Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1891-05-31
A FLASH IN THE PAN.

db ohSS thdt hts thftt tuty Is TO take MS
turn in reading, that is. in homecoming
and singing the daily services in cathe-
dral Such is my duty. [ am a minor
canon Of the cathedral church of March
bury. | occupy a house within the cathe-
dral close, and thus enjoy the privilege of
passing my days ''far from the madding
crowd" The life is uneventful enough
Little happens from years end to years
end to vary the humdrum of existence. In
fact nothing more exciting than garden
party at the bishops or dinner at the
deanery or tea at the archdeacon's Even
these superior functions" cause but
slight and transient ruffie upon the calm
flow of life's stream.
For many years, as a minor canon, / have
breathed this serene and placid atmosphere
of the close. Often have l wondered if
should live all my life thus; or whether,
some day or other, something would startle
me, like bolt from the blue, and should
find myself plunged. on a sudden, into the
midst Of the most exciting events. For
many years, year after year and month
after month, | have regularly taken my
turn" in singing the services, and nothing
particularly remarkable has ever happened
to me-until yesterday; and yesterday
something did happen.
IL was Monday, and in the afternoon, as
/ was walking along the High street OF
Marchbury, | was met by a distinguished
looking person whom I had observed at
the services in the cathedral on the pre-
vious day. Now it CHANGED on that Sun
day that was singing the service. Prop.
erly speaking, it was not my turn, but as
my brother minor canons were either away
from Marchbury or i'll in bed, was the
only one left to perform the necessary
duty The distinguished looking person
was tall, big man, with a round, fat face
and small features His eyes, his hair and
mustache this face was bare but for
small mustache) were quite black, and he
had n very pleasant and genial expression.
He wore a tall hat, set rather jauntily on
bis head, and he was dressed in black,
with long frock coat buttoned across the
chest and fitting him close to the body.
As he came, with a half saunter, half
swagger, along the street | knew him
again at once by his appearance; and as he
came nearer | saw from his manner that
he was intending to stop and speak TO me;
for he slightly raised his hat, and in a soft,
melodious voice, with a colonial ''twang,"
which was far from being disagreeabie and
which indeed to my ear gave certain ad
ditional interest to his remarks, he saluted
me with Good day, STRIP
"Good day" answered, with Just a little
reserve in my tone.
81 hope, sir" he began, you will excuse
my stopping you in the street, but | wish
TO tell you bow very much enjoyed the
music at your cathedral yesterday. | am
an Australian, sir, and we have no such
music in my country"
81 suppose not" said.
"No, sir" he went on, nothing nearly
so fine. am very fond of music, and as
my business brought me in this direction
| thought would stop at your city and
take the opportunity Of paying visit to
your grand cathedral. Aud am delighted
| came; so pleased, indeed, that l should
like TO leave some memorial of my visit
behind me. | should like, sir, to do some
thing for your choir"
al am sure il is very kind Of YOU" re
piled.
Eyes, should certainly be glad If you
could suggest to me something might do
in this way. As regards money, may say
that have plenty Of it, / am the owner
of a most valuable property Ny business
relations extend throughout the world,
and IL sm as fortunate in the projects OF
the future as | have been in the past |
shall probably one day achieve the proud
position Of being the richest man in the
world"
did not like TO undertake myself the
responsibility Of advising or suggesting so
| simply said;
81 cannot venture to say offhand what
would be the most acceptable way of show
ing your great kindness and generosity.
but I should certainly recommend you to
put yourself in communication with the
dean"
Thank you, SIR" said my Australian
friend, II will do so. And now, sir" he
continued 'let me say how much | adj
nire your voice. II is, without exception,
the very finest and clearest voice | have
ever heard"
Really" I answered, quite overcome
with such unqualified praise, "reall il is
very good Of you to say So"
"Ah but | feel it, my dear sir. | have
been round the world; from Sydney to
Frisco, across the continent Of America (he
called it Amerrker) to New York city; then
on to England and tomorrow shall leave
your city to continue my travels. But in
all my experience | have never heard so
grand n voice as your own" This and
great deal more he said in the same strain,
which modesty forbids me to reproduce
here
Now, am not without some knowledge
OF the world outside the Close OF March
bury cathedral, and could not listen 10
such "fiattering tale" without having my
suspicious aroused. Who aud what is this
mani thought l. looked at him narrow
iy At first the thought flashed across me
that he might he swell mobsmnn"
But no; bis fsce was too good for that;
besides, no man with that huge frame, that
personality so marked aud 80 easily recog-
aizsble, could he a swindler; he could not
escape detection a single hour. | dismissed
the ungenerous thought. Perhaps he is
rsch, as he says. We do hear OF munifcent
donations by benevolent millionaires now
and then. What IL this Australian, at
trscted 10y the glories of the old cathedral,
should appear, as deus ex mRchina to re
endow the choir, or TO found a musical
professoriste in connection with the choir,
appointing me the first occupant of the
PROFESSIONAL chair.
These thoughts flashed across my mind
IN the momentary pause of his fluent
tongue