The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-06-27
PAREPA RUSA'S SONG.
AN EASTER OF UNUSUAL INTEREST
IN HER DISTINGUISHED CAREER.

The Grand Notes OF Her MatchIcss
Voice, In Its Richness and Pity and
Beauty, Rose Triumphantly Over
All Earthly Pain and Sorrow.
"Myra, this is perfect rest" OK.
claimed Parepa. I'VE shall be quite
alone for four hours"
Eyes, four long hours. There will be
no rehearsals; nobody else knows
where you are"
Parepa laughed merrily at the idea.
and we'll she might. At II that day
she had sung ut one OF our large New
York churches. and had insisted upon
her going home with me. We were
friends in Italy, and SO she readily
consented. But by noon the sky was
overcast and gray. Down came the
snow. whitening streets and roofs. We
hurried home and sat close to the fire
for an afternoons enjoyment.
There was a sharp rap at the door.
and note was thrust in. 1t read:
| My Dear Friend-Can YOU comet Annie has
| gone. She said you would be sure to come to he,
| funeral She spoke of you to the last. She will
! be buried at 4.
"Oh. dear! I must Co." said l, "but
J you sit by the fire and rest. III be at
home in two hours. And so. poe An
ME has gone"
'Tell me about it, Myra," said Pare
pm. "for l am going with you;" and.
after had told the story she threw on
her heavy cloak, wound her long, white
woolen scarf about her throat, drew on
her gloves, and we set out together in
the wild Easter storm.
The driving storm made us late, and
We found the hardworking friends sit.
ting stlflly against the walls.
A minister came. brought as a mere
matter Of fOrmality by the undertaken.
Icier than the pitiless storm without,
colder than the grave, were his words.
He read few verses from the Bible,
warned the bereaved mother against
rebellion Mt the divine decrees," made
q brief prayer and was gone.
The undertaken looked ut the great
singer and me, as IL to say. Its time
to CO."
Without a word Parepa rose and
walked to the head of the coffin. She
laid her white scarf on an empty chair,
threw her cloak back from her shoul.
ders. where 1t fell In long, soft black
lines from her noble figure. like the
drapery Of mourning. She laid her
soft, fait hand on the cold forehead,
passed 1t tenderly over the wasted. del
icate face. looked down at the dead
girl moment. removed some Easter
lilies ! had brought from the stained
box TO the thin fingers and. with illu.
mined eyes sang the glorious melody;
Angels ever bright and fair.
| Take. oh, take her to thy carei
Her voice rose and fell in all it's rich.
ness and power and beauty and pity.
She looked above the dingy room and
the tired faces Of men and women, the
hard hands and the struggling hearts.
She threw back her head and sang till
the choirs Of paradise must have paus-
ed to listen to the Easter music Of that
day.
She passed her hands caressingly
over the girls soft, dark hair and sang
on and on:
Take. oh. take her to thy care!
The mothers face grew rapt and
white. Suddenly she threw my hand
Off and knelt at Parepas feet. close to
the wooden trestles. She locked her
fingers together, tears and sobs break.
Ing forth. She prayed aloud that God
would bless the angel singing for An
ME. ! led her back to her seat as the
last grand notes Of Parepa's voice rose
triumphant over all earthly pain and
sorrow.
thought that no queen ever went to
her grave with greater ceremony than
this young daughter Of poverty and
toll. committed to the care Of the an
gels.
That night thousands listened to PA.
repa's matchless voice. Applause rose
to the skies, and her own face was glo.
riously swept with emotion. | Joined
In the enthusiasm, but above the gilt.
ter and the shimmering Of jewels and
dress and the heavy odors Of Easter
flowers, the sea Of smiling faces and
the murmur Of voices above, the sleet
on the roof and the roar Of the storm
outside | could hear Parepa's voice
singing up to heaven, Take, oh, take
her to thy care!-New York Mail and
Express.