The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-11-16

little old Mr.. Monet as to what he
should sing.
"Vat shall We have?" asked the old
Frenchman. with as kind look as
his stern little face could give.
81 only know three or four ballads
and few hymn tunes" said Arthur.
81 might sing Lead, Kindly Light
1t is so much easier to sing to peo-
pie than to speak to them! Arthur
soon lost himself in the passionate
prayer he was singing. The only
thing that embarrassed him was the
remarkable behavior of old Monet.
The old man would turn round in his
stool and look at him in a most earn
est way, playing all the time perfectly
correctly. Sometimes he seemed to
be trying to peer into the young fell
lows mouth. When the song was
over, and all were uniting in praise of
the singer, old Monet still sat at the
piano, rubbing his hands, and mutter-
ing to himself in French.
Arthur had, in fact, sung remarka-
bly, we'll. His voice had changed
very early, and now his mans voice
had come, clear and strong. He had
thrown his whole self into the song,
too, with fervor that is seldom seen
in one SO young. While he was put
ting on his overcoat, he was surprised
to see Mr.. Monet coming up to speak
to him.
you fiat badly on your middle
notes." said the little Frenchman.
After so much praise it was a little
hard to receive such a needless re-
buke; but Arthur tried his best to
smile.
"I'm afraid that isn't the only bad
thing do" he said.
ooh no; but dat is de worst. But l
will teach you better eef you will come
to me some time. Ven shall it be-"
Arthur started. There were great
stories around about Mr. Monet's
musical abilities. The boy was cur
ious.
"Shall 1 come tomorrow night at
eighth he asked.
"At eight; yes, at eight" ard the
little Frenchman withdrew, rubbing
his hands and talking to himself
CAT eight; yes, at eight; dat will be
de time. Yes, at eight will be de best
time"
When Arthur entered Mr.. Monet's
room the next evening, he was amazed
to see what a pleasant place it was.
There was an upright piano; there
was bookcase with more music in it
than Arthur had ever dreamed of;
and on the walls there were pictures
of all the great musicians. There
was even a vase of flowers on the
table in the center of the room. But
the boy had no time to look about
him.
"Now We will begin right away"
said Mr.. Monet, eagerly. "And l will
try your voice first, and see vat are
de limits. But you must not stand
SO! Ven l learnt to sing l should
have been vipt if / had stood SO"
When Arthur had at least managed
to stand properly, the energetic little
Frenchman made him sing as high
and then as low as his voice would
go. "Ah, you must get your voice
out of de t'roat," he said; 'but in
time you will be tenor singer; ah
yes, you will have a high voice in
time"
"Mr. Atkins sings tenor, doesn't
he?" Arthur asked.
The Frenchman's face clouded.
"Meester Atkeens cannot sing at all"
he said; she can only below; but
you must not talk and ask questions;
you are learning to sing, not to speak
de orations!
So the lesson went on, Mr.. Monet
finding fault all the time, till, when
it was nine o'clock, Arthur was fairly
discouraged. "I'm doing my best,
sir" he said, after a final rebuke
which summed up all the others.
"Yes; but your best ees not very
good. Can you come tomorrow at
eighth"
"No, tomorrow | must
"Never mind vat. De next night
at eighth"
"Yes; but l don't want to bother
you"
"Eet ees no boder. Come den at
eight hours, and l will be ready vid a
lot more of de seedlings like vat you
have had tonight"
Arthur laughed, shook hands with
his new teacher, and withdrew.
The lessons were continued through
the spring three times a week. In all