Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1871-01-05
*Do what::' queried the three

believe there are not four sue
voices within a hundred miles. LIE
us sing, then-not only at home; tn
public shall hear u.s.
"We should fail, fear" replie,
Jerome, the eldest Of the three
What could such homespun fellow
as we do before an audience? Dolly
voice wouldn't sound louder tha
the squeel of a mouse, she'd be 5
frightened
l don't know about that sal
little Dora, gravely. 4 don't believ
1 should be afraid with you thre
in sight. And then Antoine woul,
play his violin; l don't believe the,
ever heard such playing
'Oh! of course not said Antoine
smiling, and kissing her.
Il like it, cried Harry, after few
moments of thought. 4 tell you
like it; but there's heavy expens,
attending all such attempts. How
ever, here's twenty dollars to begiI
with. was paid of honorably.'
And here's thirty to go with it, i
we could do anything responded
Jerome.
And now we've really got at it
let's estimate said Antoine, his
handsome face sll a glow as he tooS
out pencil and paper. we should
have to get out handbills, of course y
And ticketsr cried little Dora
clapping her hands-'only think. for
our own concert. Isn't it grand?
Advertisements calculated Har-
ry; they'll cost mint, though
For halls and board added Je-
rome; but then we sing well to-
gether; we shall eventually make
money
We're not able to lose any, sug-
gested Antoine. jerome, you must
be our business man. I'll compose
music by the yard; write our own
songs, you know-it's just the work
for me; inspires my ambition. What
shall we call ourselves?
The mountain bards,' yentured
Dora.
Too aspiring, little maiden,' said
Jerome, with his kindly, though
grave smile. 4 think it will be best
under our own name-the Sevres
family
How would you begin:' queried
Antoine.
'Oh! in some of the towns about
Harry ventured. AS Antoine sug-
gests, it will be best to sing touch
ing, simple home songs, such as will
appeal directly to the hearts Of the
people. We can advertise in their
papers, and put our own bills up
Very well; prepare the posters,
then, and the advertisements. l go
for striking the iron while it's hot
said Antoine. we must be in earn
est about the matter. Dolly, what
do you think you'll do when you
come to stand before a hundred
people? He had caught her arm
and twirled her about.
DO! Why, I'll sing, of course,
returned the girl, naively.
Good! that's the right answer,
cried the brothers, laughing.
Behold our group seated around
.he fire in a pleasant little. .parlor de-
1oted to them by country tavern
keeper. The handbills in blue, red,
md yellow letters, had been posted
N every conspicuous place, to the
ielight of the village youngsters,
who stood round-eyed before them.
All the principal personages of the
own had received cards to the effect
hat a new and well trained com
oany of singers would strive to en-
;ertain them-and all was expecta-
ion.
What should Dolly wear? had
ong been an anxious consideration
With these good brothers. Dolly |
lad decided the matter by very
quietly entering in a crimson merino |
rock, with a white frill at the neck.
She had tied two bits of black vel
-et round her little wrists, which |
me Of her brothers had bowed for
Ter, and her hair, in its natural curls,
lung carelessly round sweet, be-
face. On the whole, the
,rothers unanimously declared that
he never had looked better; but
hey were pale and anxious, while
he was smiling and ruddy. Their
,ills promised largely-what if Dora
allied? they were not afraid for
themselves. The town house was
llmost next door. At any rate, they
,ould hear the stamping of feet
long the hall, in goodly numbers,
90, it seemed-that was encourag-
ng. The landlord put his CHEEKY
ace in at the door. /
YOU'RE to have bouncing house.
lie said; almost every seat is full. |
Hadn't you better go in?'
Fortunately, there was a back en-
rance; and during the day Antoine
lad rugged up curtain, behind |
which Dora might retire between
he pieces. As they entered, by |
;ome intuitive process their pres
.nce was ascertained; the little boys |
,egan to whistle and stamp, and
make hideous noises with their
ingers between their teeth, after the
manner of rude audiences. Antoine
sazed anXiously toward Dora. Her
.olor changed a little.
Il don't mind it at all if they will |
,eep still while / sing she said,
luietly.
Jerome thought that the three
,rothers had better 60 on alone first.
Dora would not listen to the propo-
ition. 1T will give me confidence
o begin with you,' she said, with
more than the gravity belonging to
Ter age.
AS they went on with beating
hearts, looking SO handsome, stand
ng side by side, Dora childishly
lolding the hand of Antoine, there
vas silence for a moment-the ST
ence of admiration. Then came
'torm of applause-they had made
most favorable impression, that or
'han family; and as their clear
ones blended, trembling little at
irst, the people listened almost
,reathless. Such singing had sell
lom been vouchsafed in that place.
t gratified the ear; above all, it