Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-07-27
Il Wa His Wife.

nOteu music WacncE IN New 1"k
city relates the following incident, which
contains moral worth recognition.
year ago last fall IA card was brought
into ny MUSHROOM bearing the name
Of = wcll-known and fashionable married
lady. When she was ushcred in | was
surprised to see so young n looking wo-
man, though, to be sure, she is not yet
40, and fair complexion and clear blue
eyes make her look younger. She SEEM
ed y little embarrassed but asked me to
try her voice. ] did so and found it
uncutivated, but was singnlarly fresh
and sweet; in quality light soprano. l
| told her so, and her face flushed eager
| " as she asked: Professor. could you
teach me to sing?" Yes" replied, ''if
| you choose to apply yourself earnestly.
! that need not be seen, and that no one
| knows Of it, will take lesson every
day" We made the best arrangements
we could, and the lady never failed to
appear promptly at the hour. She was
so anxious and so persevering that she
made the most extraordinary progress,
and, when spring came, her voice hat
so strengthened and developed as to be
almost beyond recognition.
During the summer heard nothing
of her beyond mention in the society
papers of her being at Saratoga, but
about month ago she called upon me,
and taking both my hands in hers,
shook them earnestly, as she said, PRO
fessor, have come to thank you for
making me the happiest woman alive"
She then told me that her husband. to
whom she was deeply attached, was pas
sionately fond of vocal music, and had
always regretted that she could not sing.
She had never cultivated her voice be-
fore marriage, and afterward the coming
of children and the claims of society had
prevented her attempting it; but the I'M
lucky day came when Mr.. r. made the
acquaintance of n charming widow with
charming voice, who was always
ready and willing to sing sweet songs TO
him, and he gradually fell into the way
of spending his evenings with her.
At heart devoted to his wife, he was
unconscious of his gradual neglect of
her, and would have been astonished
had she resented his enjoyment of these
musical tete-a-tetes. About the widow
l am not prepared to speak. Mrs. r.,
like nice woman, did not resent it, but
undermined the enemy, rs you will see.
Her music lessons she kept profound
secret from her family. In the summer
they went, as usual, to Saratoga and
took possession of one of the pretty cot
tagcs, at the United States hotel.
The morning after their arrival the
local newspaper contained notice that
the leading soprano of the Episcopal
church was i'll with throat affection,
and the congregation was asked tomake
due allowance for the disabled choir. The
next morning Sunday Mr. r., with
two of the children, wendell lis way to
the church, Mrs. r. having excused her
self on the plea of a headache.
After the opening service, the minis
ter announced that "a lady from New
York had kindly volunteered to sing in
place of the sick soprano, and in consc-
qncnce the musical service would be the
same rs usual" a few moments later
II clear, sweet voice rang through the
church and touched the hearts of the
people, and perhaps, even more through
the exquisite expression and feeling with
which the music was rendered than the
qualities of the voice itself. Mr.. Il. was
fascinatod.dclightcd. and inwarily made
comparison between il and the witching
widow. not tlattcring to the latter After
III" services We're over he eagerly sought
the minister to ascertain the name OF
the charming soprano, whose face he
had not been able to see from his seat.
Come with me and | will introduce
YOU, said the minister, who knew Mr..
X. 10y reputation. They entered the
choir together, and the good man be-
gun: Miss Brown, permit me to intro
ducc--' when he was interrupted by
Il. calculating: Great heavens, it ismy
wife, And. place and company not
withstanding, he gave her n hearty em-
brace in his delight and surprise. To
cut the story short, he fell in love with
her all over again, the singing siren was
forgotten, and don't believe YOU could
lind y happier couple in New York
n