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

we professionals call stuck up, 'bu
you needn't look mt them."
AS Rachel was going away, quit,
Overpowered by this interview, Mis-
Carpenter pressed ten dollar bill in
to her hand, saying, she might wan
something for Christmas, and thai
was part payment in advance.
"ltachel's nearly crazy, Jacob; she
has got ten dollar bill in advance fol
some singing she's to do on Christ
mas. Money must he plenty with
some peoplc!" was Aunt Martha.
salutation that afternoon.
Uncle Jacob forgot his pipe and lis
tened to Rachel's explanation with
open mouth and eyes.
"It's your chance, Rache You
must make the best OF it. I'll &C
down to the church with YOU"
ayes, do; then / can get those
dresses cut. ] think III put on my
best things"
"No, you will not, Rache; they'll
wear out time enough" said Aunt
Martha, sharply.
So Rachel started in her shabby
shawl, and having entered the church
by side door, followed some other
people up narrow stair through q
dark passage behind the organ, and
emerged into a brilliant little gallery,
with the organ on one side and rows
OF people in gay dresses on the other.
a bald-headed man sitting at the
organ looked her from head to foot as
she stood before him, ut first with sur
prise, then thoughtfully. Finally he
drew Il note from his pocket, read it,,
and again inspected Rachel
"Are you Miss MOOre"
Rachel nodded, He pointed to a
seat near him, and as she passed him
to sit down, she felt the suppressed
litter that went round the gallery.
Uncle Jacob. who had enscOnced
himself i'm Il front pew below, realized
the ordeal his little niece was under
going. Yet he fairly hugged himself
at this WOndrOus change; and as the
tap on the organ called for attention,
he strained his ears to catch the tones
of the fresh young vOlre he had train
eel so long and patiently.
Meanwhile, Rachel at last raised
her eyes to the tall music-mck before
her, and gazed beyond it down the
dimly defined aisles and rows OF pews
then up to the Gothic arches and
graceful columns. What could be more
delightful than to sing in this place !;
to feel ones voice ascending and
swelling among such refining in
fluences? ? Rachel almost believed she
could forget self and the world thus
singing.
The Organist broke the spell by
her the music OF the Nenite.
How simple il is, thought Rachel; (;
then she put her copy on the rack as
she saw the soprano and tenor doing,
and stood up.
The notes were four inches above
her eyes. \ large hand reached
over from behind and lowered the
rack to proper level. Rachel turned
and met tho curious stare
of q powerful, dark-eycd bassO. lie
bowed, she colOred, and the first
chord was struck.
Rachel kept her eyes on her notes
and sang away, overcoming with an
effort the first hesitation and the
oddity of having the heavy bass Just
at her car. But for the steady drilling
Mt the society she could never have
held her own part so bravely.
1t was over mt last; the Organist
collected his copies, and handed
round those for the Ie Deum.
Evidently tho service had been
thoroughly rehearscd, and there was
little or no talking to be done. Rachel
made q 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
members went silently away. No
one spoke TO Rachel, who had for
gotten her shabby clothes, and felt,
by reason of her talent, almost on an
with them.
AZ sho was going the organist
handed her copy of the Messiah,
and said:
"Just run over your solo, will
you 2"
There was no one in the gallery but
Mr.. Mason and herself. Rachel was
Ignorant of the fact that the bassO, the
tenor, and dozen or moro of the vol
untecrs came to a hault in the aisles
as soon as the accompanied informed
them what was in store for listeners.
So Rachel sang once more, and Mr..
Mason nodded when she had finished,
looked thoughtful as the end of her
shawl disappeared round an angle of
the organ, and the first ordeal was
over. Uncle Jacob threw his arms
around her in the semi-darkness of
the vestibule, kissed her, and ex-
claimed:
':You'vc done we'll! Pm proud of
yOuv
This was reward enough, and even
drew out the never absent thorns.
The other rehcars alSwerc only dis
tinguishcd by tho fact that Rachel
sang better and better. Mr.. Mason
never volunteered word of fault or
praise, and the others still stared
rudely at the shabby little figure.
On Christmas morning Rachel put
on her brilliant garments and dazzling
feather, only too conscious of their
vulgar appearance; but what could
she do? When she took her place
amid the odors of pine and hemlock,
and began to admire the decorations
and watch the crowds pouring in
through the deep vestibulp, she again
forgot herself. The change of scene from
the warm room with it's atmosphere
of sausages cooking, TO the quiet
gallery with its lights, its crimson
cushions and its musical associations
was like enchantment. Now the
white-robed priests came from the
vestry, the rustic of silks and velvets
increased, then subsidized, the ever
green's shOne under the star over the
altar, the organ notes gave the OPEN
Ing of Mendelssohn's sublime chorus.
"There shall come forth n star" and
Rachel rose with tho others, feeling
as II In new world, where all was
beauty.
Uncle Jacobs face, turned toward
her from an obscure corner of the gal
lery, nerved her 10 her task. For his
sake she would do her best.
Tho trying moment came when she
stood up alone to sing the anthem.
She grew hot and cold, the perspira-
tion stood on her forehead, the music
seemed to come from n great distance.