The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-03-22

Thank yon for coming. bat arr cor
~ 10 say tho chorus is already fall "
} He saw the gray eyos grow misty an
The sensitive lips culver rs she turnod 4
60 and be never knew Just ~ha. mad
him add:
"Nait moment Whs, part do yol
sing 2" for be bal fully resolved TO sc
oept no more voices that season.
| soprano"
"Wonld you like 10 have your voic'
tried 2 IL is sufficiently maiured yor
might, perhaps Join us another year, snt
going TO the piano, be added: Select some
thing You are familiar with
4 She took at random Hsydn's Third
Mass (the ImperiaD aud opened 10 Kyrie
He struck the opening chords on the pi
ano aud she, removing her hat as il she
vas entering the divine presence. began
singing the soprano solo:
1 "Kyrie eleison = christie eleison, in q
voice that quivcred at first but gained
stesdiness without losing its sweetness
and pAthos rs she 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
| 10 hn ~
sharply the moving lips and swelling
throat.
When size had finished. be said
Let me see where your voice registers,
and beginning at low q, and from thence
she went on alone, giving clearly and
sharply the tones and semi tones to sus.
tained high f. aud stopped but with eyi-
dent reseive force.
He nodded approvingly, aud taking
from tue stand Steiner's Awake, awake n
added:
"Have you seen this p
II have not" said she, running her eyes
over it with keen interest.
Try it then" aud giving her the key
note she sang the soprano without accom-
paniment to the beginning OF the semi
chorus. She was near's sighted, and AS she
bent over the score, the pale faultless pro-
file came within range and he saw her
face kinde and glow with rare enthu-
siasm.
She has the true fire, the divine sfiiatus
as we'll as voice Of unusual compass, aud
she is worth helping If she wants help,
was his mental comment
"Who taught you ?" he asked.
my father"
"Who is your father ?"
''He is dead" she answered with down
cast eyes aud certain hnality in .ler
tone.
The conductor asked no more questions.
He said, however, alter a pause:
"You have voice of some promise, but
your method is faulty and your tempo de-
ficent. evils that correct training will re-
move, aud although the chorus is full, !
will, il you wish me to do 30, make q
place for you among the first sopranos
II do indeed wish It,. she answered,
lifting her shining eyes to his face.
VERY we'll |" and going to desk be
wrote line in book of entry and anotb-
er line on u card which he handed her,
adding:
THAT is your number thirty nine OF
the first sopranos. Our rehearsals for
the season begin tomorrow evening st
z. 80. When you come in, stop at the
entrance of the hall and repeat your num-
ber- Thirty nine-and your seat will be
assigned you. We shall sing the Messiah
and will furnish you with copy"
II have a copy" she answered, and
gravely returned his salutation as he bow
ed her out.
She was nearly home before she reflect
ed that he had not inquired her name, and
she might as well have no name, since to
her mother she was always 'the child,
anl to tue chorus she would simply be
Thirty nine.
The weekly rt thearssls OF the full cbo-
rus ana the Wednesday afternoon rehears.
ais Of the sopranos now became events OF
her life, aud her mother saw with gladness
that was half pain, the rapid development
Of the child's whole nature reaching up
and always from the simple life she had
hitherto lived.
There WAS VI first curiosity 10 the
chorus conceroiug her, for she seemed
quite alone, except for the ugly dog, and
except to the conductor, and to
have as they soon und ,istood an unnsua
voice, but she wrapped herself with re-
serve as with garment, aud no one pen
etrated beyond the fact that she was the
Thirty. nine OF tbs first sopranos.
The conductor said. watching quietly:
"Sbe is devoted to her art. aud has a
right to be reserved. There is great
promise in her il she lives. but it is
large if noting the slight figure and
white face.
He begsu TO suspect, too. that her home
wherever II was. could not be luxurious
hone, for she always wore the same plain,
black dress, aud did not seem over vel
nourished. He bad. however. no liberty |
TO ask questions.
Once doing a recess ut rehearsal, b, !
stopped ia passing, TO speak concerning q
leading soprano passage and borrowed for
the moment her copy Of tho Messiah.
He saw at glance that 1t was not the
usual cheap Norello edition, but su old
EnglIsb, leather-bound copy with not
only the voice. but the orchestral parts
marked by a master baod. He knew st