San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-04-23
CONTINUED. Commenced April 2l.l
GUYS CHORISTER.

10 praise or to condemn. The novelty Of It's
being produced for the INST time in tn" Ca
thcdra was an additional induCrmrmt to
thrUng 10 witness it, and the comment, We're
many on the foolish sclf-COnidenCe or the
proper trUStfUlnrSS, according as the speakers
viewed it, of the yOHlg composer who could
submit his maiden effort to such a crucial
test, with the knowledge that there could be
no bursts of applause to carry away the pub
Iic but everything would be judged without
the prejudice derived from enthusiasm, and
in cold blood.
The day which was to be of such import
ancc in Guy IIalam's life broke serene and
beautiful, and, later on, deepened into per-
lection. The afternoon sunshine fell scOrch-
ingly on the multitude OF people who wound
their way through the old Cathedral close;
but, as they passed into the long naves o. the
Minister, the briIiancy of the day was tenn
pered by the long shadows that fell as the
peace of the place fell on the spirits of the
crowd.
The surpliCed ChOriStrTS were in their
seats and by the organ sat Guy IIallam. as
white as death, but, now that the moment of
trial was come, cool amd rcSOIutp He look
ed down at the crowded church: and pes
entity he saw hi, sister enter. \ haSty glance
at his watch showed him that the appointed
hour was almost reached. He turned round
quickly, and saw that the place of the boy
who had come to him on the previous night
was empty. Cold drops gathered on his
brow.
II might have expected it," he muttered;
and yet his heart was full of a surprise and
disappointment he could not account for.
Ia oil ,rai, 10 Liz NIT
ing of hopeless despair, and raised his hand
to close the now useless score; but, as he did
50. it was arrested by the light touch on his
arm which had detained him before, and,
looking up, he started, seeing that the chOriS-
ter stood beside him. At the sane moment
n curious sense of recognition which had
haunted him during their first interview be-
came more marked, and for a second he
seemed almost able to account for it; then it
faded away.
81 must be out of sight of the people" the
boy whispered. Let me stand here here,
where can touch YOU
AS YOU like" Guy IIaIlam returned soft
". Then he tool, the boys hand again, and
sruItinizrd him more closely. "WelI." he
said, "whrthcr You succeed or fail, shall
always be grateful to you. But, oh, my boy,
Try hard! Pray 10 llrav,n to help you, and
don't forget that everything depends on
you"
He seated himself before the organ as he
spoke, and the boy took up his position be-
side him. With grand swell of harmony
the music poured through the old Cathedral,
hIIshing the murmuring people and filling all
the building with its lOvelinpsS Then arose
a chorus of boys voices, which scared and
fell and at last died away, leaving the organ
again to take up the strain alone. 1t played
a few simple chords of prelude and voice
began to sing.
Even now, when DOwnbury has become
hOurishing place, instead of the Old-fashiOn-
ed market-tOwn il waS-nOw, when it boasts
fine conccrt-hall and listens critically to
London ''StarS''-even now it remembers and
speaks of that marvellous singing.
The story which Guy IIallam had taken
for his cantlta was the beautiful story of
Ruth, and the words which the wonderful
voice took up were the tender ones which
have been loved for centuries and will he
loved while the world laStS-"Intreat me not
to leave thee, or to return from following
after thee; for whittier thou gOeSt | will go;
and where thou lOdgest | will lodge; thy
people shall be my people, and thy God my
God; where thou diest will | die, and there
will be buried"
As the last sounds died away, there was
the sound as of sobbing amidst the vast con-
course of people throughout the great Cattle
dral: but the composer of the music which
had so moved them neither heard nor needed
the involuntary tribute to his genius.
Beautiful as he had known his work to be,
he had never dreamed that it could be Ell
dOwed with such beauty as had been just inn
parted to it, A new soul seemed breathed
into it. A mist rose before his eyes, he paid
no heed to the music before him-nOr did he
need it. He forgot where he was, forgot the
spel-bOund multitude that listened to him.
He felt only communion of spirit with that
other which 50 wonderfully cOmprehended
his, and he was moved by its sympathy to
higher flights of genius. He played as if in
Spired, and the chOristers seemed carried
away. The building rang with their clear
young tones, and ever and anon the marvel
lOus voice thrilled the hearts of the audience.
Women sObbed aloud, tears rolled down fair
young cheeks and stood in faded eyes. The
whole great assembly was irTesistibly sway
ed by the various moods of the music; the
moments passed unnOticed. One last long
grand song of triumph scared like a lark's
above all other voices, the organ ceased, the
cantata was over, and Guy was famous.
Among the crowd that passed out of the
huge doors of DOwnbury Minister that day
there was not one dissentient voice Even
would-be cavaliers were slenced, feeling it to
be impossible to say anything which would