Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-05-15

have been selfish. II is hard to sing
the same songs. We were very happy.
But the miners like 70 hear me sing,
and l think perhaps 1t helps them TO
feel less lonely and keeps them from
evil shall try tonight ii am needed.
Mr.. Craig will not ask me unless he
must"
would have seen every miner and
lumbcrman in the place hidcously
drunk before would have asked her
to sing one song while her heart achcd
| wondered at Craig and said rather
anCrily:
"Ilc thinks only of those wretched
miners ana shanty men of his"
She looked at me with wonder in her
eyes and said gently:
"And are they not Christ's too?"
And | found 10 word TO reply.
1t was nearing 10 o'clock and I was
wondering how the fight was going on
and hoping that Mrs Mavor would not
be needed when the door opened and
old man Nelson and Sandy, the latter
much battered and ashamed, came in
with the word for Mrs MaNor.
81 will come" she said simply. She
saw me preparing TO accompany her
and asked. DO you think you can
leave him?"
Gle will do quite well in Nelson's
| care"
"Thcn am glad for I must take my
little one with me. I did not put her TO
bed in case | should need to go, and l
may not leave her"
! We entered the church by the back
door and saw ut once that even yet the
battle might easily be lost.
/ Some miners had just come from
! Slavins. evidently bent on breaking
/ up the meeting in revenge for the col
! lapse of the dance, which Slavin was
unable to enjoy, much less direct.
Craig was gallantly holding his ground.
finding it hard work to keep his men
| in good humor and SO prevent a fight,
! for there were cries of Put him out
| Put the beast OUT at a miner half
drunk and wholly outra gcous.
The look of relief that came over his
face when Craig caught sight of us
told how anxious he had been and
reconcilcd me to Mrs. MAYORS singing.
"Thank the good God"' he said, with
what came near being a sob. 81 was
about to despair
He Immediately walked to the front
and called out
"Gentemen. if you wish it, Mrs. Ma
vor will sing"
There was a dead silence. Some one
began to applaud. but miner said
saVaGely
stop that, you fool"'
There was delay of few moments
when from the crowd voice called
out:
docs Mrs. Mavor wish to sing?"
followed by cries of "Aye, that's it,"
Then shaw. the foreman at the
mines, stood up in the audience and
said:
"Mr. Craig and gentlemen. you know
that three years ago | was known as
odd Ricketts, and that ! owe all l
am tonight. under God, to Mrs. Ma
vor, and" with little culver in his
voice, her baby. And we all know
does not feel like singing tonight she
is not going to sing to keep any drunk
en- brute of Slavin's crowd quiet"
There We're deep growls of approval
all over the church. | could have hug
ged Shaw then and there. Mr.. Craig
went TO Mrs. MaVor and after word
with her came back and said:
Mrs. Mavor wishes me to thank her
dear friend Mr.. shaw, but says she
would like to sing"
The response was perfect stiffness.
Mr.. Craig sat down Mt the organ and
played the opening bars of the touch
ing melody, "Oft In the Silly Night
Mrs MayOr came to the front and
with a smile of exquisite sweetness
upon her sad face and looking straight
ut us with her glorious eyes, began to
sing
Her voice. rich soprano, even and
true, rose and fell, now soft, now
strong, but always filling the building
pouring around us floods of music.
had heard PATHS Home, Sweet
Home" and of all singing that alone
affected me as did this.
At the end of the first verse the few
women in the church and some of the
men were weeping quietly, but wher
she began the words,
"Whon l remember all
The friends once linked together"
sobs came on every side from these
tender hearted fellows, and Shaw quit,
lost his grip. But she sang steadily on
the tone clearer ana swceter and fuller
! at every note, and when the sound OF
her voice died away she stood looking
at the mon as if in wonder that they
should weep. No one ITovcd Mr.. Craig
, played softly on and, wandering
through many variations, arrived al
(, last at
Jesus, lover Of my soul"
AS she sang the appealing words hel
face was lifted up, and she saw none
of us, but she must have seen some
/ one, for the cry in her voice could only
come from one who could see and fee
help close ut hand. On and on went til,
glorious voice, searching my souls
: depths, but when she came to the
words,
Thou, o Christ, art all want"
she stretched up her arms-she ha(
quite forgotten us; her voice had born,
her TO other WorldS-and sang will