The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-05-07

when the leaders, sharp eyes fell OIL
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 contraltO. Rachel could touch
her handsome garments, watch her
mobile features, and catch every
sound Of the marvellous voice. Oh,
what wonderful creature, i'm Ra-
CHEFS eyes, was this Miss Carpenter !!
n woman who sang in a fashionable
church, with II salary of one thou
sand; who appeared mt concerts in
wOndrOus dresses, and trilletl out pa
thetic little ballads, when encOred af-
ter, % heavy scene, that literally
brought down the house; who took
the applause like a queen ac0crf fing
homage; received fifty or r. kty-
tive dollars for enjoying this triumph,
and was sent carefully home in a ear
riage.
Rachel would give Uncle Jacob lit
tie limitations of this wonderful crea-
lures SURPRISING style, and he would
kiss his little niece, praise her voice,
and declare that, for his part, he
knew that "Rache" could dO as well
| III 'SIie OILY ndu II cIldHtS.
Rachel always felt worse than usll-
al after this and similar remarks
The chance was 40 dim, so imagin-
ary. She had no money to pay for
a good teacher; no influential friends
to introduce her to the notice Of prom
inent Organists; no courage to put
herself forward or try to attract oh
servation.
This being one of the final rehears-
ais, the whole work was given, and
Rachel, In company with several of
! the members, left the hall more than
ever enchanted with Miss Carpenters
voice. Never had IL sounded so
clear, so pure, so rich and resonant.
I 1t was the subject of conversation un-
! til Rachel parted from those gOod-na-
tured escorts at her aunt's door.
/ From romance to reality Is not far;
and having scared with Handel above
all temporal and earthly vanities,
Rachel was recalled to earth by the
high tones of her aunt's voice, evil
IDENTIFY In hot dispute with Uncle ia
/ cob.
Rachel had slipped across the room,
opened the pages of an OratariO, and
was humming over one OF the solos
she had just heard. She stopped and
raised her eyes rs her aunt turned to
her:
"YOu can just give up that society
and attend TO your work nj home.
You've been going there year, and
all il does is to fill your head with
airs"
''Oh, aunt! And they're going to
hax,n a nnhls,. parfnrnonnn anI xvn,n
each have two tickets /; 50 you and un-
Gle can come to hear it,"
81 wouldn't give penny TO hear
all the OratariOs in the world! You
have nothing fit to wear ut a public
concert, and Pm not going to have
my own sisters child on the stage,
disgracing the family"
"Oh, auntIe!
Rachel gave way to Il burst of tears,
too bitterly disappointed to speak,
and Uncle Jacob shut his teeth on his
pipestem and marched out of the
house. his habit when his wife had
spell, "a he called it.
Two days afterward a wonderful
thing took place-the pOstman left q
noto addressed to Miss Moore. It
was from Miss Carpenter, asking
Miss Moore to call and see her with
ont delay.
Rachel, dressed in her best-a GRIM
son mcrinO suit, cotton velvet
sanlue, and hat with a sherry-col-
Ored feather asserting itself-started
within an hour. She found Miss
Carpenter In the front room, second
floor, Of an elegant house on fash
ionable street. Miss Carpenter, in
becoming gray wrapper, was lying
on n dark crimson lounge, and Ra-
chel looked the sorrow she felt when
the famous cOntraltO spoke in Il
hOarse, weak voice:
"Oh, thank you, Miss Moore You
see, Pm laid up; no singing for me,
the doctor says, within ten days. !
was In the greatest distress about my
Christmas service, until thought of
you. You see, Christmas coming on
Sunday, all the good singers are en-
gagged, and l want you tO take my
placein the choir"
"I?" cried Rachel, when able to
speak.
"Yes, YOU"
"HOw can I:''
Every, well, If you'll keep up your
courage. The part music Is not any
more difficult than what you have
been singing; there arc two or three
duets and a trio; but you will have
three erehearsals- tonight, and the
others on Friday and Saturday even
ings. You read easily?"
"Yes, can read" Rachel was sure
she was dreaming.
"I'll send q note to the Organist and
tell him to consider you my substi-
tute. DO you know where the church
is?"
Rachel flushed.
"Oh, yes! j often go there with
Uncle Jacob" to hear you sing, she
might have added, but Rachel stop
ped short. Strange to say, Miss Car
penter read the motive in the tell-tale
eyes, and felt sensation of pleasure.
'Thc only thing is the anthem;
our soprano Is not too good, and
promised Mr.. Mason, 'Oh, Thou That
Tellest.' DO You know it?o
VI can sing 1t. but not as It should
he sung"
"Come and run Il over for me. 1
can tell IyOu then whether YOU NAV
attempt it. Now, don't get timid:
Just sing as If no one were listening:
and let me tell you that is what YOU
must always do In solos; throw Your
whole soul into the music; forget the
choir and the congregation the or
ganist will follow you, and you'll be
sure to make nm impression"
Poor Rachel! This sounded like
fine satire. However, Miss Carpcn-
ter had opened Steinway Grand,
and was playing the accompaniment
with q strong, clear touch. Rachel
sang, at first slightly nervous, after
ward thoroughly alive to the neces-
sIty OF doing her best. Uncle Jacob
must not he disgraced by his one pu-
pill.
[. "BrayO ~ cried Miss Carpenter. 1t
will do. What pure style! Just
what Mr.. Mason admires. You have
a good teacher. Then your voice.