The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-10-19

u II rather think I'm a free born American
5 citizen, if haven't vote" said Miss squeak
Il rand defy you To make me sing If don't
like. I've rs much proper pride ~ that Tor
| eigner hope And a. for my voice, If
hadn't better voice than hers I'd give up
And she was gone.
) What was il that The contralto came and
; scolded about. Why did the baritone and the
; basso wave their hands and the programmes
at him, and tell HIM that all was wrong--that
I he had insulted themy Poor Mr., Blcc did not
know. He put on his specaclcs and looked
over the programme. 1t seemed very pretty
those people who had smiled so graciously
upon him only the day before Why didthcy
depart with wrath upon their brows? He
never knew ...
! There remained only the pianist and the
Rev. Socrates Slow. At that moment the pr
anlst entered
my dear dear SIR" cried Mr. Blee, 'herc is
II condition of things, All them people amt
comm they've all gone-all got mad, every
one of cm. But you'll bang away, won't you ?
| III make 1t up to you. You give 'em all the
tunes they want IF you don't | shall have
apoplexy"
IA play tunes l. sir? Good evening, sir |
lDcS yoN w li'lullt MI postum III NIlN ll'i'H-
sion, sir Good evening"
"Achew! achew" sounded something mt
the door A gentleman was sneczing. Mr..
Blee turned to greet the Reverend Socrates
Slow, envelopcd IN furs and a comforter.
'"Dear, dear dear. at least you have come"
cried he, thankfully. 1--we insulted all the
rest didn't 20 to do it, but hev. Maybe
the congregation won't mind, SOS they hev
you"
My dear Mr.. Blce" replied Mr.. Slow, in Il
husky whisper, 1--WE taken the most dreadful
cold ! can't speak above my breath. Just
hear me-achew! achew-eXcuse mc-achew,
I've been sneezing like that all day, | had
myself brought over in cab that you might
know how serious the atfliction was-achcw!
|achew-chow. You see | can't lecture to-
might"
II see" said poor Mr. Blee, IN despair. IF
you could only 20 on and tell 'em."
"They couldn't hear me. Goodby |
wouldn't stand in draught," said Mr.. Slow.
III wonder if it's wicked to shoot body's
SELF" asked Mr.. Blce, solus.
Just then some one tapped him on his Shout
der He turned; behold Mr.. Chirp, bright as
new penny with his shiny new hat, newer
than ever; his air of being ready to say or do
something more observable than usual.
They're getting impatient out there" he
SAID. "I've heard of your dilemma about this
show of yours. Don't worry. Wen fix 'em,
Mr. Blee. Mr. Bangs is talent Of the first or.
der Come ahead, Ned"
lie walked upon the stage. Mr.. Blee stared
in horror Soon the notes of the piano, the
tones of voicea song-applauSe; another
song, the roof trembled Mr.. Bee crept to
the wings There stood Mr.. Chrp, all the de-
lighted.eyes of that worthy congregation and
its friends upon him. Accentuating his music
with little waves Of his hat he poured forth
song after song-"Old Dog Tray" Ben Bolt"
The Heart Bowed Down,""Dark Gal Dressed
IN Blue Kiss him for his Mother" Meet
me in the Lane" "When the Stars are Shin
ing" write me letter from Home" There's
a Letter IN the Candle" "Good-by, Sweetheart,
Good. by, old songs, new songs, love songs,
comic songs, while Mr.. Bangs accompanied
with all his might and main. Then, after re-
peated encores, Mr. Chirp varied his perform
ance by limitations of the canary bird, the
rooster the peacock, and dogs and lions Then
he recited for them from dramas adapted to the
Ethiopian stage
Joy beamed upon the faces OF the audience
who had come to hear the lecture of the dig
nited Socrates Slow and the music of church
sopranos. And, at last, the curtain dropped
amidst shouts of applause that made the dome
ring.
Mr.. Blee, who had quite lost himself in The
music and limitations, stood with outstretched
hand as Mr. Chrp came off the stage
/ you've saved me from disgrace sad he.
"And oh, how I've laughed, and ho'o you
sing!"
81 don't want any thanks sir said Mr.,
Chirp, but, sir, do You nan despse talent?"
mo, no, no" said Mr. Bee, 81 didn't know
that was talent. | say, come over to our house,
won't you you and your friend, the other
ah, talent, you know. I'll have supper for
you"
Mr.. Chirp accepted the invitation with joy.
Late in the evening Miss Blee crept down to
the door and put her ear to the key-hole to
know the cause of terrific humping on the
floor
"lf I'd knowed that was talent" she heard
her parent say-Mr. Chlrp was executing a
dance for her papas benefit
The name of Chirp is now added to the firm
Of Blec Il Co., Miss Bella Blee has become
Mrs Chirp and her husband confines his tai
ent to the narrow bounds Of performances for
the benefit of the - Church, where he is
always greeted with enthusiasm as that most
talented young man"
|