The San Francisco call., 1903-12-20

their endurance and loyalty, the prize
Of their high calling. was to be dis
continued? Tim was deputed to in
quire on Saturday afternoon. He re-
turned disconsolate; they showed each
other significantly.
'rWhat'd he say? Whatd he sayP'
'He says mos probly not. Says II
costs too much. Says maybe a pic
"Awl old chump. Coin to bounce US.
too?''
"I dunno. I guess So didn't ask
him that. just says to him, "Aw, say.
Mr.. Fellows. arn't Us boys goin' camp
in'2' An he says, I guess not this year.
Tim, mos probly. Maybe picnio'--
well, I bet he don't bounce me! I
betcher that: betcher nOw!"
Edgar strutted before them They re-
garded him with interest.
"Whatcher yer goin' to dor they
asked respectfully.
''Whatu I do2 Tu-I1l bounce my
self" he called over his shoulder as he
strobe home.
His moody air during supper con-
vinced Mr.. Ogden that something was
up Ever since he had discovered Ed
gar's demand for an additional 10 cents
a Sunday, on the ground that his moth
er thought him worth more, and his
later daring strike for cents more sal
ary. which the choirmaster innocently
considered abundantly justified and
paid out Of his own pocket. Mr.. Ogden,
who, having heard rumOrs OF wild dis
sipatfons in the peanut and root beer
line, had pounced upon his son return
ing plethoric from pay day and annexed
the extra 10 cents, was convinced OF the
necessity Of surveillance for this willy
wage Garner and formed the habit OF
escorting him regularly on pay nights,
alone at first, later escorted by Mrs.
Ogden, who accompanied the family
group as a self constituted and hnal
auditor.
1t frequently has been remarked that
a great grief may bind together once
disunfted members OF a family; IL Is
extremely improbable that any afiiction
whatever could have produced among
the Ogdens such a gratifying esprit de
CORPS as resulted from their unfeigned
interest in pay day. But when Mr.. Og-
den had shadowed his son to no more
secluded and dangerous spot than the
churchyard and saw him IN earnest
conclave with his attentive mates, he
went, relieved. about his business, re-
assured by the words "campin' out"
and Sunday afternoon" that he caught
from behind a convenient tombstone.
He was utterly unconscious that the
scene he had left was far more men
acing to. his household than even the
most diAhguring fight OF his warliks
sons varied repertoire. But 50 1t was.
Haranguing, promising, taunting,
threatening, Edgar led them, finally
subdued. into one OF the most satisfac-
tory rehearsals Of the year.
They waited till 10:45 o'clock On
Sunday, and finally the men marched
in alone, somewhat conscious and III
at ease, followed by a red-faced. de-
termined rector and a puzzled visiting
clergyman. They sang 20 Happy
Band OF Pilgrims but 1t was re-
marked by. the wondering congrega-
hon that they did not look happy
themselves. There was no music but
the hymns, which, as they had been
altered to wel1-known numbers, were
chanted Justify by the inhabitants OF
the pews, thus winning the sincere ad-
miration Of the visiting clergyman.
Really. such well-trained congre-
gational singing Is quite rare" he re-
marked afterward to the rector, and
was somewhat surprised at the short
answer: 'It shall certainly never oc-
cur again."
1t had gone hard with the vested
choir but for Mrs. Ogden. Mr.. Fell
lows pleaded In vain; IN vain the
Ladies' Auxiliary passed resolutions
the rector was firm. It was only when
Mrs. Ogden swept IN upon him In his
study, a chastened, still apprehensive
boy under one arm, followed by half
a dozen women similarly equipped,
and made a speech that win adorn
the, parish annals for many a year,
that he yielded, respectfully con-
vinced.
Edgar had met his Waterloo, and
lived, so to speak, under a consequent
military surveillance, with much OF
his prestige gone. his pay docksd for
a month. and the certainty OF ap-
preaching warm weather. when 1t
would be impossible to take cold. and
nothing but a summons to the choir
invisible could excuse him from re-
hearsaIs here, to render the future all
too clear to him. In the words OF the
professional:
His tongue could never tire
OF singing with the choir.
To-day, If you should attend even
song at st. Marks. you viii beyond
a doubt be delighted with a silver
voice that appears to proceed from
violet-eyed boy with a sweet express
sion.
1T Is a good thing to give thanks
unto the Lord!" the voice declares
r,Snodfoualv bi1t II fa doubtf,11 ~ ffz
owner is ina thankful frame OF mind.
He would in all probability prefer to
be with his brother Samuel who is at
present touring the West triumphant
ly with a Methodist revivallst, rem
dering Where is Ny Wandering Boy
Tonight" to weeping congratulations
for $40 a week and his travelling ex-s
penses. And even this success leaves
Squealer dissatisfied; he would far
rather be in his fathers position
W.