Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-08-21

tell you about it, mother, at the time, for
| thought you'd worry. But now there
isn't any reason you shouldn't know all
about it."
"Eh3" said Farmer Blake. "About
what?"
"When I got to New York." said
Bessie, speaking quickly, and twisting
one curl around and around her finger,
"the place was filed up-in the Bethesda
Choir, I mean-by a voice far, far more
cultivated than mine, though I don't
really believe it was any sweeter. And
| went to all the musical agencies, and
answered all the advertisements, but |
could get nothing to do, and my money
seemed to melt away like ice in the sun
shine. But one day, just as was going
to give up in despair and come back
home TO confess myself failure, lady
engaged the whole second floor in the
house where shared a hall bedroom
with the landladys daughter, and she
heard me sing as I made the bed in the
morning. That was the beginning of
my good luck. go on with the chorus
of the Black Dwarf spectacular drama
every night, as one Of the Nereids, in a
silver robe all trimmed with glass water
drops and sea-grasses, with stalk Of
silver lilies in my hand, and l sing and
sing until it seems as if my whole heart
would go out with my voice. And they
pay me fifteen dollars. And Signor
Spalardi trains US two hours daily, and l
have every day, except. rehersals and
Saturdays, to practice, and"
Isaiah Black had dropped his rewspa-
per; his whole face hardened like block
of some coarse-grained wood; his turbid
black eyes blazed.
"StopW said he, in tone that made
everybody start. "Let me understand
all this. Is it a-theayter where you're
amakin' all this money, Bessie2"
eyes, father; but"
81 don't want to hear no butts, sternly
spoke the old man, as he flung the gold
piece on the floor. ~ wont touch no
money as was earned that way. You,
Blake, Bessie! What spell has come
over you7'
'tBut you don't understand, father"
pleaded the girl, clasping her hands.
They are all so nice and pleasant, and
Signor Spalardi has daughters of his
own in the chorus, and Mrs. Royston
takes me to the theatre and brings me
back with her every night"
~ don't care!" almost shrieked Isaiah
Blake. "You must either leave this
place or be no daughter of miner'
"Father," appealed Bessie, "come to
New York with me. See the place and
the people for yourself. I am sure"
"Id as soon step across the threshold
of perdition - grimly uttered the farmer.
81 sent you to New York to sing in the
choir of godly church, not to swagger
across the stage of theayter, dressed in
gaudy fol-de-rols, with a stalk O silver
lilies in your hands! You've done a
wicked and sinful thing, and you must
undo lido you here? Must?"
eyes, father"
Bessie's head dropped like a broken
flower.
"Take back this money to the place
it came, and tell 'em you'll touch no
more of their gold and silver"
Eyes, father"
"And if you can't earn a living in
New York as a living should be earned,
come back here and help your mother
with the poultry and the butter. Do
you hear, l say?"
eyes, father"
She went upstairs to bed, crying and
sobbing as if her heart would break.
Later in the night she heard a soft
football on the threshold.
''Mother, is that you?" she faltered.
eyes, Bessie, it's me, ," whispered Mrs.
Blake, fondIing her daughters cold lit
asleep. Oh, Bessie, I'm so sorry!"
"Do you think 1 was so wrong,
mother?"
"No, daughter-no! But father was
brought up among the Blakes, you know,
and they look at things different from
what we do. And there's only one thing
for you to do, Bessie. He's your father,
and you must obeyw
Then and there poor Bessie gave up
her air castles OF being one day chief So
prano of an opera company, the prima
donna of glittering stages, her notes
valued by gold pieces, her footsteps
wreathed in flowers.
No one but herself knew what it cost
her, but she resolved to forego them all.
Signor Spalardi listened coldly.
''Child," said he, "are you in earnestI
Do you know that you are committing
suicide, so far as your future is con-
cerned?"
eyes, signor. But it is my fathers
will"
CHE would nrefer that YOU sang in