The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-07-17
A VOCAL OOURTSHIP.

GOOD morning." said Dolly, using
the word IN farewell, and forcing her
self to smile her usual smile OF dis
missal. 'Tm sorry you are COM
PEELED to discontinue your lessons !;
your voice is improving nicely. :"
Then, after hearing responsive regrets
and final words Of parting, Dolly was
alone in the room and free to give
vent to her feelings.
"Oh, what shall we do2" she half
sobbed, resting her fair, curly head
against the old piano. "This makes
nine who have stopped and it only
leaves me ten pupils That will pay
the rent, but then there is food and
the doctor. Why DO they all have to
stop just when 1 need them so badlyl"
she cried, losing heart for the first
time in her life, so brave and cheer
full; life devoted solely to her deli
cate younger sister and to her sisters
sick husband and baby. ''But 1
mustn't begin crying" she said, dash.
ing the tears from her eyes, ''or Jeanie
will know in a minute"
"Come in. little sweetheart" she
called, hearing pattering feet in the
hall and sound of vigorous thump-
ing. ooh, is it fast! Never mind,
auntie II come and open. And then
she lifted her treasure and answered a
ring OF the doorbell.
'Hsre, Jeanne, take him and put
him to sleep, she cried, rushing into
the kitchen and tossing her sister the
baby. "I'velost apupil this morning,
but I guess I've got another" And
tucking up her curly locks she ran
hastily back to her caller.
"Why, Dolly, what unnamable thing
did you have trying to sing in the
parlor?" exclaimed Jeanne some time
later, loo ling decidedly injured as
she gave the baby his blocks and be-
gan to iron his aprons. eve heard
of singing bears, and from the sounds
this might have been one-as far as 1
could hear above the babys scream
ing. But, poor little lamb, he was
frightened. Every time he'd doze off
there'd come an awful roar, and he
wake and cry. You can laugh if you
want to, Dolly, but don't think It's
funny"
sob, but dol" cried Dolly, "and
90 will you in minute. just think
Of any one trying to sing with such
an outlandish voice that people stop
in the street and it scares little
babies.
"But Jeanne, I couldn't help it.
He said he'd noticed my sign out, and
as he wished to study he thought he
would stop and inquire. And then he
said if this hour was free he would
like to take lesson. I told him this
hour was free--implying every other
hour from morning till night was
taken-and sat down to the piano.
told him l first wanted to try hi;
voice, and to sing with as full tone as
he could--but I was not prepared fol
that below. I done wonder the baby
was frightened. I guess I locke 4
scared, to, for he blushed and begged
my pardon"
4 "Wbat does he look like ?" asked
4 Jeanne, her tone triAe milder, and
entirely forgetting her aprons.
"Why, he's middle-aged man,
said Dolly; IT should think about 40
And-yes, he's downright homely-
and still he isn't, either he has suct
kind looking eyes. But his voice j
like a fog hornl What do you sup
pose, Jeanne, is his object in taking
Iessons?"
Maybe whenever he's sung he
been arrested for it, and he think
: your sign will protect him, sai'
Jeanne, bringing down her iron. "Bu
anyway it's pupil, and anyone is. vel
come. I can stuff Johns cars wit
cotton and take the baby out walkin
whenever its time for his lesson"