The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-09-15
ND NECK n q. THURSDAY SEPTEMBER Is 1898. NO 38I

make the new church ring with devout
song on the followin' day. On Tues.
day, my cold was disappearin', and my
normal upgrade voice was comm
back.
~ now had a chance to consider that
I had made mistake in joinin' the
choir. for when time should come for
me to make public exhibition of my
self my voice would be pitched entirely
too high. Still felt that this oppor-
tunity to become popular with the
church folks was too good to be lost.
I was young man, anxious to be a
success in business and get some of
the custom which went to Andrew
Yates, who also kept a grocery. And
80 I:made this resolve that, il necessary
l would catch another cold on Satur-
day rather than resign or run the risk
of singin' in no set voice on the comm
Sunday.
Saturday mornin' arrived, and l
hadn't even blowed my nose since
Wednesday, just afore I went to bed.
So throwed off my coat and vest and
scrambled down cellar, which was just
the place to get what I wanted. I
hired little boy to tend to the store
and sot for nearly an hour on hogs
head of molasses, sneezin' away, but
determined not to give up until I'd
canght frst-rate cold. When came
upstairs I called out to the boy just to see
how my vocal organs was fixed, and
they put me in mind of big bass drum
that heard once In circus.
"That night was on hand punctual
and received many more compliments,
AMI went home with Susan, clipper as
butterfly. For fear wouldn't be
hoarse the next morning, I sot in thN
open window of my chamber with my
coat and vest off, gain at the stars
thinkln' of Susan while grew hoarser
every moment.
"On Sunday mornin' my voice was in
good trim, and 1t was one Of the most
triumphant moments of my life as l
stood up and let it swell out, while all
the people down below looked up and
watched US with admiration and envy.
Ny throat was rather sore and my chest
felt tight, but I paid no attention to
them.
"The choir agin met on Monday
night, and my voice held ..s own.
During the rest of that week / laid in
stock OF soothin' syrup and camphor
and other medicines, which l used
pretty lavishly, and with good results.
But Saturday come, and found my
self hesitatin' whether to 90 down Gel
lar agin or sever my connection with
the choir forever.s | had observed that
trade had picked up wonderfully with
in a few days, and the minister himself
had dropped in and asked for credit on
pound OF cheese, some clothes pins
and one or two other articles-I don't
recollect just this minute. The Super
lntendent of the Sabbath-school also
came in for the first time and bought a
ham and gallon of sperm oil. 1t this
thing continues, thinks I to myself, I
can afford to catch cold Tor a few weeks
until they can get natural bass sing
er, and down cellar 1 went, leavin' the
same little boy to tend the store.
"Well, year went by, and l was still
holdin' forth in the Methodist choir.
Ny business now as fourishin', and al
though Mr.. Yates was Christian, the
church people patronized me as much
as they did him; for durin' this time
they had a tremendous big revival
down at Jericho Centre, and I had ex-
perienced religion. By being In the
choir I had many chances to see Susan
home, which would not have happened
otherwise, and I valued this circum-
stance for my regard for her had grad
ually deepened into sincere and unmlt-
igated affection.
"But then Susan up and married a
young justice OF the peace, who never
attended church, and was bigger sin,
ner than ever dreamed of bein'. This
took Susan out the choir. anu left me
desolate. I vowed eternal celibacy
and / didn't care who set the Methodist
church afire. That was the last OF me
as bass singer. Why, reckon 1t up
and see how many times I've exposed
myself to dlptherla, bronchitis and
death. and not livin' soul was in the
secret. / got SO scientific about it tha
I could tell how many sneezes would
make me hoarSe enough to strike th'
Lowest note in Old Hundred withou
strainin' for it.
"But one things been sorter bother
! in me all these years. Suppose Rache
lSliter should meet me in Heaven. Tht
/ very first thing she'd say would b'
l.Well, if here amt Ez Hix Conn
here, Ezra. I want you to sing some
of those good old hymns that we uset