Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1873-11-14
FINDING A HOME.

To show how long for one lover-like hour?
FINDING A HOME.
Philip Bartol was an odd genius, as W,
shall see before we have done with him. :
Well for him that he possessed fOTtitud,
and persistence. He asked no masass ad
vice touching the manner Of life he shoul(
pursue. :.
At the age of two-and-twenty, Philil
Bartol came home from sea with his mine
made up that he would go to sea no more
at least for the present. Not as most young
men study did Philip Bartol study. HI
did not cast about for the greatest sum Of
present comforts and joys. In the solitude
of his chamber, at an obscure tavern, he
sat and pondered The mental picture he
drew was old age. What kind OF an ole
age would he like to arrive at That was
( the question of his mind and after long
and serious study he concluded what he
would like for the surroundings OF his ad
vancing years and he also planned what
he would do toward the desired end
| And Philip Bartol went out and bought
himself knapsack, into which he packed
change of clothing, and then, in stout,
honey garb-such garb as toilers wear
! he was ready to set forth.
! And despite the bronze upon his skin,
and the garb Of toll that clothed him,
Philip was a handsome man. He was tall
and strong full and perfect in every man
| ly point erect and firm with magnlfi-
cent head upon his broad shoulders; and a
face i'll which the dauntless light OF honor
| and courage EXCHANGED an otherwise class
| ic beauty.
ssWhere now, Philip % asked a friend
who had observed his notes of prepara-
ton.
Unto the country, Tom, in search of a
home.''
"A home ?''
ssYes-A home That's what l am 60
ing to try to find"
And on the next day Philip went away.
1t was on an evening in June that Philip
Bartol arrived in the quiet village OF Ash
ton. and here sought for work. He found
it upon the farm OF worthy man: VINO
was clad enough to secure the services OF
so able and honest an appearing laborer.-
The farmer was Mr.. Larrabee, and dea-
con of the village church. His dwelling
was in the village, his broad acres stretch
ed away over the hills and wales beyond.
Philip worked well, and as he worked he
sang. Saturday evening came, and the
church choir met at the Deacon's house to
practice.
Would not Philip join them
Without pride, Philip felt that his voice
would be help to them, and he Joined
them cheerfully.
A help indeed Such voice had never
been heard in Ashton before. God makes
our native leaders, and we recognize and
adopt them Philip Bartol could not sing
in that choir and not lead it.
Of course he sat in the slnglngseats on
the Sabbath, and thus he leaped at bound,
into the good graces OF the honest people
of the fair country town.
On that Saturday evening, in the Dea-
cons parlor, Philip caught a sound that
startled him. 1t was a female voice,as clear
as a flute, and as soft as the dulcimer Of a
mocking bird. In its lovellest and in its
highest strains there was not harsh cad
ence. It was sweet and pure, and sweet
and pure only. Such a voice is not only
attractive, but it is an index to the inner
being. Philip looked upon the owner Of
the voice, and he was not disappointed. A
girl Just bursting into perfect womanhood
perhaps twenty years Of age-healthful
and glowing-her form exactly such as
Phidias would have chosen for the model
of female perfection-and her dress simple
and neat. Her face was always happy
when she was singing with her friends
and the rich brown curls f1oated down over
her shoulders, sweeping back from her
frank. handsome brow, with not particle
of ornamentation save the wave and gloss
which nature had given them.
At the first recess the deacon, who had
been an appreciative listner, introduced
his new hand to the other singers, and thus
Philip found that the girl Of the sweet
voice and sunny face was Clara Palmer,
the daughter of the village physician.
When they resumed their places for
singing again, Philip was placed in the
centre. These people were not enylous.-
They recognized the quality of this new
singer, and they sought at once to make
proper use OF 1T.
And thus Philip found himself by the
side of Clara Palmer.
These of you who have sung IN choir,
or in chorus, know how the tlmld depend
upon the leading of the sure and confident.
AS naturally as water runs down null and
| as soft cloud float in the air did Clara
when she caught the strong, true voice.
lean upon it. She leaned upon its prompt
hold rythm. and upon it's rich and exact
harmony. She felt that she was singing
better than she had ever sung, and Others
NAV have thought the same.
ooh said Nettie Blake, when there
came a pause in the singing, why CAM
we sing the Anthem of the Redeemed
Mr.. Bartol and Clara can sing the duet,
am sure"
The idea was caught up eagerly by thu
others, and Philip consented to try 1t.
The duet was one of the most beautiful
compositions ever put into church music
and Philip knew it and he also knew thai
much of the effect would depend upon the
organ accompaniment. The organist wal
a lady, and he asked her if she could it,
She said she could try. She tried, ant
Numbered. Philip sat down and played
for her. She caught the inspiration, ant
succeeded upon the trial.
And then came the trial with Clara
She had tried it often, but had never salts
fed herself. Now, however, she had
guide sure and reliable. With her owl
) SURPRISING voice and ear it was easy t.
keep time and tune with Philip Bartol.
And so the Anthem of the Redeemed
was sung on Sunday, and the people Wer
enchanted.
And thus Philip Barton became &C
auainted with Clara Palmer, and the frs
great heart-throb Of pure, deep JOY he ha
ever felt, he felt when he discovered tina
the beautiful girl looked up to him tender
ly and confdingly. There is a wonderou
power in music for reaching down into tn
human heart and awakening the tenderel
soul-born instincts.
Philip Bartol worked on for Deaco
t Larabee through the summer, and thos
who saw him work, and saw his out sc
ings, were led to wish that they had bel
so strong and reliable.
On the last of August the religious SC
ciety of Ashton held a picnic, and Phil
: invited Clara to go with him. She wen
with hin, GLADLY and did NOT Sealx to cOuces