The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-02-28
MISS KATHARINE.
The Romance of Pretty Little PhiIad.l-
phIa Music Teacher.

arine to scatter the warmth Of her gen
1al presence as the dancing sunbeams
brighten the old earth; with such a
CHEEKY nature constantly doing little
deeds of kindness, refreshing as dew
drops falling on the thirsty flowers?
Not that Katharine was wonderful
girl, nor was she a marvelously beauti-
full one, either. She was simply
"natural," and that was why everybody
liked her and why everyone who desir-
ed sympathy in time of trouble or con-
graduation on any streak Of good luck
always went straight TO Katharine
Kingsley.
You had but to look into her sweet
face, with its open, white brow and
steady blue eyes to decide at once that
here was genuine hearts ease or vio-
let, whose principal duty is to keep
blooming and to shed forth its quiet
fragrance over other lives.
She was only demure little music
mistress, never dreaming that any great
event could ever cast its influence over
her path in life and that on this very
day the first notes of her romance
should be composed was an idea which
never entered the thoughts of the lit
tie head carried so daintily.
So, all unconsciouslY, the little figure
in brown, looking like some good sized
robin, trips cheerily along towards its
destination, and-tate.
May Wider's lesson heightened out
into one of two hours, for beforehand
Miss Katharine must be told the joy
full intelligence that wonderful Uncle
Max had at last returned from Europe
and was going to make them a long
visit, and wouldn't that be nice7
And just think, Uncle Max, is fond
OF music just like you, Miss Katharine q!
And after the lesson wouldn't Miss
Katharine play he favorite song,
Let US wonder in the sunlight
To the land of flowers and song.
So Miss Katharine played on and
was soon lost IN the beautiful land of
melody, while the notes fell from her
finger tips like little stream, now
dancing gayly in merry cascades over
steep and rocky bed, here murmur-
ing low a sadder and sweeter plant
"among haunts of coot and hern," then
sparkling out amid the fern, and end
ing with a perfect torrent OF jubilant
harmony, Katharine declared, Quite
sufficient for you to-day, nay blossom |!
With merry laugh she wheeled
around on the stool only to find that
she had had another auditor who
must be Uncle Max, for May Blossom
dragged HIM triumphantly forward,
crying gleetully.
knew 1t all the time, Miss katha-
rine, only Uncle Max shook his finger
at me and l wouldn't tell.
The three were soon chatting away
with the ease of old acquaintances.
That evening as the little figure in
brown sped homeward, Its motion
seemed more birdlike than ever, and
the pleasant recollection OF a tall figure
with grave, earnest face, and the frien-
dly glance OF Uncle Max's warm brown
eyes, fingered in Katharine's mind.
After that Uncle Max developed
wonderful interest in his niece'S musical
education. Hardly lesson passed by
without his meeting (by chance, of
course) the little music mistress. And
Katharine began to look forward to
May Blossoms days when after the
lesson "MisS Katharine" would play
"Let Us Wander; :" and Uncle Max
would alway drop in to hear it; then
would sit quietly listening to the beau
tful harmonies born from the pure
soul of the little music mistress.
There was never such a beautiful
springtime as this to Katharine. The
sun seemed to shine more brightly in
the clear blue sky above, and the carol
of the birds rang out blithely from the
bnddlng tree tops. Is it wonder
that to her the earth wore its gayest
and most festive dress?
What did she care if, amid all the
bright, happy days, this one happens
to be cold and dark and drearyP Into
her life no ralndrops fall.
So, despite the sulIen clouds over
head and the mud beneath, the little
figure, almost hid by gossamer and
umbrella, trips cheerily along to May
Blossom, for her heart is singing the
gayest measures.
But May Wilder's lesson was shorter
, than usual, for Miss Katharine must be
S told the dreadful news.
' Uncle Max is going away What
S will we ever do without Uncle Max
t | Just think it's too mean, don't you
/, Miss katharine2 asks the doleful lit
tie voice.
Afterwards May Blossom wondered
: why her teacher was so quiet and pale
i and when she pleaded for "Let U.
a Wander" why Miss Katharine said
4 No, dear not to day,
a All the day is dark and cold ant
V dreary. Uncle Max gong away TX
IS see no more the dark, handsome face
e with its grave, earnest eyes, in whicl
If the warm light has lately grown 81
g tender To live through the wear
it days to come without the sunshine c