The Republican journal., 1874-05-07
Rachel Moore's Music
BY MARGARET LEE.

in another; the windows We're furnished
with Holland shades and hanging baskets
of domestic manufacture, 4 cooking stove
and the pipe that disappeared through a
round aperture above the smoky wall de-
stroyed any chance of producing effects on
the mantel-shelf; and the combined odors
of food cooking. kerosene oil and coal gas.
rather detracted from a room generally
very cosy and tidy.
1t wanted one week OF Christmas Day,
and Aunt Martha had gone out on shop
ping tour closely connected with mince-
pie
"Whats the matter now ,Rachie ?" asked
stout, easy-going, shabbylooking man
coming in from the street and disencum-
bering himself of little bag and a heavy
coat. He drew Il chair to the stove, lit a
pipe that reposed in his pocket when not
in his mouth and surveyed Rachel through
a cloud of smoke 1t took her some time
to say
"Oh, nothing"
you amt crying for nothing >"
Rachel stood up and lifted the cover off
a saucepan felt the vegetables, and put
the tea to draw. Her compressed lips and
brimming eyes showed the self-control she
was eNprting and Uncle Jacob silently ad-
mircd her Ior it, She had a stout little
figure, short, decided features bright black
eyes. and some braids of dark hair twisted
high over her low forehead Il style that
gave character to her face and head
The society meets tonight, and aunt
says can't go. She won't be home till
near tea, she's going to see grandmother
Uncle James will bring her home -
"Ohr T.
This word quite exhausted Uncle Jacob
until he had disposed of his soup, his
bread and cheese, several pints Of tea, and
an indefinite amount of tobacco Rachel'S
face frightened at his evident endowment
she washed the dishes and put them into
the closet, her returning piece of mind
was signaled by humming which became
a crescendo, and ended in a clear, sweet
anthem, the rich contralto tones filling the
room with melody.
wait a mnuter cried Uncle Jacob
and springing across the floor like another
creature he threw open the piano and be-
gan the accompaniment.
Her work done, Rachel came and leaned
on his shoulder, singing one after another
the difficult solo anthems which Uncle
Jacobs love of oratogio music had made
as familiar to her as sweet ballads are to
the ma iorty.
$50 and get on your shawl, Rachel
I'll keep house this evening.
When she came in from her little room
in her old plaid shawl and shabby hat,
Uncle Jacob was blind and deaf to all
present concerns, and the llallelnJlh
Chorus from the Mount of Olives was sat
IL l. l,,i
stopped 4 moment as She closed the outer
door, and wiped away some harder tears.
Poor l'ncle Jacob, Would she ever be
able to give him even one OF the luNurles
he silently coveted A melodeon, OF a
new piano. Her mind never comprehend
ed an organ; that was simply impossible.
As she went along in the cold, pulling
her shawl still closer about her sturdy lit
tie body, she began to wonder, as she had
hundreds of times, how Uncle Jacob had
ever married such a practical, every day,
matter-ot-tact woman as Aunt Martha. He
loved music; it made Aunt Martha merry
Gus; he tuned pianos for a part living
was always contemplating getting an or
ganlst's position, yet could not raise the
necessary energy to take the first step in
that direction. She made dresses-the
machine flew under her determined feet;
and had as much perception of beauties Of
harmony as the machine needle had of the
materials that it passed through. By this
comical couple, whose points of agree
ment were frugality and goodheartedness,
Rachel had been adopted when only four
years old Her parents were blanks to
her Aunt Martha was her mothers sis
ter, but the sisters had been very different
in character; aud Rachel had inherited
from her mother a voice and a passion for
music, together with the energetic, indie
pendent temperament of her American
progenitors
Aunt Martha rather made light of all
this singing and playing and was quite
shocked at the idea of Rachel joining
musical society. However, Uncle Jacob
took up the refrain that Rachel ought to
have chance, and moaned it until Aunt
Martha withdrew her veto.
The one white day of the week for
Rachel was Thursday. At eight o'clock
on Thursday evening the ' Harmonic"
met in hall over Il neighboring store
The leading members were professionals,
church-singers, worn cut and fresh, oper
attic chorus people, and a sprinkling of
teachers The leader and organizer Of
this motley crowd was a well known and
most talented musician, and his name had
drawn toward him several fine artists.
These had undertaken solo parts in the
oratorio i'll preparation, and the public
performance was already announced.
Rachel entered the hall just as the mem
bers rose to sing the opening chorous, and,
somewhat abashed, she was about shrink
ing into a back seat, when the leaders
sharp eyes fell on her usual seat, the first
in the row OF the cOntralto choristers.
This was Rachel's idea Of perfect bliss
for right in front of her sat the solo con-
tralto. Rachel could touch her handsome
garments, watch her mobile features, and
catch every sound of the marvellous voice
Oh, what wonderful creature, in Rachel's
eyes, was this Miss Carpenter. A woman
who sang in a fashionable church. with a
salary Of one thousand; who appeared at
concerts in wondrous dresses and trlled
out pathetic little ballads, when encored
after heavy scene, that literally brought
down the house; who took the applause
like a queen accepting homage; received
fifty or seventy-fiye dollars for enjoying
this triumph, and was sent carefully home
in a carriage.
hdCnel WOulu give OuCle sJICOD Itlle
limitations of this wonderful creatures
surprising style, and he would kiss his
little niece, praise her voice, and declare
that, for his part. he knew ''Rachie" could
do as well if 'she only had a chance"
Rachel always felt worse than usual at-
ter this and similar remarks. The chance
was so dim, SO imaginary, She had no
money to pay for good teacher; no in
tlnential friends to introduce her to the
notice of prominent organsts; no courage
to put herself forward or try to attract OBJ
servation
This being one Of the final rehearsals,
the whole work was given, and Rachel, in
company with several Of the members,
left the hall more than ever enchanted