The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-08-21

to hear what her brother had to say
about her playing in the orchestra.
"I'm girl. What are you going
to do about that" she anxiously in
quired.
"Dress you in boys clothes. One
of my cid suits will just fit you,"
Rudolph answered.
Their mother objected seriously;
but Rudolph insisted, saying: "Zieg-
Ter hates girl violinist. He won't
listen to Fritz's playing if l bring
her there in skirts" Frieda at first
rebelled, but, after breakfast, she
consented to be clothed in pair of
Rudolph's outgrown knee breeches,
a jacket, and one of her own shirt
waists. Her blond, curly hair fell
carelessly about her neck and ears,
making her appear quite like little
genius. She was tall for her age,
and Rudolph declared that she made
a better-looking boy.
We've got you dressed all right.
Now we must practice 'Mignon'
till it's time to start" Rudolph said.
So the mother, brother and sister
PLAYED the difficult parts of the opera
until half past ten. Then Frieda
put on her ulster and Tam O'Shan-
ter, and went with Rudolph to the
opera house. She walked shyly
along by his side, holding tightly to
his hand, and carrying with her other
hand her violin case. When they
reached the stage door Rudolph
said: BE brave, Fritz. Remember
you're boy" Frieda did not reply
She followed her brother up long
fight of stairs, then through dark
winding passages to room where a
dozen men were talking and smok-
ing.
"Herr Professor, this is Fritz" Ru-
dolph said to tall man, with curly
black hair and long dropping
mustache.
Frieda stepped forward, and pre-
sented her slender, white hand.
"Ah, Fritz! I've heard such praises
of your playing, I shall expect great
DEAL" Herr Ziegler said, taking Erie.
da's hand.
Il hope l shall not disappoint you.
| Herr Professor. | am very anxious
to play in the orchestra" Frieda re
piled.
Rudolph watched the director and
his sister nervously.
"Let's hear you tune your violin,
my boy" Herr Ziegler said
Frieda took her violin from the
case, and began tuning it. The d.
rector listened sharply. Just then
number of men with instruments
entered the room. The director said
something to them. Then they all fell
to tuning their instruments, and the
twanging of Frieda's violin mingled
with a hundred other discordant
sounds.
"This way, Fritz. We're going in
to the auditorium" Rudolph said to
his sister.
Frieda followed the m usicians to
the orchestra, and sat in chair by
the side of her brother. When the
instruments were in tune, and the
score of the opera was in order upon
the racks, the director raised his
baton. For an instant Frieda's heart
stood still: but, when the director
swayed his baton downward, Frieda
responded with her violin bow, and
she heard her own violin ring out in
cadence with all the other instru-
ments. The little violinist felt the
keen black eyes of the director watch
ing every movement of her bow. She
was so frightened that part of the
time she could not see the notes of
the score. She played from memory,
until the mist cleared away from her
eyes, and she could again see the
notes of the opera.
The little violinist did not enjoy
the rehearsal as she had anticipated
She was very glad when it was over,
and she could go home to her mother
Herr Ziegler did not say one word in
regard to Frieda's playing. So Ru-
dolph knew that, at least. the direct
or had no fault to find.
That evening Frieda played again
with the orchestra, and she was not
at all frightened. The glamour Of
the stage and the voices of the sing
ers, blending with the music of the
orchestra, enchanted her. She was
in a sort OF dream. The instruments
seemed like human voices calling
and answering one another At times
the wind instruments roared like a
/ tempest Then they ceased, and the
stringed instruments murmured as
softly as the summer breeze. When