The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-10-18
SOMERSET PA, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1s. 1899

f, WEDNESDAY. O
die of the church a figure dressed il
deep mourning. She quickly threw
back her heavy veil, and we saw fac,
of infinite sweetness, OLD and with
wrinkles, but angelic in its softness
purity and beauty-the face that wa;
the mirror to lovely life, and clean
loving heart; a face that, once seen
was never to be forgotten. And l had
seen it in its earlier years.
As the note OF the verse was struck
there came forth a melody that filled
the church and thrilled our hearts.
True music is always Intoxicating, but
the peculiar sweetness OF the voice and
the sympathetic vibration In each tone
had a powerful effect amidst these sur
roundings and under these eircum-
stances. Women forgot to fan, and
men bent forward, and children gazed
wonderingly.
The voice rose aud fell in perfect
eadenees, the very fullness of sympathy
and inspiration. The verse sung, she
stood with elasped hands and waited
for the second. and old Moller played
on, obIivious to all save the organ aud
the hymn of bis friend. AS the song
proceeded. the beauty of ii, the intense
interest of il, lowered into an indies
eribable glory. The hearts were sing
ing. The souls were singing. Heaven
itself was singing.
-
There are on record several notable
instances where the singing voice was
returned in old age aud under intense
excitement, but, as far as could re-
member, the reaction generally meant
collapse aud sudden death. ] was in
the pew just back OF the singer, aud,
without being perceived, moved so as
to be near her If she tainted. But she
did not faint. When she finished the
hymn, she half sat, half sank down in
the pew, and quickly replaced the veil
could not help bending forward and
saying:
II am DR.. Thomas Ambers-Tom
Ambers you used to know. Can 90
ANYTHING for you2n
mo"
"shall I escort you out after the serv-
ice?r
1t was as thought. Her nerve was
good for all the funeral. The manner
in which she uttered the monosyllables
showed that.
"Well, do you see that 90 exclaimed
the girl with the blue hat TO the girl in
the pink waist. "Old Doctor Ambers
taking her out before the procession.
He's perfect old nuisance. He al
ways was. l would have given any
thing to see her; now we can't, because
if We go to the cemetery we'll miss our
trains"
at is fearfully exasperating, isn't
IT,"
''Yes; and l heard old Doctor Am
Oers used to be in love with her, too.
And I half believe he is yet. Wasn't
her voice beautiful? And it was all 50
odd"
Lovely. 1 would not have missed
it for the world. Do you expect to
eatch the u o'clock train? ?''
"If / live through the heat Isn't it
killing?"
Perfectly frightfulr
4*.
Just before the services were over she
had turned to me and said "Please take
me out" 1 knew what she meant.
She wanted TO escape the crowd.
Whei; We reached the street called
'ne Of the few carriages, and, placing
her in it, got in myself and closed the
She sank back, saying moth
ng for time, bat presently speaking
very gently: Thank you, my good
friend, thank youI God made me do
IT, God did it, Blessed be His namet'
Blessed be His namer / repeated,
not knowing what else to say, it being
40 time or place for compliments on
her singing.
Nothing more was ever said ON this
subject by either of us There were
Fery few persons at the rave, and the
heat was almost intolerable. We drove
back without many words. When we
her boarding-house she asked
hat the young preacher come to see
ler as soon as possible.
Late in the afternoon he was in my
'ffiee. Doctor" he said, "this is so
extraordinary that ! seem to be moving
n dream. The incident at the church
vas strange enough, but stranger things
nave come, and 1 want your advice.
She says she expects to die soon, and
he wants to be buried near him, and |
ion't know what to do. How could |
Explain the two graves In the lot?'
mo explanation necessary" / repli-
d. What does the living world care
or worn out preachers. o.-wOrn out
ioetors? We save their souls aud save
heir lives, and then they forget US. A
loctOr may spend lifetime in doing
rood to others, but let him stop a year,
md he had just as well dry up and be
blown away. And q pastor emeritus,
With no relatives to place flowers upon
lis grave, will not be disturbed by the
OF the world. Tell her yes"
IL was s more comfortable day when
We next visited the lot the young
preacher and land we fingered there
Until the men who filed the grave had
the hearse and the attendants
around the bend of the road. Then,
With uncovered head, the young preach
T stood by the graves, and with closed
yes repeated something to himself
"You were saying the marriage serv-
ee,n said as We started to go.
''She asked me to do it," he replied,
but why, do not know, for are they
lot together in Heaven ?"
And ss We walked on l heard him
aging, ''God is Love, and Love is God.