Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-07-20
SIZE BECAME TIE RAGE.
Icy A. e. ID.

selves into her mind. Why were bless
ings so unevenly distributed, and why
was she born to lot where she was
obliged to work so hard to support her
self and little sister, while others had
every luxury heaped upon them? She
threw herself on her knees by the bed
and ciied as if her heart would break.
Madge had been left an orphan at the
age of fifteen, and for three years had
known nothing but hardship and sor-
row. Her mother had died nine years
before, leaving to her care the little
sister brought into the world under
such sad circumstances. Her father
was n good-Iaturcd, easy going sort of
q man, with good voice which brought
him in enough to make them tolerably
comfortable. He was in reality a
genius, but want of ambition and love
of case had prevented his ever amount
ing to anything, and, being fond of
life" and Jolly companions, he had ac-
CURED taste for liquor. One stormy
night, being unable, on account of his
condition, to find his way home, he
took a severe cold, and the next day
fell d prey to pneumonia, living but five
days from the time he fell ill.,
Madge, being thus forced to earn her
bread, had served out an apprentice
ship to n drcssmaker, and since then
had worked hard at her distasteful
trnde. There was hidden away in her
heart an ambition, but for what she
scarcely knew She would be some
thing some day, she felt sure, but what
would it be, how brought about, and
when would that time come?
1t was with thoughts like these that
she bcguiled the weary hours that she
sat stitching, stitching, stitching away:
but to-day she had seemed to lose all
hope, and life looked very dark to her.
While She knclt there, weeping, as is
often the case, she grew more cheer
full, and with a little muttcrcd prayer,
"Oh, Lord, forgive my repining, and,
ii it be pos IDLE, make my life more
easy" she arose from her knees and
prepared to take home Miss Marlboros
dress.
The walk brought color to her cheeks
and brightness to her eyes. When she
reached the house she noticed the PAR
lor was brilliantly illuminated, and she
passed hastily through the hall and up
stairs. Leaving her bundle, she hoped
to escape again without being OBJ
served. She had scarcely reached the
landing above, on her way down, when
there arose from the larlor the strains
of song she had frequently heard her
father sing. She stood there, thrilling
in every nerve. That beautiful voice,
that beautiful song and the memories
it recalled, almost overpOwercd her
All, why could not she sing like that :?
She remembered singing with her
father when she was little girl, and
being told that her voice was sweet.
She would try. That very night she
would go home and find out if she could
not sing.
She crept slowly down the stairs, lost
to everything but the music which was
thrilling her soul, when she became
conscious of some one Watching her.
George Courtnay had stepped into
the hall for n moment, and CHANGING
up caught sight of the beautiful but
poorly clad figure.
what sweet face" he thought,
"and what wonderful expression! 1t
accords badly with her poor clothes.
Whom can she be, and what can she
be doing hcrc?"
1t was while he stood there, wonder
iES and fascinated, that Madge became
aware of his presence and the earnest
gaze he was bestowing upon her. She
started and blushed at being discovered,
and swiftly descending, passed ont OF
the house She Tipped along lightly
now, for her ambition had taken shape
Entering her room, she went to her
fathers little mclodcon, which had not
been opened since his death, and began
singing the scale. Her father had
taught her the notes, and at one time
she had been able to play some OF his
little accomplishments. After running
the scale up and down two or three
times, she brought out some songs and
sang them one after another. Yes,
she could sing-she felt sure she could
but would any one else think so?
That was the question.
She made up her mind that the next
day should decide this; and with her
heart high with hope, retired to rest.
The next morning Madge awoke
bright and early, her heart full of her
project. Everything seemed to have
taken on brighter hue, and she moved
around with spriGhtliness and ioy.
BUSINESS that quite mystitied her little
sister. who was more accustomed tc
seeing her sad than gay, and caused
her to say:
"Madge, what has happened? ]
never saw you look SO happy. You
eyes fairly sparkle, and-really,
Madge, never knew before how pref
ty you We're"
Hush, little fatterer," said Madge
"You will make me vain, fear Run
off to school, and forget what silly
big sister you have"
Left alone, she soon had the break
fast dishes washed and put away, her
room swept and busted, and then she
began preparing for the call she in
tended to make on Signor Bertoni the
greatest singing-master in the city.
She started forth with SO much
eagerncss in her manner that it at
tracted the attention of the people she
met, and many turned to look after
her; but Madge needed them not. She
thought of but one thing desire of
her heart.
Upon reaching the house of the
great maestro, it was with fear and
trembling that she walked up the steps