The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-06-10
THE ORGAN BOY OF ST. BETH
ANY'S.
BY MAN BENNETT.


The quartette choir OF St. Beth
any's was famous in city which was
itself celebrated hloughout the
whole country for the high grade OF
its musical attainments.
The soprano was the celebrated
Madame c. The tenor came
every Sunday morning from a city
some distance away for this service.
The alto and bass, though not SO
widely known, were artists, and the
organiSt vas a man whose name is
known in two continents both as a
performer and composer. As a
consequence tn" congregation always
large, for St. Bethanys was fash
ionable church, on special days be
came a crowd which filled the build
to its utmost capacity.
On Easter morning Of 1889 the
attendance was unu-uanv large even
for that beautiful festival. the bil,h-
day of the church, and the Sexton
and the ushers we're hard pressed to
find room for all, even the aislcs
being filled at last, so that the latest
comers were glad to find any place,
even though it were O ly to stand
about the doors.
The great organ and the choir
were on the right of the chancel on
the opposite side OF which was the
pulpit. Hundreds of lilies and other
lovely flowers were clustered about
this end of the church. halt hiding it
from view, but the musically wise of
the grea, congregation noted with
satisfaction that the famous qusrtette
were all III their places, and that DIR.
R sat at his usual seat before the
organ.
As the officiating clergymen filled
slowly in, the first notes of the vol
| untary came slowly from the organ,
but hefore dozen bars had been
played the music suddenly stopped,
evidently not by the will e the
oreanist since the fingers OF one
hand still pressed the keys, while
the other vainly pulled cne stop and
then another. Only for a moment
though, before he left his seat and
went around the organ into the little
room behind, which was reserved
for the musicians, and which COM
municated by side door with the
street, so that the members OF the
choir could come and 60 at will.
The tenor looked at the bass, and
the bass at the tenor, and then they
both followed the organist, the con-
preeation meanwhile watching the
whole proceeding with that access
of interest which is always bestowed
upon any such interruption OF a
service where the observers are con-
strained to silence and the exchange
of opinions olly in sideways whisp-
ers.
Meanwhile behind the organ an
anxious conference was going on.
The hydraulic motor which worked
the bellows was broken, SO badly,
said the organist, sitting fiat on the
floor in front OF it, that it could not
possibly be repaired except by a
skilled mechanic taking several
hours time. There was nothing to
be done except for some one to work
the bellows by hand, using the long
lever attached to the instrument tor
Just such an emergency. But who
at that moment could be found?
III do it said the bass, who was a
big stout fellow.
No, you can't, replied the organ
ist; we never could get through the
first anthem without you.
Sure enough, | forgot, said the
bass, thinking of the SOLO where his
deep notes rolled out so erandly in
their full rich volu We
Where's the sexton? said the
organist Go get him ; he'll have to
do it anyway. Won't it make him
mad thought
1t is a singular fact, and one which
has been often noticed, that the sex
ton OF church and the choir are
usually at swords points, and St.
Bethany's was no exception to the
general rule.
The tenor dashed of around the
organ and in moment dashed back
again.
can't get near him that way, he
said, the house is solid clear to the
door.
} Well, 60 round, then. We've
got to have him anyway; and the
quicker the better.
The tenor tore open the door and
dashed squarely against boy who
sat pressed so closely up against the
door that he could not possibly get
out of the way. For an instant
neither could speak and then the
singer said sharply.
What are you doing here? You
!. nearly broke my neck.
y Oh, sir, the boy answered, ! was
here to listen to the music. Please