Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-09
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER O.

one of the great city church choirs. She de-
termned to apply for it, and without say
ing word to Miss Shepard, she slipped on
and went TO the vestry-room where candi-
dates were being examined.
When she found herself before 30 many
strange persons, and saw the strange profes-
sor who presided at the organ, her heart
sunk; but when at last "Miss Brevard y
was called forward, and she saw her familiar
notes, her voice returned to her. She had
never felt more mistress Of herself. She
sang with inspiration. Her voice was so
pure, and rich, and beautiful in tone and
compass that she knew almost intuitively
that she would succeed. And, indeed, about
a week afterward, she received letter from
the choir committee, who, "having made
inquiries about her, and finding she was a
suitable person, would be glad to have her
accept the place of first soprano. The salary
would be five hundred dollars, with the priv
ilege of taking lessons from any professor
she might select in the city, not to cost
more than"-etc.
Felicie rushed up stairs to show it to Miss
Shepard. q,
"Just think Five hundred dollars And
only to sing for it And lessons from Ba-
rilli What have longed for and could not
afford"
Miss Shepard looked at her in delighted
surprise.
fOh, Felicie, dear, what will Mr.. Russell
say 2"
"Don't you think he will like it ?" asked
Felicie, stopping short.
"Of course he will, my darling"
"Theu it's all right" said Felicie, skip
ping off to answer her letter.
In little while, Felicie began to think
she took wicked pleasure in her voice.
She could not but be proud of it. Sunday
became day of triumph to her. She felt
that when she sung her solos every note was
listened to with delighted attention but
she kept down her innocent, girlish vanity
by saying
"When Mr.. Thornton comes home, he
will have heard 80 many fine voices that
mine will be nothing to him. and it he sees
that am vain of it, he will be utterly dis
gusted with me-"
She had been singing in the choir one
whole winter. 1t was the afternoon of
Easter Sunday, and the church was packed
to hear Miss Brevard sing.
At last the service was over, the people
had Hocked out; the sexton would be around
in half an hour to lock up everything for the
night.
Felicie remained. When everyone had
left the church she stole to the organ and
began playing. Then she began to sing a
simple little hymn that Miss Shepard had
told her was favorite of Russell Thornton 8
mother.
81 never heard anybody but her sing it,"
she often said, as she heard Felicie singing
it.
She thought she was alone in the great,
dark church, while the twilight shadows
slowly crept in the stained glass windows
but there was someone else there. A gentle
man sat in corner of the church, who
turned around so as to face the choir.
1t was over in few minutes. Felicie
rose and made her way down the rickety
steps that led from the choir gallery. When
she got to the church door tie gentleman
came forward out of the dusk, and caught
her two hands in his.
"Feicie," was all he said.
al thought you were not coming back for
three years and now-I am so startled"
care you sorry, Felicie p
"No," she said, boldly.
They walked together towards Felicie's
home in the soft spring eventide.
How gloriously you sing, Feliciel" said
Thornton. "But do you know that little
hymn you sang was my mothers HYMN Z"
al know it," said Felicie. Miss Shep-
ard told me so, and taught it to me; and /
have often thought that would learn to
sing-much better than do now-and sing
it to you"
They fingered on the way home, SO that
Miss Shepard was quite miserable when
they came in.
al knew something pleasant was going to
happen" Felicie said, g. for l felt a bird
singing in my heart all day."
In week people were saying:
"Do you know that Russell Thornton is
going to marry that pretty girl, with the
French name, that sings in St. Peters
church,"
The report was true.
"Do brides ever select their wedding
presents? ?" asked Felicie, just before they
were married.
al don't know" said Russell, laughing;
"but you may"
"Then give me that head Of Apollo. Oh,
what lucky thing it was that | uncon-
sciously stole it |"