Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-02-16

occasion to drop my beautiful vase, you
doubIy stupid blockhead? There, &c
ont OF the house, do, before you do any
further mischief, and tell your father to
horsewhip you for a stupid dolt"
Ny father heard Of my misfortune, and
laid the strap across my shoulders with
out hesitation, for in my young days
boys were boys till eighteen-or nineteen
years old. bore it patiently, uncom-
plainingly.
What is he fit for ?" everyone would
ask and no one could answer, not even
myself
wandered about the rectory in the
summer evenings and heard her sing; /
tried hard to yet the old gardener to let
me help him i>arry the watering-pots.
and when 1 succeeded. felt, as 1 entered
the rector's garden, that l was entering
paradise.
Alas alas ! my awkwardness again
banished me. She met me one evening
in the garden, as I was coming along the
path, with my cans full of water, and
spoke to me, and said
''You're the boy that broke the vase
aren't you?"
] did not, could not, reply; my
strength forsook me. ! dropped my
cans Oh the ground, where they upset
and flooded away in moment some
seeds on which the rector set most
especial store.
GLOW awkward, to be sure" !" she ex
claimed "And how angry uncle will
be-"
] turned and fed, and from that time
the rectory gate was closed against me.
One Sunday she sang as had never
yet heard her, not loudly, but so ten
derly, so lovingly; / knew the change
had come-shc loved; it thrilled in her
voice; and at the evening service he was
| there. saw him A soldier, knew
by his bearing, with cruel, hard, gray
! eyes; and she sang, knew it. I de-
tected trcmble and gratitude in the
notes felt she was to suffer, as / had
suffered; not that I sang. l had no
voice A harsh, cultural sound was all
| could give u:terance to. [ could
whistle like bird, and often and often
have I lain for hours in the shade of .
tree and joined the concerts in the
woods
One day was whistling. when | was
tapped on the shoulder by an old man,
the cobbler of the next parish.
Sam, where did you learn that p
''Learn what %
"That tune"
'At church."
you've good ear, Sam
'Ive nothing else good, but l car
whistle anything"
"Can you whistle me the Morning
Hymn q
l did so ~.
''Good; very good Know anything
Of music, Sam?' e.
"Nothing."
Like TOP
s'Td give ali I have In the world. K
ee able TO play anything. Ny sonFs
fulI of music I can't sing note, bu
| could play anything if 1 was ta'tghs.
$50 you shall, Sam, my boy. Com'
home with me. Carry these skins, an'
you shall begin at once"
7 went home with him, and foun,
that he was one Of the players iu th'
choir Of his parish, his instrument hein!
4 theSioione clio. I took my first lesson
= md srom hatLtime commenced nes
4 lhns Fnening alter evening, and some
: times ldnring the day, I wandered owe
70 his little shop, and while he sat, stitch
stitch at the boots and shoes, playe'
over and over again all the music
could get from the church.
you've beautiful lingering, Sam
my boy, beautiful: and though it doc
look little awkward TO see you bovin
away with your left, it makes no differ
ence to you. You ought to be a fin
player, Sam. $3.50
/. was s-enthusiastic, but / was poor.
V wanted al ins9ps.ent 81. my own, h'
: !. ,eouli ssr, Ies esara anoSntt,ioC.JU !
sam, my boy said the cobbler, OF
\ day, "vou shall have an Instrument, al
g Your father shall buy it for you, or I'll
. whole parish shall cry shame uro
:, him"
u 'sBut he don't know word of this,
said.
Is Never mind, Sam. my boy, he sha
10 be glad to know of il; and he told n
his plans.
9 On Christmas Day it was customal
for the choirs Of neighboring church
is to help each other, and it was arran &c
r that the choir Of our parish should rla
y and sing on the next Christmas Nor
ing at his parish church. and that
at and his choir should come over to O.
81 parish for the evening service.
ae Sand you, SAM" said he. shall tai
It my place IN your own church; an