The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-07-22
Gbe Gintes, Neru Bloomfield, ]1a.


thing in her manner openly offensive, no.
thing which one could resent, and that
made it all the more annoying Alice was
quick to perceive anything of this nature,
and although she would not permit it to
ruffie her, she determined that hereafter
she would not subject her forbearance to
any such tests.
Whatever annoyance Alice may have ex-
perienced at Miss Dunbar's. the cheerful
frame of mind in which she returned from
her days labor conclusively indicated that
she did not permit them to crowd her sun
ny disposition. Her happy mood, however,
was principally inspired from the fact that
a long cherished wish was on the eve of
being gratified.
One Of the greatest deprivations to which
she had been subjected by the reverse of
fortune was the loss of her piano, and from
the moment she found that success would
crown her efforts in the new occupation
in which she had engaged, she resolved to
replace it. For this purpose she devoted a
portion of her earnings, sush as could be
conveniently spared. So numerous had
been the calls for her service, and SO in
dustriously had she applied herself, that
the requisite sum had been acquired much
sooner than she had hoped for.
On her way to Miss Dunbar's in the
morning of the day the reader was intro
duced to her, she had ordered an instru-
ment, previosly selected, to be sent to the
house. 1t was the pleasing anticipation of
again being able to indulge her taste for
music that lightened her step and flooded
her heart with melody as she hastened
homeward in the evening, after accom-
plishing few errands on her route.
" Has it come, "mother dear?' was her
first eager inquiry as she entered the house.
eyes, my child it is in the next room, %
responded the mother with gratified
smile.
Without waiting to remove her outer
dress, the delighted girl hastened to the
parlor, and soon her fingers were busily
and lovingly employed among the ivory
keys.
Although the instrument fell far short
of the one she formerly used-a CHECKER
ing grand-yet never before it seemed to
her, did keys respond so perfectly to her
touch, never before did she elicit such
richness and brilliance of tone. Most as
suredly, never before did her voice gush
forth more melodeously, never before ex-
press such deep pathos, than when, after a
brief prelude, she commenced an cave
Maria" of Schumaun's. There was no
striving for effects, no trickery of execu-
tion. She poured out her whole soul in
the rendering as if inspired, as indeed
she was, by the very spirit of the illustrious
composer. HHt
Her mother listented with fearful eyes to
the performance. Since the death of Alice's
father she had not heard her daughter
sing, and the sound of her voice again in
song brought wildly before her scenes of
the past. She strove, however, to conceal
her emotions, and when the piece was fin
ished, she said
4" 1t seems good my dear daughter, to
hear your voice again"
"Does it make you sad, mother ?" asked
Alice, who at once perceived the effect her
singing had produced.
Sad, my child, but not sorrowful," re-
piled Mrs. Fortescue. emusic of a char
acter like that you have just performed,
you know, always thus affects me.'
1t is curious to observe how slight are the
causes that apparently often give col
oring to all our after life. 1t may be
word spoken, an act almost unconsciously
performed, the meeting or not meeting
with particular person, a visit made or
visit deferred to some place, letter mis-
directed Or not sent--something as trivial
as either Of these occurrences not unfre-
quently works an entire change, for good or
for evil, in our destiny, SO that, unless we
have faith that we are governed by some
thing besides blind chance, we might con
clude that we were the veriest sports of an
accident
Mrs. Fortescue was not the sole listener
to her daughters performance. Was it
chance or was it Alice's good genius that
directed the steps of gentleman towards
the cottage just as she commenced ? The
windows were open, and as he arrived
abreast Of them her rich full tones swelled
out upon the evening air. Pausing in his
walk, the unseen auditor stood as If en-
tranced, resuming his way only when the
last note died away, and a movement in
the room indicated that the singer had left
fha instfunnant nI.H. Ts