River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-30


Il dare say the others mean we'll"
said he. in hat mufiied, tongue-tied
speech which nobody but Lucy could I'M
derstand. "But they step so heavy. and
they speak so loud. and i can't make
'em comprehend what 4 want, Lucy is
all the nurse / need. Let them earn the
family bread; that's what they're fitted
for"
As time went on. however, the family
bread did not seem to get itself earned.
Miss EliZa's pictures came back with
considerable amount of expressage due;
but no orders followed. Rosina lost not
only the high-salaried position at which
she had aimed, but the humber one
which she disdained. Nobody took the
least notice of Sophia's advertise ment;
and Sarah, in her first attempt TO play
the organ of the new church broke down
ANONYMOUSLY.
''Iou should have known better than
to attempt, with the school of training
you have had" said the retiring organ
ist. a little, bald-headed enthusiast,
with eyes like Goals of steel-gray fire.
''Send Lucy TO mei'
''L-l-ucy can't play" faltered Sarah
through her tears.
Il don't know THAR said the organ
list Lucy, at least, would know the
difference between one of Bach's
anthems and waltz by Chopin. Send
her to me, say!'
So that all the four high-complexioned
Miss Pinkneys sat helplessly bewailing
themselves around the family hearth
stone, while Lucy prepared inexpensive
dainties for them, mended their gloves,
and comforted them to the best of her
ability. The poor doctor listened I'M
easily to the hum of their voices from
the next room.
''What are they doing there?" he
asked, in an indistinct fashion. "Why
don't they earn their living, eh?"
1--WE can't. pa" cried the four Miss
Pinkneys, in chorus. There's so much
competition. We don't have any infiu-
ence to back us.''
The New York editors have a ring of
their own personal friends, and no one
else can get into il" said Rosina.
There is no demand for type-writers
and stenographers. faltered Sophia.
Art is on the down-grade, declared
Eliza, while Sarah expressed herself
only by tears and silence.
Il suppose" said the doctor, ''we
must live. They might put me into
hospital; but there's my poor wife! And
Lucy"
Papa. it will be all right" soothed
Lucy. You must have faith as grain
of mustard seed! Only waltz
1t was on a blossOmy, rain-sprinkled,
April Sunday when DIR. Pinkney was
able to hobble for the first time into the
new church, leaning on a cane on one
side. and on the other supported by
Sarah.
You are so clumsy" said he, fret
fully. You jerk me SOL Where's Lucy?
Why didn't she Gomez
Lucy isn't as tall as / am, pa,
whined poor Sarah, nor so strong"
''But she's got more sense in her than
all the rest of you put together" re-
tOrted the invalid.
The sound of the familiar hymns, the
softened light of the stained-glass win
dows, the voice of the Clergyman, how
ever, all tended to soothe the old mans
perturbed spirit when he was seated.
my fayorite hymns" he said to him
self. Good Lord-it seems almost as
if were boy again! That new organ
has a sweet tOne,'
One by one the slow tears rolled down
his cheeks; nor were they altogether
tears of sorrow, rather restful, tender
dews, sacred to the past.
Il haven't thought as much OF these
things as l ought" pOndered he, as the
majestic strains Of ''Old Hundred" rolled
down the aisles. perhaps the Lord
knew better than did when lie laid His
heavy hand on me. Who knows?"
"well. DOCTOR" said the puffy, spec
tacled little church warden when they
all went out. ''what do you think of our
new organist?"
'He understands his business, sir,
that's certain" said DIR. Pinkney.
His speech was palmer nOw-one could
comprehend mis- meaning.
But it's woman" said the church
warden.
Then, sir, she's genius"
We've engaged her at six hundred
dollars year, said the warden. Every
one is pleased"
Il shall come here every Sunday and
hear her play" said the old man. I'm
sorry my girl couldn't have suited you,
but"
why. man, it is your girl" said the
CHEEKY little church warden. Your
Lucy. Mr. Pathfield told us she could
play, but we d dn't expect music like
this You're right, she is a genius"
DIR. Pinkney hobbled home in silence,
but when Lucy came to him after dinner
he Held out his well hand with some
thing of a pleading air.
Lucy" said he, my child, why didn't
you tell me of this?'
because" whispered Lucy, $50 much
depended on it. Because | was so afraid
/ should fail. And when | saw you sit
ting thereof, papa, the keys all
turned black before my sight for min
ute"
Daughter. all the music went
straight to nv heart" said DIR. Pinkney.
you've done me good. | thank Heaven
that you are my child.'
And then Lucy explained to him how
she had learned secretly and with many
misgivings to play on the organ, how
she had loved it. and. nevertheless, how
amazed. she was when Mr.. Pathfield
asked her. after Sarah's failure, to at
tempt the manipulation of the keys and
stops.
But that isn't all, papa, said Lucy,
hanging her pretty, dark head.
"Eh?r said DIR. Pinkney. "Yhat
else?H
MIR Pathfield has asked me to be his
Wife
What did you tell him, Lucy?"
Il said couldn't leave you"
sWell2r
And he said needn't He said there
was plenty of room in the new rectory
for You and mother both. and he said
that good daughter always made a
good wife. And, oh, papa, | am SC
happy"
DR. Pinkney sat thinking long after
Lucy had gone TO take the afternoon
service at the church.
How strangely things tslrn out,
pondered he. ..All the four girls upon
whom | depended have proved TO be
broken reeds. and little Lucy, whom
I've actually despised all my life is the
one TO lean on. Well. we'll, I'm rather
Oh 70 learn a lesson, and yet have
learned il to-day"
- Lucy Pinkney married Mr.. Path
field. and took her parents home to the
rectOry with her. and the four hand
S..-,,a robust ypuucr women who had