Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1874-12-05
said Owen, going off on his expedi

could have been expected to trave
he was at the door of John Phillips
a shoemaker by trade, and noted fo
possessing the richest tenor voice il
the whole district.
"What, John " he cried, "you al
home, when all the band is goins
up yonder to the hall 7 l never
thought, when my poor pony stral
broke this morning, and l put il
ready for your man to fetch ant
mend, that l should see you in tn.
shop"
John looked rather forlornly about
on the piles of sand-boots he hat
just been bringing to the stand by
the door, and said nothing.
"John, man sure you don't know
the time y exclaimed Mr.. Griffiths
pulling out his watch. "It's little
more than three.quarters till you
meet, and you not dressed up. Make
haste, and give over the shop to
Morgan, and come with me. l ex.
pect to hear you sing till You make
my heart dance again."
"No, indeed, Mr.. Gritliths-nO,
indeed, sir. ri not sing today.
nor tonight, said John quickly, and
little thickly.
"Why-what has got into your
pipes, John?" asked the old man
kindly.
"Pipes 7-oh, anything but good
tunes is in my pipes, Mr.. Grif1iths.
Will you please try pair of sand
shoes? You spoke about a pair last
week."
"No, John, no; Pm not the man
for such light wares, when | think
about it. But the singing, john
you don't mean to say you are not
going to join tonight? Why |
should miss you ont of 'The March
Of the Men of Harlech' as good as
a hundred of the best men, if l
didn't hear your beautiful voice."
"Indeed, Mr.. Griffiths, and you
are very good and kind and civil al
ways, and l wish everybody was
the like of you," replied Phillips in
a comforted tone.
els it a cold, John ?" asked Mr..
Griffiths.
"No, indeed, sir; it was more of
a heat that l Took" answered john,
sufficiently Modified to smile little
at his joke.
"ToOk a heat? Oh-what a little
milf, l doubt-a little affront some
where =
"Not little affront, Mr.. Owen.
Haven't 1 been laboring my best to
do credit to the singing, and never
kept from practice ? and was | to
be told before everybody that l sung
fiat, and put them all out ?" cried
John, red in the face. and greatly
incensed.
"Who put that on you, John ?"
demanded Owen calmly.
':No other than him who knowed
best it was nothing but spite, and
envy, and jealousy; Richard
Hughes it was, the leader of us, who
thinks his own cousin, Rice Hughes,
is a better tenor; and let them put
him first. l hope they'll be sorry
for it,
$50 he said you sung fiat; did he ?
asked Owen.
eyes, indeed, Mr.. Griffiths," said
John, rather staggered by Owens
hearing Of the affront so quietly.
"Well, well; l should MT have
thought he'd have the courage to do
it, seeing the value your voice is to
them. ] shall always respect Rich
ard for it, John; he has shown him
self true friend; you have only
one fault, and he has told you of it
You do sing flat!"
John looked down demurringly at
the sand boots, and said nothing.
"Come, come, put it by; get cool
of this heat; 60 to the practice, and
keep up your voice so as to show
them--'
"No, indeed, sir, mop interrupt
ed John, very decidedly for he
had been sent into a fame by Mr..
Griffiths' unexpected approval OF
the affrOnt.
"Well, man, we'll, take your own
way" said Owen "we'll make no
more to do about it; but tho loss of
your tenor will make the Men of
Harlech halt in their march. Well,
which way do 1 go to find Morgan I
Is he in the wareroom I'll speak
to him about the strap, for he'll do
it. aud it'll be better l give him my