The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1897-08-05
HER FATHERS VOICE.
nr GRACE McoowAN COOKE.


| Marjorie, at the piano practicine
|er exercises, finished with evident
slief the days task and, apparently
sort of vocal frolic, ran down the
fsle as low as her deep, powerful
bung voice would go, and sounded a
blf-dozen notes that might have
banned basso.
Great at-aunt Marjorie, sitting by the
indow, laughed; and her neice and
lmesake whirled about upon the
pol to face her.
'what are you laughing at, Aunt
(arjorie me and my trumpet
|nes?'"
ut made me think of your grand
pther," answered the pretty old
5ly. "She had just such voice, and
Z was almost as much ashamed of it
somebody know is proud others. u
"Aunt Margie," accused Marjorie,
see story in your eye. Don't
by it! I'm good girl; I've been
rough all my exercises five times;
eserve that story" and bringing a
ssock she disposed herself at her
pts knee, in comfortable listening
tude.
Well," began Aunt Margie, "things
but Barbara are usually interesting,
the way she was teased about her
Bso voice, as we used to call it, is
using enough to remember. There
bne incident connected with it which
butte little tale and will bear re-
Iting.
Barbara used to sing what we
ed counter in the choir-you call
alto now, | think-and her sing
voice was much admired. But I
pember, laughing softly, 'that
Billy Gillespie, who taught our
ging school, attempted to get up a
|rtet Of female voices and asked her
take the bass. She never went
to the class afterwards, and she
pld hardly speak to old Billy when
met him.
1t was not much wonder. We had
nented her till she could not be
Ponable about it. She had begun
erself, frightening any of the other
whom she caught out after dusk,
hiding and calling their names in
s, bass voice she could assume.
Your Great-uncle Zeph was the
Plest tease of all, and he told her
she was so fond of the boys that
Tried to talk and sing like them.
|as finally such sore subject that
I we wanted her, for joke, to
que fathers singing-which she
4 90 perfectly-we could not get
70 utter note.
When your Great-uncle Jonas was
ned minister upon his 21st
pday at Harrisburg, we were all
much excited over it. Father
mother, of course, intended to be
fnt' but we young folks could not
Ct to go. Travel was difficult in
pennsylvania mountains in those
ana they would have to make
OF the trip on horseback.
remember the day they started.
y early spring, and the roads
badly broken up by March
ney had sent for Aunt Betsy Sell
no uncle Silas to come and stay
US. The Sellinses used always
with us when father and mother
called away. They were not re-
70 us, but they had been tenants
ners and we always called them
and uncle.
wo OF the boys had gone to mill,
1eph and the baby brother, then
years old, were out hunting.
o'ner didn't like to go, leaving
barbara and me in the house, but,
" OF the others had got back by
'he and father were obliged to
way or miss being in Harrisburg
morning.
'roara and / cleared up and
Y me dishes, feeling rather small
a,eI IN the big, empty house.
ong about three O'Clock in the
oon MIR. Greenough, who lived
miles beyond us up the road,
,sss S:' and brought the word that
~ nilas and Aunt Betsy would be
the next dayl
ioara and I looked pretty blank
we heard that. why, we ex-
Them this morning / said.
ell then, they got the word
answered Mr.. Greenough, FOR
naerstood that they were asked
- ssomorrow. Does It make any
y no, replied Barbara, with q
glance ct me. we have our
t u