how angry uncle will
bel"
I turned and fed, and from that time
the rectory gates were closed against me
led miserable life for the next three
years had only one consolation during
the whole of that dreary time. saw hel
at church and heard her sing there.
could hear nothing else when she sang,
clear and distinct, above the confused
nasal sound that came from the voices Of
others-hers alone pure, sweet and good
It was blessed time. I would not miss
a Sundays service in church for all thai
might offer. Three good miles every
Sunday, there and back, did I heavily
plod to hear her, and feel we'll rewarded
l shared her joys and happiness. Iknev
when she was happy, when oppressed al
mother knows the tones of her child's
voice, the minutest shade of difference, 81
[ could tell when her heart was light ant
when sad.
One Sunday she sang as | never ye
heard her, not loudly, but tendcrly, 81
lovingly; knew the change had come