The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1886-04-22

: said kindly. soasahiag Ia her isos com.
! pelling him;
Il there anyshing ! can do for yous
camo hoping 70 BE- admitted 70 u,
chorus. answered clear. earnest voioa
|, Thank you for coming, bat I an sorry
70 sAy the chorus IL already full.
Il He saw tho gray eyes grow misty and
the sensitive lips quivsr % she turnsd Y
go-apd hs never knew just What made
|. him odd;
\ Wait . moment What part do you
sings for be had fully resolved 10 accspi
no more voices that season.
Soprano.
j Would you like 70 have your voice tried I
II il is sufficiently matursd yon might.
perhaps, join us another year. and going
70 the piano. he added: Select something
you are familiar with.
She took Il random Haydn's Third
Mass (the ImperiAl and opened % The Ky.
rio. Hs struck ths opening chords on ths
piano and she, removing her hat = IL she
WAS entering divine presence. began
singing the soprano solo:
"Kyrie clsison--chrisfie eieisoa," in .
voice that quivsred at frst. but that gained
steadiness without losing its sweetness and
pathos q che went on.
He played an accompaniment lightly.
with listening face. and when she struck
with precision and without effort the
high A. he turned his face TO her with
quick look and thence to the end watched
sharply the moving lips and swelling
throat.
When she had finished. he said:
Let me see where yonr voice registers:
and beginning at low O. and from thence
she went on alone, giving clearly and
sharply the tones and semi.tones, to aus.
tained high =. and stopped. but with evi.
dent reserve force.
He nodded approvingly, and taking
from the stand Steiner's "Awakei awakel'
asked;
Have you seen this7
! have not, said she, running her eyes
over it with keen interest.
Try II then. and giving her the key
note she sang the soprano without accom-
painment to the beginning Of the semi
chorus. She was near.sighted, and as she
bent over the score. the pale. faultless
profile came within range and he saw her
face kindle and glow with rare enthusi-
ssm ..e
She hes the true FIRE, the divine q1,saus
= we'll as voice of, unusual compass, and
she is worth helping II she wants help,
was bis mental comment.
Who taught you? he asked.
My father.
WhG Is your father9
He is dead. she answered, with
downcast eyes and certain finality in
her tone.
The conductor asked no more questions.
He said, however, after pause:
You have voice Of some promise, bat
your method Is faulty and your tempo de-
ficient. evils that correct training will re-
move, and although the chorus is full, I
will. II you wish me to do so. make .
place for you among the first sopranos.
] do indeed wish it, she answered, lift
ing her shining gray eyes to his face.
Very welll and going to desk be
wrote line in . book Of entry and snoth-
or line on card which he handed her
adding:
That is your number thirty mine Of the
first sopranos. Our rshearsals for the
season begin tomorrow evening 1t 7:30
When you come In. stop 1t the desk 1t the
entrance Of the hall and repeat your num-
ber- Thirty-nine -snd your seat will be q
signed you. We shall sing the Messiah at
the first concert You must provide your.
self with copy.
] have . copy, she answered. and grave
y returned his salutation y be bowed her
out.
She was nearly home before she reflect.
ed that she had not inquired bis name,
and she might as we'll have no name, since
to her mother she was always "ths child"
and to the chorus she would simply be
Thirty nine.
The weekly rehearssls Of the full chorus
and the Wednesday afternoon rehearsals
Of the sopranos nov became events Of
ber life, and her mother saw with glad
pess that was half pain. the rapid devel-
opment Of the childs whole nature reach
ing up and always from the simple lie she
had hitherto lived
There was at first . curiosity in the
chorus conceroing her, for she seemed
quite alone. except for the ugly dog. and
unknown except 70 the conductor. and TO
have - they soon understood an unusual
voice. but she wrapped herself with re-
serve q with garment. and no one pene-
tratsd beyond the fact thss she WAS the
Thirsy.nins Of the hrst sopranos
The conductor said, watching quiet
y:
She IL devoted to her srt, and hes 81
right 10 be reserved. There IL . great
promise in her II she lives. but 1t is large
if-notipg the slight figure and white
fsce.
He began 10 suspect. too. that her home,
wherever II is, could not be . luxurious
home, for she wore always the same plain, |
black dress. and did not seem over we'll
nourisbed. He had. however. no liberty |
10 ask questions.
Once during recess u . rehearsal. be
stopped in passirg. 10 speak concerning .
Ia 1sr 40 scneann v.ssss - suI t,n.sn.a1 Ia