Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-29
Giving Music Lessons.

"Trees, leave, sometime, and MAKE DOW,
And you can always bow-and leave"
Giving Music Lessons.
The Summer vacation!
What u world of changes 1t brings to
the innocent young school girl-what
q revolution of thought, fact and fancy! |
In all our future, will ever the weeks
come to Va, garlanded with roses and |
radiant with the fancies of the heart as
they came tD us in the days of our Sum- |
mer vacation?
That was what Elsie Dale was think
ing, as she sat beside the river, dipping |
her water lily buds in the cool tide,
and watching the birds nests In the
rushes.
She was homeless and motherless,
and all the other girls were full of hap
Nv anticipations, as they clustered on
the Que green spot of shadow under
the giant elm tree. And yet, beneath
it all there was throb of exultatton In
her heart.
II am to have season at Saratoga"
said Cynthia Vail, the beauty of the
school. "Mamms seys I am young,
but then very young girls are all the
fashion now.
II am to go to the Adirondacks with
papa, to take sketches, and strengthen
my lungs, said May Allison, proudly.
''I am to have music lessons from
Signor Rellantenda! ~ triumphantly
proclaimed little Bell Burton. Tell US.
Elsie dear, what are you going to do ?"
Exactly the opposite from you,
Bell" said Elsie, laughing, while the
dimpIes came into her chin and the
carmine color into her cheeks. I shall
spend my vacation giving music les
sons so that can test my own capacity
and earn little money for the future. !"
Bell Burton looked on with wide open
eyes of surprise.
sOh. Elsie!p cried she, lido you be-
lieve you can ?"
IT shall try" said Elsie. bravely.
81 can't possibly fancy music teach
or without false hair and spectacles,"
said Bell.
MADAME Duchense is very kind"
said Miss Dale. ''She got me this sit
uation because she knew that I wanted
vacation. Some lady wrote to me from
the Shawangunta mountains-one of
those castellated mansions on the
heights, you know, that one dreams
about-that she wanted her to come
out and give quarters lessons in hel
family. And Madame Duchense could
not leave town, SO she wrote to propose
me for a substitute"
'Are you to have many pupils ?" in
quired Bell, with interest.
"Only one"
IT don't know" said Elsie. ~
think 1 would rather have girl, If
am to chOose- But Madame Duchenss
says that boys are the more intelligent
and appreciative learners"
The next day came, with the flower
hung hall its bands of music, and blut
ribboned diplomas, and sweet hustle O
departure-and when the gray shadows
of evening fell. Elsie Dale was on hel
way to Mount Sorel, In the Shawan
gunta mountains
She had never been out of the city
before, except during the year she ha(
been at boarding school, at the expense
of the eccentric old aunt, who had late
ly bethought herself to die. leaving all
her property to sectarian "Home fol
Old Ladies'" and the sublime crests O
they were delightful to her. Glens
cascades, wild gorees, and desolate raw
ines, clothed with the black greer
growth Of vines aud cedars, succeeded
one another In bewildering array-and
the mountain stage was actually at the
door of Mount Sorel before Elsie real
jxed that she was more than half way
on her journey.
It was fine old mansion, with s
central tower of blue stone and two
long wings situated upon level pla
teau on the hill side with wall of al,
most perpendicular mountain at thu
rear, and superb view extending to thu
south.
old INF
wool as white as snow, ard suit o
black, came to the door.
rs Mrs Sarel at homer" Miss Dial,
dernsnded, with what dignity she nigh
command.
Yes, miss, de missis is home
briskly answered the sable servitor.
'Tell her it is the music teacher. ,
said Elsie
And the old man showed her into
very pretty little apartment. hung with
antique chintz. and sprinkle with tree
and butter flies in colors that would
have driven naturalist wild.
A fire of some scented wood blazeC
on low marble hearth, and was fa
from disagreeable on the cold mountain
heights. August though it was.
Presently stout lady, In black sill
and f1uttering cap-strings, came hurry
ing aG in. 49,, o,o,,. ~ o,,,..o
the stout lady in black, "there's som,
mistake"
Elsie rose up and dropped an alarmed
courtesy.
''There is no mistake, ma'am,
Think" said she.
"But you are childl said Mrs. Sorel
II am Is, ma'am," said Elsie.
IT wrote for Madame Duchense."
nuoh onoo IA n ,o,,,o /,
said Elsie, feeling her heart tn robs be
gin to accelerate. II am her favorit.
pupil. and she was convinced that
coulh rep, esent her. Didn't you gel
her letter."
II have received no letter." said
Mr.. Sorel. still viewing Elsie through
her eye glasses, as if she Was some sort
ofan unaceountable rara avis.
Then ensued another embarrassing
silence, which Elsie Dale felt must be
broken at all hazards.
"If you would be so good as to intro
duce me to my pupil" said she, 81
think
"Oh, certainly" said Mrs. Sorel
with little hysterical laugh, II will
introduce yon to your pupil"
And openi'. g door which sided gent
ly back under par.iers of pink and blue
chiutz, she led the way into study
lined with books. where by the sof
light of a shaded lamp, sat a dignified
gentleman of thirty, busy over hear
of manuscript"
my son, the rector of the parish, y
said she, Rudolph, allow me to intro
duce you to Miss Dale. who has come
from New York to give you music les
sons"
The dignified gentleman rose and
bowed.
Elsie felt as If she could slide, invis-
BILE, through crack In the floor.
Rudolph has had every musical ad
vantage at Prague and Vienna" said
Mrs. Sorel, "but Madame Duchense
has a reputation for classical sacred
music. and my son thought it might be
we'll to refresh his memory with a
course of lessons in Haydn and Mozart
before commencing to instruct his choir
BOYS himself"
W.