Middletown transcript., 1895-07-27
The Singers
history

INN \N ScnoOl and W
INN@I ''kept in" for n
ISMl II u tunefulness. !
NlV/ICIIo eleven I sang
a Sunday scho
festival, and when was compliment,
upon my voice afterwards 1 felt that
had great future before me. By I'll
time was fifteen this view had bee
SO strongly impressed upon me that
went about in a sort of dream, alway
seeing myself swaying vast audience
by the magic power of my voice.
But I was poor. This seemed to m
very unjust. There was Florence La
roche, who lived on the hill, who coul
not sing a note, and whose obliginI
parents paid out large sums annual,
for her training. Meantime went t,
school, and was constantly told tina
was lucky to be allowed the chanc'
to 60. I was told how in future
could be independent and helpful to my
family by my income as teacher. This
did not seem a brilliant prospect to the
young person whose ambition was to
be prima donna in the grandest OF
grand opera companies.
One day, when / was about seven
teen, there came an invitation from a
neighboring town for me to sing at a
concert. My travelling expenses-75
cents-were to be paid. l was to re-
ceive the magnificent sum of $5 for my
labor, and was to spend the night
with one of the patronesses of the con-
cert. needed some new shoes at the
time, and joyfully accepted the chance
to earn them and to cover myself with
glory at one fell swoop.
In the train that afternoon sat be-
hind Mr.. and Mrs. Blake, one of the
magnates of x and his wife. He was
portly, rather rubicund man of fifty
or so, and she slender, ,well-preserved,
unhappy-looking woman, some years
younger. The roar of the train made
them raise their voices, and l over
heard their remarks.
SNOW that Alice is married." said
she, There is no reason why we should
continue to harass each other"
"You think" he sneered, "that you
would like to escape me before we
celebrate our silver weddingp"
For an instant she flushed angrily,
and was about to reply in spirit SINH
lar to his own. Then she controlled
herself and said:
"We need not quarrel any more,
Jonathan. We've done little else for
great many years, 1 know. But it is
purgatorial for you as we'll as for me.
cannot stand it. will stand it no
longer. There is ro longer any need,
now that Alice is married. You agree
with me, surely?"
Entirely" he retorted.
There was pause. Then he said:
"There need be no furor?"
''No. will 60 away-travel for o |
lew years. Of course-of course, JON
sthan, you know-I-I-I don't want |
"a divorce"
81 suppose not. We're rather old |
or that sort of thing. Well, Helen
'ome in town with me in the morning |
md iii arrange a settlement with my
awyer. And-if you ever care to try
again"
"We've made failure of it for
wenty-four years." she reminded him.
'Not the first FOUR" he answered.
Then the train rolled into the sta
ion and I saw my unhappy, middle
ged pair driven away behind a SER
ant in gorgeous livery.
I think sang rather well that even
ng, although my attempts were some
7hat ambitious. Arias from operas
nd oratorios seemed mere trifler to me
t that time. But when they encored
ne wildly after one song I decided to
bandon the pretentious music I had
n mind and to sing ballad. could
ot decide what ballad it should be,
owever, until, giving gratified peep
t the applauding audience I saw my
ieh miserable friends. 1t flashed across
ny mind that he had called her
Helen" That suggested to me the
sad music had once learned
0 accompany that infinitely sad ballad
Helen Of Kirconnel.
I played my own accompaniment and
he sad melody rippled forth:
would were where Helen lies;
Night and day on me she cries,
Oh, would were where Helen lies,
On fair Kirconnel lea.
There was not even a delicate silken
ustling when I finished. For an in
tant the silence appalled, me. IL
lanced about with frightened eyes and
4 minute the applause burst
orth.
Two days later Mrs. Jonathan Blake
anne to call on me and to offer, in her
usband's name, to pay for the training
T my voice.
"You will pay us back" she said.
We think it will be a profitable invest ,
lent, as well as pleasure. My hus-
and likes to encourage genius in /
ther peoples children. for our own
'ere hopelessly commonplace"
She laughed as she spoke. Her face
as bright and happy. Her voice was ,
Ill of fondness and pride when she 1
lentioned her husband. accepted the I
fer joyously.
Later I went to their silver wedding |
anniversary. But 1t was not for several ,
sars that learned that MI. Blake's &