Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-07-28
talked. Dot listened as usual In his

oAit AAt>b OtOluCo uOL uCctllt IA
be seen in church on Sunday. Mex
Sunday begins the year-l must see K
the matter.n
''He does his work well?" asked the
alto with a touch Of sympathy IN hel
voice.
"Yes.n
"WOuld 1t not be better to get hin
some new clothes than to dismiss him?'
she asked.
mo. Charity is charity, and busI
ness IS business. Everything must bl
tirst-class here. We cannot have raga.
mullins creeping into the church to dC
church work. or course, l should bt
glad to have the boy supplied with
clothes. That is another thing. But
We must have different boy in the
bellows box. The sextOn's son i:
bright, dresses well, and 1 have nc
doubt would be glad of the place-Now
We Will sing the anthem, Goodwill Il
men,"
The choir and chorus arose. The
organist tinkled the bell, and bent
down on the pedals and keys. There
was ripple Of music, succession OF
short sounds, and-sllence.
The organlst touched the knob at the
side of the keyboard. and again the
bell tinkled. His white hands ran over
the keys, but there issued no sodnd.
He moved nervously from the bench
and opened the little doos.
"Dot?"
No answer.
s.Tha 6 81 or n inf ~
The tenor stepped into the room and
brought out q limp figure.
''Are you sick, Dot?"
"Yes, sir; what will become OF
mOtheFg"
"He heard what you said about dis
missing him." said the alto to the pre-
ceptor.
Yes, but the sexton was right
Look at his shoes-why the toes are
sticking through then."
And this bitter weatherl'' said the
alto, feelingiy.
''Can you blow, DotP''
mo sir; 1t is all dark, sir. l can't
see, sir. L can but just stand up, sir.
You won't dismiss Inc, sir; mother is
lame and poor, sir-paralyzed, sir;
that's what they call it-can't use but
one hand, sir"
This ends the rehearsal" said the
preceptor, in an impatient way. dot,
you needn't come tomorrow, nor till L
send for you Here's a dollar, Dot
harity-Christmas present.
One by one the singers went out, the
preceptor bidding the sexton have n
care that Dot was sent home.
The alto and tenor fingered. Dot
was recovering.
~ shall not hear the music to-mor-
row. do love it so."
You poor child, you shall have your
Christmas music tomorrow, and the
best the city affords. Do you know
where Music Hall is, Doty"
"Yes, lady,"
''There Is to be an oratorio there TO-
morrow evening-The Messiah. 1t is
the grandest ever composed, and no
singing in America is equal to 1t.
There is one chorus called the ''Halle-
lujah Chorus"-it is wonderful; the
man who composed 1t thought he heard
the angels singing and saw the Lord Of
Heaven when he was at work upon it;
and he is to be the first tenor singer,
and / am to sing the altos-wouldn't
you Ike to go, Dot?"
"Yes, lady. Is the man who COM
posed 1t to be the tenor singer-the one
who heard the angels singing, and
thought he saw the Lord?"
mo, Dot; lie is to be the tenor SIN
ger"
~, Dot,n said the tenor.
Il have a ticket for the upper gal
lery. which will give him." said the
alto. "a friend of mine bought 1t,
but gave her seat on the floor, and
kept this for-well, for Dot"
The tenor talked low with the lady.
"Here is Christmas present, Dot"
He handed Dot a Sill.
"And here is one for your mother,"
said the alto, giving Dot little roll OF
Dot was better now. lie looked
at his new fortune.
"Thank you, lady. Thank you, sir.
Are you able?" the alto laughed.
"Yes, Dot. 1 am to receive hum
dred dollars FOR singing tomorrow
evening. / shall try to think OF you,
Dot, when / am rendering one OF the
passages-perhaps 1t Will give ne IN
spiration. shall see you, Dot-uncer
the statue Of Apollo"
The sexton was turning OF the lights
IN the chancel. He called Dot. The
church grew DINNER and DINNER, and
the great organ faded away in the
darkness. In the vanishing lights the
alto and tenor went out OF the church
leaving Dot with the sexton.
II was Sabbath evening-Christmas.
Lights glimmered thickly among the
snowy trees on the common; beautiful
were rolling through the
crowded streets.
Dot entered Music Hall timidly
long passage through which
bright, happy faces were passing, silks
rustling, aged people moving sedately
and slowly, and into which the CROWDS
seemed surging like tike. Faces
were too eager with expectation TO no,
tice him or his feet. At last he passed
a sbsrp angle in the long passage, and
tbe great organ under thousand gas
lets burst upon his view. An uSheI a.
one of the many lower doors lookea a'
his ticket doubtfully.
ssSecond gallery-back."
Dot followed the trailing silks up the
broad flight of stairs, reaching the top,
and asked another usher to show MN
his seat. The young man whom Dot
addressed had that innate refinement Oh
feeI;no that marks true Boston gen.
tIema1. He gave Dot a smile, as mucn
a. TO saw. II am glad you can enjoy an
this happiness with the rest, " ana Said'
"Follow me-" M.
His manner was SO kind that Dot
thoupht he would like to speak to MN
again. He remembered what the a,lo
lad said about the statue OF Apollo,
and as the usher gave him oacA ms
,noot and pointed to the number ON