The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-01-25
Fine Job Work a Specially

TINS, Miss Dane; falling you, the concert
cannot take place, for there's nobody
else that could even attempt the parts.
| am unfortunately debarred singing,
and it rests with me, you see, to provide
a substitute. Unless do, all the blame
will lie on me. Do try; try your best
for my sake"
"But-theres the anthem hesitated
Bertha.
Il know that my Redeemer liveth
yes carelessly remarked Miss Carpen
ter. Well, you can sing that; it will
just suit your voice and style. Did YOU
ever sing it?7
How many tunes she had sung it and
how she loved it, Bertha did not care TO
confess. She felt perfectly bewildered
at the prospect opening to her rshriuking
from it in modest timidity. Not thai
she feared her own power and capabiIity
but-she had never thought to be
brought into such publicity.
Come and run it over for me-" said
Miss Carpenter, leaving the sofa and
crossing the room. Il can tell whether
you may attempt it. Now don't get
timid; just sing as if no one were listen
ing; and let me tell you that is what you
must always do in solos, throw your
whole soul into the music forgetting
the choir and audience. The organist
will follow you in this and you'll be sure
10 make an impression"
Poor Bertha This sounded like fine
satire. However, Miss Carpenter had
opened her piano, and was playing the
accompaniment with a strong clear
touch. Bertha sang, at first slightly
nervous, afterwards thoroughly alive TO
the necessity of doing her best. Uncle
Stephen must not be disgraced by his
one pupil.
Bravo" cried Miss Carpenter. 1T
Will do. What pure style. Just what
Mr. Mason admires. You have q good
teacher. Then your voice, it is exquisite.
How old are you?"
Nearly twenty" answered Bertha.
"Only that Why, my dear child your
fortune lies in your voice. You ought
10 have come out"
Bertha shook her head. MY aunt and
uncle would never let me do that-not
come regularly out. Singing with the
Philharmonic is different"
They have scruples, / suppose; many
people have. But, let me tell you, my
lear, that a public singer, no matter
LhOugh she be on the operatic boards,
may be as pure and as good as-ayalmost
was going to say, as one ofheaven's
angels, and keep herself so until she
shall be called up yonder to join them.
Some women are bad, unfortunately,
there's no denying it and the faint of
them in the public estimation falls on
al of us, and we are classed together in
I lump as those public singers"
THAT must be like Aunt Pen" i" thought
Bertha
IL was to be paid well for this concert
twenty pounds resumed Miss Car
penter, "and l shall give it to you. Your
friends would not object to that, / sup
Doser'
Bertha flushed with amazement,
stared and trembled. Twenty pounds
She had never seen so much money in
Ill her life,
at is only fair that you should have
T." said Miss Carpenter, "if you do the
work. And now shall give you a note
10 carry to Mr. Mason. He does not
know of my illness yet. Ask him to
practice you two or three times be-
.ween now and the concert night, and
you'll do"
The pleasure in Bertha's tell tale eyes
was read by Miss Carpenter with smile.
The girl had undoubtedly genius.
Waiting while the brief note to Mr.
Mason was written, Bertha said good
and went away with it.
The sight of Uncle Stephen at the
ioor OF the corn chandler's opposite,
recalled Bertha from her blissful visions
for it reminded her that she might
not get consent to sing even in this
He crossed hastily over TO
ler and heard what had taken place.
Uncle Stephen unused. "Look you,
,hild," he presently observed, IL should
ike you to do this for Miss Carpenter
nd shall be proud to listen to you,
landing up i'll the hall to sing though
don't know what your aunt will say to
t. You may take Mis- Carpenters
,art, but you must do it as lady, an
.mateur. To accept money would be
o put you on the same footing as Miss
'arpenter, don't you see, child-though
am sure do not say it in disparage-
nent, for everybody knows that in her
elf she is most worthy and estimable.
lou had better go in and tell her this
hat you can't take any money. Say
hat I viii allow you to take her parts,
nd am pleased you should, and that we
gill do all we can to induce Mrs Robarts
0 allow it; and that would prefer you
D do it without payment"
Back went Bertha with the message.
iiss Carpenter came out Of the room to
ear it.
Such nonsense she exclaimed.
Such absurd fastidiousness, Well, if
eople are silly / can't help it. You will
e doing me a very great service, Miss
)ane, and should have liked to make
worth your while-Stay moment
1rgOt to ask you one thing, just now
ave you suitable dress to sing in?"
This is my best,' said Bertha, ,blushing
t having to confess to so much poverty.
@Oh-that, That won't do. Sit down
Dr. an instant, child.
Hastily scribbling another note she
ERECTED it to Crossdale's most Ashiona-
lie dressmaker, and put it into Bertha's
ands.
you know where Mrs Tether lives
Veil, when your aunt has decided that
on may sing, for it seems some difficult
!, might lie with her, you may take
his note to Mrs Tether, and say that ]
eut you. That's ALL
Mr. Mason was out Of town. Gone for
le day to a distant school, where he