Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-10-12
THEGREATP RIMA DONNA
An Episode in the Youth of Pauline Luce
Rotated BY Herself.


/ An EplbOue III Tue tOulh VI 4 auAAho law "a
Rotated BY Herself.
fFrom the New York Herald, Sept, 18th.
When was sent to boarding school
was not nine | had previously been to a
day school, but as n rich mans child, aud
a. such no one ever learned anything. !
soon found out how bitter was the change.
It was loug before | could silence my
childish heart, and put up qpietly with all
the humilati1ns aud slgnts to which /
WAS subjected, although, however, ! man
aped 10 do so. But / was destined to
achieve triumph even here. About a
year and a half elapsed, and an eXamina-
ton was fast drawing near. Every one
looked forward TO 1t on the tiptoe Of ex-
element, but awaited 1t with perfect In
difference. l knew very well that no
questions would be put TO me. Every day
master used to give us lessons IN
singing, from II to about /. The reader
must not Imagine, however, that there
was any regular course Of instruc-
ton the girls had to sing to violin,
and were mechanically drilled, like SO
many canary birds. The lesson was at
tended by only few, because it had to
be paid for extra. ] was permitted 10 take
part in il, not as u favor, for was never
TO slug, but, in the absence Of II desk,
served to hold the music for the others.
Previous TO the examination my school,
mates had number of songs drilled into
them, which songs they We're to sing to
the examiner and the general public.
reccollect this striking me at the time as
indeseribably absurd. The examination
approached nearer and nearer. We were
ali admirably prepared. The mistress of
the school, an old maid, got ready her
best cap, which never failed to inspire US
with a feeling of reverential awe. AT last
the grand day came. We had all been
ordered to wear certain toilet, com
mand which placed my poor mother In
state Of no slight embarrassment AS we
had been told, too, we put on the most
solemn, anxious faces, and awaited with
beating hearts, the course OF events.
Gradually the room was hlled with pa
rents, guardians, brothers and sisters,
who ofcourse, brought with them swarm
of friends and acquaintances. she" only
the great, the deeply feared man, the ex-
aminer, was still wanting. As matter
of course, was placed on the last bench,
In order, as was laughingly, and thereby
consolingly, informed, that l might look
like a s'big girl" though l was bit of
thing hardly as tall as the bench on which
l was sat. The examination went offvery
well. was called on once at the very
moment. was not thinking the least of
such a thing, and had Just made myselfas
comfortable as possible. iOf course, l
could not answer q word. Indeed had
scarcely heard the question. | quickly
sat down again amid the derlsive laughter
of the other girls, while the mistress
frowned severely.
The examiner, however, put on most
knowing look, as if he considered my an
swer extremely clever. SO things pro-
ceeded very satisfactorily. When the ex-
animation was nearly over those girls
rose who were to be examined IN singing.
was inyOluntarily brought back, by the
rustling, to the present, and, on looking
up, beheld, two PAGES on, my mother,
who. quite pale aud with tears In her
eyes, was gazing at me reproachiully.
| This affected me more than derision or the
severity of NV teachers. / felt ashamed.
The thought "How can you make amends
for your fault :" flashed through my
brain like lightning. | had been told not
to play the part Of the desk during the
examination. | was to sit while the 9TH
ers were singing. SUDDENLY l thought,
| .,You shall sing" / knew all the songs by
heart. but how was To manage so as IL
he allowed to sing one However, the
idea of pleasing my mother dld not per-
nit me to take account ol obstacles
When the signal for standing mp WAS
piytu rose too, and went forward Win
the others. The mistress cast furious
and at the came time astounded look at
me. did not observe ii. In order not u
make a disturbance nothing was said
When all the others had sung in turn
each her particular piece, the master Wt'
about to get up.
But the examiner, whom ! kept stafln!
At throughout the proceedings, turned sud
denly to me. 'Well, and what can you
sire for lis !'' he asked. Anything"
answered boldly. sob, inde' Il Well, thei
a sing the last little song" turned up M
! nose somewhat, for the song was YER
= insignificant one, and | wanted 10 slug tn
n Ave Maria which one OF the girls, VIII
b was i'll. had learned. l took the mn-i
u and sung il right to the end without
d f,ult, and with so clear and bell-hke
y voice that most OF those present LITERAL
IT 0pened their eyes and mouths as vide
'e they could. Appetite comes with eun
W. are told. When | had finished l Wi
Is exceedingly vexed that there were not
A. lie t ten vers,s more. looked roun'
r. N,wother WAS smiling through her tear
IN Nv tile girish Heart sWelltu hlsh.
4 i've ted the foundations to Wh"n
ha ven subjected, and l resolved
NJ kca brilliant revenge. Stepping 10
70, wntd, and casting one more look al II
4. mother to gain courage, | begged the g
at nuiner to let me- Stag something else. /
consented, and chose the Gave Maria,
A. simple but indcscibabl, tou hing comp
m sition, which can never sing even no
~ without the tears coming into my eyes.
a sung it, nut how 1 do not know. All
40 recolect is that, when | had finished
'r. caught the breath from pair of lips al
es warm drops on my forehead. 1t was +
~ examiner. "Nly dear, you have sung Ii
Va a little angel"