St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-09-14

hear her singing and witness it's
effect.
No one could tell when she would
next appear. Sometimes it was at
the bedside of an agonized suffer
er whose spirit would be soothed
and refreshed by a voice so full Of
love. Sometimes in a hospital the
strains of Come, we d:sconsolate,
where'er We languish," foated down
through the long lines of cot-beds.
Often weary wayfarer "fell asleep"
under the influence of that voice in
the.blessed hope of immortality, to
awake in the land where there is no
more pain.
Many came back to life as though
summoned at the call of the singer.
Her voice had in it hope and courage
always.
A man who had been cruelty in
jured in railway accident was Civ
en- up to die. Just at this time Mary
Lane came to sing in the hospital.
The man heard her. 1t was the
turning point in his case and he raj
lied. when | heard that blessed
angel sing" he said afterward, II
made up my mind to get well, and
get well | did. God bless her sweet
soulW
Once fifteen hundred newsboys and
blacks sat motionless as she sung to
them for nearly an hour. And then J
the only thing that would quiet
the boys was for the sweet singer
herself to 60 down and stand among
them, and say few words in
bright, laughing way, and then
promise to sing once more if they
would go out quietly.
Then came song thrilling and
astonishing in its effect. Dirty
sleeves were hastily drawn across
dirty faces as she sang gloriously of
noble, manly life. The boys went
out of the building with a quietness
that was at once pathetic and anus
ing. But once outside, from fifteen
hundred throats arose a mighty
shout for her who had stirred their
better natures as they were never
stirred before, nor perhaps ever
after.
would hardly dare say how much
was offered to Mary Lane for one
song at private house. When she
consented to sing under those cir
cumstances, which was rare, the
money went for her work of love.
Her own little country church be-
came crowded to suffocation. She
ceased to sing there regularly, for
people came from the city and coun-
try around as if to an entertain
ment.
In her yearning for others she for
got herself; and while still hardly
more than a girl in years the dear
voice was hushed forever; and yet
not hushed, for its sweet tones echo
ceaselessly. THE world passeth
away and the lust thereof; but he
that doeth the will of God abideth
forever"
Not long ago made a visit to
that plain little house. There l saw
the tributes of genius and affection
Pictures painted by noted artists
hung on the papered walls among
the common prints. Stored away
are gifts she could not refuse, because
they came from such thankful Civ.
ers. Everywhere about this home
now dear to thousands, are evi.
dences sacredly treasured of queen
of song and her splendid reign.
This is why that old farmhouse is
so precious to the jewellers in the
city. For dark-haired girl seems
to stand on its threshold looking
out upon humanity in the spirit Of
the One she loved. There she seems
to sing evermore, as messenger
from heaven. She sings as she sang
years ago saying, Love not the
world" and that voice will go sing.
ing through years to come as par.
ents tell their children the story Of
her song.-[W. A. Bartlettin Youths