The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-01-15


panlonship of highly polished PEG.
pie was n severe trial to the young
lady She had not realized there
could be such n difference, and each
day she chafcd more and more over
the limited sphere in which she was
placed and had it not been fOI her
town acquaintance, some six miles
away, with whom she conducted
muslralcs and rccitals, her life
would have been unbearable.
She had even gone so far as to
breach the subject to her father of
leaving Midvalc, but nothing could
move him from his old home.
There his father and he had both
been horn, aud no other place
could ever he so much like home to
him. lie had been willing his
daughter should have the special
musical education she had so earn
rStly desired, but he did not mean
IT should bring MldvaIc into dis %
favonr and tear him away from the
scenes of his childhood, youth, and
manhood, the little village whose
every inhahitant was known to
him and their names household
word. So Maud was fain to con
tent herself with the sleepy old vii.
lagc us best she could; but though
her talent lay in her voice rs we'll
rs in her hands, she was extremely
chary of it, and it was seldom
heard unless some of her friends
with Il cultivated ear" came out
from town.
Thursday afternoon Mrs. Carol
ton put on her bonnet and, taking
her Bible and hymn book, called
ut the parIor door for Maud. MY
dear, said she, are YOU not
going to the women pruycr.mcct,
ing with met"
Maud looked up with frown.
She was studying II little book on
harmony, but her thoughts were
evidently not all harmonious, Ms
she replied quite irritabIy: oh, /
suppose must if you insist; but
it would obligc me very much If
YOU would excuse me-,
1T will be such trent said
her mother, to have some good
we get along so poorly IN
that way " And Maud rose slow.
~ and took her hat.
1t was avery short distance to
the house where the meeting was
to be held and the mother aud
walked it in silence. The
faces of all assembled frightened
when Maud stepped in. Mrs.
Montrose, the leader for the after.
noon, came forward at once.
My dear, you are II perfect
she said warmly. II
had Just selected ar old piece to
sing; in fact, we have to sing the
very old ones or none ut all. But
now that you are here to help us.
we will indulge il something else.
Just take the book, my dear, and
choose what you like"
Maud carried the book to the
organ and began to play. Her
;killful hands awakened all the
hidden melody in the little instru.
nent; and when, in addition, the
'ich, cultivated tones Of her voice
swept through the room, every
leart was thrilled and the rest for.
got to sing. Mrs. Montrose only
smiled and wiped her glasses as
he hymn ended, and opened to
he lesson. 1t was on talents, and
Is the leader read, she put her
niger on the passage to keep the
,lace, and made few wise com.
nents. |,
'Of course You all know" said
he, that our Lord never meant ,
o teach us just how to use money ,
nd that alone. lie doesn't give ,
yerybody thousands of dollars to ,
sc for him, but he does give us
II something. We all have one
r more talents, which it is our
nty to conseerate to his service.
'y-and by he will be coming back