Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-03-01

hair, Of which the child was the sweet pos
SCISSOR. There was q lovely crib-cradle in
the list and q nursing-bottle, all Of which
latter, consistent with Its use and design,
was made Of silver. This bottle was the
only thing Jack Severn openly objected TO,
asking the youngest Miss Thompson why
in the world Mrs Duffy wouldn't do instead
Of that thing. The youngest Miss Thomp-
son rather Indignantly replied that there
were some things Mr.. Severn didn't un-
derstand, evidently. To which Mr.. Severn
replied that he had 10 doubt it was so; but
he was willing to be taught.
The way that baby thrived was something
beautiful. True, it wouldn't do to call 1t
baby" forever. A name must be given her.
Mrs. Duffy rather inclined to Clytemestra,
with Honoria for second choice. She argued
that in one of the plays where q baby was
found It was named Honoria, Dennis
emphatieally replied ITO the dell wild the
play childrenl Shure they sllus has medals
around their necks, an they allus turn out
female marquizzes or the loike. Ye have
o name as swate as any in the wurreld
yerselE. Faith. watts lovlier than Mary, an
that wen call the darlin', GOD bless it;
and the blessed Virgin II not forget that
name, shure."
Mary grew strong, handsome and lovely
in every way. Such a sunshiny child was
seldom seen, and all who came to the thea
tre-I mean the actors and actresses-would
have petted the child to spelling if such q
thing could have been accomplished. Until
Mary was ii years old Dennis never allowed
her to be about the stage while a perform
ance was going on, except now and Their at
matinees. Men In the profession are some
times not quite so careful as they might be
in the language they use, and Dennis con-
sidered it Just as well that the little one
should be in bed early and getting her
beauty sleep, though Molly said: "Shmall
made she have iv that, for she's enough
beauty an to spare" But at matinees,
when there was no school, she would be
present, and it was an unwritten rule at the
Court Theatre: mo swearing or coarse
talk at m~atinees." Reason? If any one
asked for a reason the reply would be, Den
mis- Duffy's daughter may be around some
where" The men were as polite 20 her as
If she were q princess, and the women, oh,
they were always doing something nice
or for her. Barrels of sweetmeats were
brought her during the course ofa season
But Mary would always carry them to her
mamma las she believed Mrs. Duffy to bel
or to daddy" as she, with an innate love
of ALTERATION, called Dennis, and they gave
her what it was judicious for her to eat.
Trinkets, too, and bright jewelry and pretty
nicknacks they brought her, and she could
have decked herselfin fine array all her
young life with the presents given her by
men and women whose names are house
hold words in the world of art. Still she
was ever a modest, sweet-tempered child
from the time she began to chatter and
laugh the hours away, todding down to her
daddy's Office, till she left Dennis Dutfy's
home. She went to school early in life and
seemed to absorb learning with as much
ayidity and benefit, mentally, as she did,
physically, the contents of that nursing bot
tie.
Thus things went on till she was Is years
sid, when in the course of less than forty
eight hours two events changed the whole
tenor of her existence. 1t is hardly neces-
sary TO say that in fifteen years Mr.. and
Mrs. Duffy had grown considerably older.
One grows old very fast after 45. The years
slip away with nimbler feet, as our W steps
grow slower. There can be no doubt but
that Dennis and Molly often talked about
what would become of Mary when they died.
Not before Mary, OF course, but by them.
selves when she was sound asleep in the lit
tie room which had been added to the DUFF
fy suite for her special advantage.
1t happened that the celebrated Nine.
-, the great tragedienne, was playing at
the Court, and on the night in question the
bill was Henry WILL" with the star as
Queen Katherine. Every one remembers
that at the opening of Act I'LL, where the
queen and her women are at work, Rather
inc calls upon one of her ladies IN waiting
for a song. Shakespeare here introduces
the beautiful poem "Orpheus with his Lutte"
For some reason or other-maybe because
this poem was not welded to fitting the
music until Sir Arthur Sullivan gave it his
lovely setting-there has nearly always been
a change made, and HandeIs Angels ever
bright and fair has been introduced in the
place of of the original song. The young
lady in ma1sme's company who used to
sing this aria was suddenly taken i'll. There
was no one III the company to take her
place, and what to do in the emergency no
one seemed to know. Madame who was an
accomplished musician herself, became quite
anxious. Almost unconsciously she seated
herself at the piano, which vas on the stage
at the rehearsal in the morning, and played
the lovely, tender Handel aria, saying, rs
there no young woman in this town who can
sing that beautiful song?'
Tim Wilkins, the basket boy, overcame
his natural awe of the great artistic, and ap-
preached the leading man, asked in a coarse
whisper:
Soy! Mister Jeblin, is that the song they
wants in the pieceT
Yes" replied JobEn.
Wal! Mary Duffy can jist sing that song,
or arythin' else, yer bet yer life"
Madame" remarked Jo5in, Tim, here,
says Mary Duffy, Dennis daughter, sing
the aria"
What cried madame. Our sweet Mary.
Does she sing2 How do you know she can
sing it, sir (Tbis to the halffrightened
Tim.)
Cox, l heard her oncetssafter Charlotty
Cusbman played this piece here, some time
ago" said Tim.
Send for Mary, called madame.
Mary came, blushing not a little at tn
unexpected summons.
Child! Can you sing?' asked madame.
"a little, madame replied Mary.
Would YOU be afraid to try for meY'
mo madame. Why should l be afraidH"
Can you sing thisY' queried madame,
playing the aria.
81 know the air but not the words. |
could read, l think, if you have the music"
Bring me the music, Shirley" said ma
dame, to her stage manager. Its in the
manuscript trunk"
The music was soon brought and madame
PLAYING the accompaniment, Mary sang, not
perfectly, but very, very sweetly, and with
exceeding taste, p%ronouncing her words very
distinctly. Maybe she initiated the singer
IL l.. -.