Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-12-21

cept the regular career Of every singer
She asked the question again and. in
the light Of her recent reply 70 Rollin,
asked again if she had any very great
purpose in life herself? What would
Jesus dos There was a fortune in her
voice She knew it, not necesSarily~as
a matter of personal pride or profess
sional egotism, but simply as a fact,
and she was obliged to acknowledge
that until two weeks ago she had pur
posed to use her voice to make money
and win admiration and applause Was
that much higher purpose. after all,
than Rollin Page lived for?
She sat in her room long time and
finally went down stairs resolved to
have a frank talk with her mother
about the concert company's offer and
her new plan, which was gradually
shaping in her mind. She had already
had one talk with her mother and knew
that she expected Rachel to accept the
offer and enter ON successful career as
public singer.
Mother, Rachel said, coming at
once to the point. as much as she dread
ed the interview, Il have decided not
to go out with the company. / have
good reason for 1t. -
Mrs. Winslow was a large. handsome
woman fond of much company, ambi
tious for distinct place in society and
devoted, according to her definitions of
success, to the success of her children.
Her youngest boy Lewis, ten years
younger than Rachel, was ready to
graduate from military academy in
the summer Meanwhile she and Rachel
We're at home together. Rachel's father,
like Virginia's, had died while the fam
ny were abroad Like Virginia, she
found herself, under her present rule of
conduct, in complete antagonism with
her own immediate home circle
Mrs. Winslow waited for Rachel to
go on.
''You know the promise 1 made two
weeks ago, motherf"
"Mr. Maxwell's S promise2"
"No, mine. You know what it was,
mother? p
Il suppose do. OF course all the
church members mean TO initiate Christ
and follow him as far as is consistent
with our present day surroundings. But
what has that to do with your decNhpn
in the concert company's $ matter?'
'It has everything to do with it.
After asking, What would Jesus dor
and going to the source of authority for
wisdom / have been obliged to say that
do not believe he would in my case
make that use of my voice. -
"Whyl Is there anything wrong
about such a careerf"
mo; 1 don't know that l can say
there Is. -
''Do you presume to sit in Judgment
on other people who go out 10 sing in
this way? Do you presume to say that
they are doing what Christ would not
DOR
"Mother, / wish you to understand
me. judge no one else. l condemn no
other professional singers. simply de-
eide my own course. AS | look at it, |
have a conviction that Jesus would do
something else
"What else?' Mrs. Winslow had not
yet lost her temper. She did not under
stand the situation or Rachel in the
her daughters career should. be as dis
tinguished as her natural gifts prom
ised, and she felt confident that when
the present unusual religious excite
ment in the First church had passed
away Rachel would go on with her
public life according to the wishes of
the family. She was totally unprepared
for Rachel's next remark
"What? Something that will serve
mankind where 1t most needs the serv-
ice of song Mother / have made up
my mind to use my voice in some way
so as to satisfy my soul that | am doing
something better than pleasing fashion
able audiences or making money or even
gratifying my own love of singing. lam
going to do something that will satisfy
me when l ask, What would Jesus
DOR and / am not satisfied and cannot
be when l think of myself as singing
myself into the career of concert COM
pany performer. B"
Rachel spoke with vigor and ear
nestness that surprised her mother. Mrs.
Winslow was angry now, and she never
tried to conceal her feelings.
''It is simply absurdl Rachel you
are fanatic What can you dor
1.-The world has been served by men
and women who have given it other
things that were gifts. Why should ]
because / am blessed with natura.
gift, at once proceed to put a market
price on it and make all the money
can out of itg You know, mother, that
You have taught me to think OF mu-
sical career always in the light OF
financial and social success. have been
unable since | made my promise two
weeks ago to imagine Jesus joining
concert company to do what l would
do and live the life would have to live
if / joined it. -
Mrs. Winslow rose and then sat down
again. With a great effort she com
posed herself.
"What do you intend to do, then :?
You have not answered my question.
II shall continue TO sing for the time
being in the church. l am pledged to
sing there through spring During the
week l am going to sing at the White
Cross meetings down In the Rectangle.
"Whatl Rachel Winslowl Do you
know what you are sayingr Do you
know what sort of people those are
down there2"
Rachel almost quailed before her
mother For moment she shrank back
and was silent.
II know very well That IL the rea-
son l am going. Mr.. and Mrs. Gray
have been working there several weeks.
l learned only this morning that they
wanted singers from the churches to
help them in their meetings. They use
a tent 1t is in part of the city where
Christian work is most needed. | shall
offer them my help Mother, Rachel
cried out with the first passionate ut
terance she had yet useli, 81 want TO do
something that will cost me something
4 in the way of sacrifice | know you Will
not understand me. But l am hungry
to suffer something. What have we
done all our lives for the suffering, sim
ming side of Raymond How much
have we denied ourselves or given Of
our personal ease and pleasure TO bless
the place in which we live or initiate
the life of the Saviour of the worldr
Are we always TO go on doing n so-
ciety selfshly dictates, moving on its
narrow little round of pleasures and
entertainments and never knowing the
pain of things that costT'
care you preaching at mer'' asked
Mrs Winslow slowly. Rachel under
stood her mother : words.