Mohave County miner., 1891-03-21
MICHAEL'S EASTER.

cnnu practising!
Mrs. Bland rose elowly and wearily
from the low sewing-chair into which
she had thrown herself when the
twilight Tell, utterly worn out after a
long days work.
As she moved 20 and fro--mskinp
ready for her duty. 1t is true, but feel.
ing that great repugnance TO the task
which comes to naturally energetic
woman only when her body and mind
are overwotked--a sudden wave of
penitence swept over her, and her eyes
first softened with tears, then grew
bright with other aad better thoughts.
For she had remembered Michael, the
'tenor" Of ST. PHILIPPE Chapel choir,
and how through rain and storm, heat
and cold, ho plodded his two miles
every Friday and Sunday night for the
simple JOY OF lifting up his voice with
all his heart and soul in the chants
and hymns OF his beloved church.
Gan l begrudge the poor souls the
little am able to do for themPr
She felt reproached and self-con-
demEed.
As she hurried through the misty
darkness. alone but fearless, she saw
In the distance the open door, with
light streaming through, and then
swallowed up in the radiance from
within. II seemed 10 the tired woman
as II Gods light was shining through
this 'open door" and somehow IL
rested her, and she felt that He cared
that she was weary, and then it did not
seem hard any longer.
So she won't On and into the light,
and the pretty chapel seemed full Of
kindly faces and though they were
'bleck, they were also 'comely."
Mrs. Bland had undertaken 10 train
choir when the work was first started
In Monks Corner; il she was rather
proud OF her success now. who could
blame her? II had been O labor Of
love 10 her, undertaken In memory of
her old NANNY and the happy childish
days, when ali the little darkies on the
plantation came TO the house on
Sunday afternoons to sing hymns with
the young ladies'
Everybody who has ever been South
has been struck by the wild. pathetic
ring OF negroes voices. There is
something indescribably sorrowful in
the tone; they sing with the heart as
well as the lips. Unframed, they
often sing with the deepest. rlrest
pathos, and the very unco uthness OF
their speech adds TO the effect.
Michaers voice was entirely untu-
tored, and his pronunciation simply
astounding; but. for all OF that. he
sang with such abandon, and his notes
were 50 wild and sweet, that people
came from far and near TO hear him
sing. WITHOUT being at all presum-
tuous, he yet took a position in the
choir, by common consent, as leader
for he sang by note. All the rest OF
them sang by ear only; but, oh, how
quickly they learned the air! 1t was a
real pleasure to their organist TO teach
them a new tune.
Tonight we must begin on our
Easter hymns, Cassy," she said to the
leading soprano, a small dark women
in a black crepe vail, who was very
quiet and refined in her manner, and
was one Of the pillars" Of the chapel.
It.was Classy who took care OF the
beautiful communion service (the gift
OF some good northern womeD), and
did up" the communion linen, and
1t was TO Classy that the good rector OF
the ''big church" (Who ministered TO
this small Gock, as well as to his large
one. while these waited for one OF their
own race) turned when things went at
all wrong about the chapel. She never
failed him or anybody else. Her hus-
band and two children were, as a mat
ter Of course, brought by her to the
bishop, and were confirmed, and so
this family was staunchly Episcopalian,
and, il Is 10 be feared, rather looked
down on those neighbors who cared so
little for the right as TO remain outside
the fold.
So Classy sLailed and showed all her
white teeth. and was ready for any
thing. Michael was fairly radiant
when tolG he might choose the hymns
for the nights practice.
He turned the leaves OF his hymnal
with serious consideration. Michael
was acknowledged by all the members
of the choir to have "a very pretty
taste in tunes, for he ealmost invariably
preferred something a little difficult
and triumphed in very childlike way
when he was able 10 sing it at once,
while tbs others had to have 1t played
over for them nnce or twice.
lie 6id not seem TO care much for
new things that night, however, but
made his choice OF an old well-known
foVori5e.
Miss Mary, would you please, 'em,
plny dis one. weary OF earth. and laden
with my sin / je5 simply does love
dat hymn an dat tune; it mex me feel
like dere ain nothing in life to bother
'boutr'
So the clear sweet voices rang out
together, and the organ peeled. and
the beautiful words came TO her who
sang the hymn with them as they had
never seemed 10 come before, 50 full Of
meaning and Of ali comfort and bless
ing. 1t seemed as II she could sing on
forever!
8 1t Is the voice Of Jesus that hear -
sang Michael, and his voice SCARED far
above the rect, saa the echo seemed 70