The Republican journal., 1874-05-07

for the Te Deum Evidently the service
had Deen thoroughly rehearsed, and there
was little OF no talking to be done. Rachel
made a few mistakes in her first duet with
the soprano but did well in the trio with
the basso and tenor.
When the rehearsal was ended the mem
bers went silently away No onexpoke
to Rachel, who had forgotten her shabby
clothes, and felt, by reason Of her talent,
almost on an equality with them
AS she was going the organist handed
her copy Of the Messiah and said:
Just run over your solo, will you ?"
There was no one in the gallery but
Mr.. Mason and herself Rachel was
ignorant of the fact that the basso, the
tenor, and a dozen OF more Of the vol
iunteers came to 4 halt in the aisles as
soon as the accompaniment informed
them what was in store for the listeners.
30 Eachel sang con-amore, and Nh
Mason nodded when she had finished,
thoughtful rs the end of her shawl disap-
peared round an angle of the organ, and
the flrst ordeal was over Uncle Jacob
threw his arms around her in the semi
darkness Of the vestibule. kissed her and
| exclaimed:
",ou've done well I'm proud of you"'
MS was reward enough, and even
drew 'ut the never absent thorns
he other rehcarsals were only distin-
gulshet by the fact that Rachel sang bet
ter and better. Mr.. Mason never yolun-
teered aword OF fault or praise and the
others sill stared rudely at the shabby
little figure
''On Christmas morning Rachel put on
her brilliant garments and dazzling
feather, only too conscious of their vul-
car appearance; but what could she do ?
When she took her place amid the odors
Of pine and hemlock, and began to ad-
mire tha decorations and watch the crowds
pouring in through the deep yestibule,
she aglin forgot self. The change of
scene fom the warm room with its at
mosphGe OF sausages cooking, to the
quiet gallery with its lights, its crimson
cushions and It's musical associations was
like enhantment. Now the white -robed
priests came from the vestrv, the rustic
OF silks and yelVcts increased, then sub
sided. the cyerGrecnS shown under the
star over the altar, the organ notes gave
the opening OF Mendelssohn's sublime
chorus, There shall come forth a Star >
and Rachel rose With the others feeling
Is il ir a new world. where All was beau
IT,
inc.e Jacobs lace turned toward her
from an obscure corner Of the gallery,
nerved her to her task For his sake she
would do her best
The trying moment came when she
stood up all alone to sing an anthem. She
grew not and cold. the perspiration stood
on her torchad, the music seemed to come
lrom 4 great distance, the score in front OF
her became suddenly illegible in the dense
mass beneath her, heads turned and faces
gazed up in expectation. Was she going
to break down; it seemed very like it
the last bar of the prelude was in her
ears, but her voice where was rhat ? a
great lump had taken it. place in her
throat.
In that moment she looked out over
the Sea OF heads ana there wa dear old
Jacobs face, and he smiled at her and
threw her an encouraging nod 1t was
electric Out came the full Nounm voice
with a force and intonation thai made Mr.
Mason look around and drew tie na7p Of
countless eyes.
The words 80 Thou that 1ellest' Were
talter. The sturdy figure stood firm. and
the rich voice sweIled and diminished and
held the sustained notes as if incapable of
fatigue, ANA when it wa finished Rachel
sat down and tremhltd at her own tr-
umph. The service was over too soon
tor her. The past week With its culmi-
mating triumph was like another state OF
existence. The going back to the old
round made the old life harder than ever.
She knew this a4 She left the organ Gal
lery Christmas night, and took Uncle
Jacobs arm in the shoWy street
''Eachie, you've done we'll to-day. |
wish Aunt Martha could have heard YOU
He sighed At the conviction of the abSur-
dity OF this fancy.
"Even if She had, Uncle Jacob, it would
make no difference She don't hear what
we do in music
The next week came 4 note of thanks
from Miss Carpenter, enclosing twenty
dollars for Miss Moorc's services. Aunt
Martha stared and thought that some
people must be mad to give u Girl thirty
dollars for just screaming few hours on
a Sunday For her part she wished she
could earn money half as easily
OF course, if Rachel was going to earn
money at that rate why she might rs we'll
Keep on at the society, However, when
six months had glided away and no more
chances had come to Rachel, Aunt Martha
began to ridicule the whole matter.
''What was the good of money that came
by fits and starts? Thirty dollars was
soon spent, and trade was better than a
profession A steady amount of wages
was what Rachel needed, and as She liked
nothing but singing, why dressmaI<ine
was as good for her to learn rs anything
else
But I'll have to give up my practic-
inc | can't sew and do my house work
and practice two or three hours day, =
urged poor Rachel, in despair, for her
voice was developing, and her execution
improving.
'Ihen give up your music, said Aunt
Martha, decidedly.
At this crisis who should walk into the
room one morning but Nh Mason.
Il had such piece Of work to find
you," he said; Miss Carpenter gave me
your address, but lost it, and Yesterday
it occurred to me to apply TO your leader :
''DO YOU want me? ~ asked Rachel, put
ting away her work.
YES You're not engaged hope"
"Oh, no.
Miss Carpenter is about leaving us, 90
ing to Europe to pursue her studies,
want you to take her place. The com
mttee has left the matter IN my hands,
and after last Christmas ] know what
you can do. If the salary suits you, We
think it quite good one, oLe thousand ,
"Wili | have it. sail Rachel hardly
trusting her ears.
"Certainly You will lave consider
able to do, and if the people demand first
class voices, why they ought to pay fol
them That is my theory, know don't
work for small salary, and | Away
look after the rights of my choir Well,
you'll let me know before Friday if yor
like my offer"
81 like it very we'll
Then may consider you engaged ?
Yes, indeed
MIR. Mason was bowing himself out
hat in hand, when Aunt Martha returned
from marketing tour, and deposited hel
great basket on the nearest chair. "Anc