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


: ihriiiily folded tho newspaper e 3pns
sssy. the announcement Of shs Hntucn
Hall Chorus caught her eye.
OBJ she thought drawing . very deel
} breath, hos the child would like that
she could go-it dared let her 70.
And after . moment Of sharp eeli- ~
animation, she sdded.
"Hsve the right 10 keep her no satire
iy 10 myself 20 entirely alone and unpre
pared TO face life il any harm should con
10 mo Am not selfish and iaithless
Ought not 10 trust him with thie 100 Y
Presently with sigh Of relief, sAs re
Aeciod:
1T is likely the child has not en1lcien
training her father trained herg Vii b,
died. since then she has hsd no trimming
and her method must be faulty asd n
oomplese" "
As il 10 answer. down through the opei
sky Wight came clear, high voice, singing
"Glory to God Glory to God in th'
Highest, the very chorus open on th'
piano. II the mother could but hav,
heard that voice. She knew the child
was singing by the uplifted ears and at
tentive attitude Of the dog, and she said
"Cyclops. bring her down"
The dog ran nimbly up the ladder lead.
ing to the roof -he knew be would find
bis young mistress some where among the
clothes lines that crossed the roof hithei
and thitber like the rigging OF a ship, fol
the fiat roof OF the long block was the
clothes.yaid Of the numerous families hid
den beneath Its roof.
Thither the child often betook herself
to muse and sing alone There be found
her, NJ stled by one Of the lean chimneys,
singing:
"Glory to God in the highest !"
"Whst back sgsin, Cyclops r for the
dog was tugging away at her dress; and
quickly rising she followed him down in
| W lut
The woman watched her as she came
in, slip Of a girl with slender throat,
colorless face, brilliant gray eyes and
straight black lashes; not handsome
fsce, certainly, bat face OF rare promise
So slight, and almost seventeen thought
the mother, to whom she now was, and
ever would be. simply the child. Her
heart smote her, remembering what q
Joy less existence, except for her music,
the child's life had hitherto been, and she
uervously handed her the paper pointing
TO the announcement.
The girls face kindled as she read, and
she looked at the date, remembering that
it was now November 9th. Surely, there
was still time, and facing her mother she
said, impetuously:
"Mother; l can sing-let me try J"
The woman knew perfectly well what
the child had said. for she had taught her
eyes to read every motion OF those sensi
tive lips, but the eagerness OF the girl
pained her, and the old jealous dread Of
letting her go out into the world came
back, and she answered discouragingly
"Only trained singers are admitted to
such chorus you would fail.
"Let me try"
"There is only o.night it is long
way to Harmony Hall, and l am very tir-
ed, answered her mother.
"You need not go at all. l can lind
the way-and Cyclops is better than Q
guard OF soldiers "
And 1inging herself on the floor, she
threw her arms about her mothers knees
and cried passionately:
'Let me go, mother l am so tired Of
this life, this intermipable sewing; 1t is
killing you, and it makes me wish had
never been born There is better work
for me and happier days for us both; II
you will ouly let me try. Little moth'r
let me go tonight"
The woman's eyes blurred with tears;
her one nesting WAS tired OF the stiffness
and esger for fight.
III you should fail p she asked indis-
tinctly
Il shall not fail And il fail tonight
will try again to morrow; here, there,
every here, TIL succeed at length. Moth
er YOU don't know how feel about IT
A voice within me- says, Sing slug ! and
sing | must, and she hid her face in her
mothers lap aud broke iuto a passion OF
tears
lit had coms 10 that, il the child was
indeed called she must go add the moth
er would not ray nay. The hands she
laid on the cblll ,remblei. but her voice
was stt aiy whsn at length she said:
"It is already 6ye o'clock; you can
make fire, for We must have supper be-
fore we 20
She helped the ghl pat on her one pre-
sen,able dress, ulsin black. with bands OF
white about the neck aud sieeyss, brushed
the dark hair back from the colorless face
and tied it with black ribbon, rejoicing
10 her hear. that the girl would be cor-
sidered plain 10 every eye but her own
She put 90 her own aad prepared to 20
out, bat her knees trembled, and deadly
faintness crept over her
"Sii down. little mother; you are too
tired; G, clops aili bring me safely back"
There was 90 other way. she must let
the child make her first venture alone. and
when the door closed upon her the moth
er dropped upon her kness-miserere
nobis
Several laiies we're wsiiiog in the con
ductor's room aud when at length be came
10 be passed uunoiiced small figure near
the door, and grea, dog lying st her
feet He sas thin man With keen eye,