Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-06-14
Uncle Terry
...By...
CHARLES CLARK MUM
Copyright 1900 by Lee & Shepard
xxx.

not long ere Alice began to feel her-
,elf quite at home in the Mason family
and to notice that Mrs. Mason treated
her in a motherly way.
81 see that you are fond Of your lit
tie charges" she said, after Alice had
described her school and some Of the
peculiarities of her pupils who wore
outgrown roundabouts or calico pima
fores, land I suppose they grow fond
Of you as WELL"
81 try to make them," replied Alice.
"and find that is the easiest way to
govern them. / seldom have to punish
any one. In a way, children are like
grown people, and little tact and
few words said in the right way are
more potent than fear Of punishment" !"
"And do you not find life in so small
a place rather monotonous" asked
Mrs. Mason.
"Oh, yes" replied Alice, ut is not
much like city life. 1t is delightful to
have theaters and the excitement of
social duties, as I imagine you have
all the time, and yet I am not sure l
should like it. fancy once In awhile
I should sigh for a shady spot in the
woods in summer where could read
a book or hear the birds sing. It is
only in winter that should like to live
in the city"
Alice's stay in Boston passed rapidly
until only two days were left, when
Blanch said to her, 81 have invited a
few Of my friends here to meet you to-
night, and I want you to sing for me-"
"Oh, please do not ask that" replied
Alice hastily. 81 do not sing well
enough"
"But you sing in church, and that is
much harder"
''That is nothing" answered Alice,
smiling. ''Not one in ten Of those
country people know one note from an
other. Here all your friends hear the
finest operate singers, and would cut
q sorry figure in contrast"
"But you will sing just once to please
one, won't your pleaded Blanch.
81 will not promise. I will see how
many are here and how my courage
holds out"
When that evening came Blanch
waited until Alice had become some
what acquainted with the little gather
ing and the reserve had worn away,
when she went to her and, putting one
arm around her waist, whispered,
"Come, now, dear, just one little song;
only one to please me-" At first Alice
thought to refuse, but her pride came to
the rescue, and the feeling that she
would show her friend that she was
not a timid country girl gave her the
needed courage, and she arose and
stepped across the room to the grand
piano that stood in one corner. Her
cheeks were flushed, and defiant curl
was on her lips, and then without a
moments hesitation she seated herself
and sang 1.-THE Last Rose Of Summer"
She had sung it many, many times be-
fore, and every trill and exquisite quiv-
er Of its pathos was as familiar to her
as the music Of the brook where she
had played in childhood. She sang as
she never had before, and to an au-
dience that listened entranced. When
the last sweet note had passed her red
lips, she arose quickly and returned to
her seat. Two little tears stole out Of
Mrs. Nason's eyes, to be quickly brush
ed away with a priceless bit Of lace.
Sweet Alice, the motherless little coun-
try girl, had from that moment enter.
ed the heart of Mrs. Mason. When the
applause had subsided, it was Frank
that next pleaded.
won't you sing one for me now,
Miss Pager" he asked. 81 bought the
song I wanted today" And, going to
the piano, he unrolled and spread upon
the music rack-"Ben Bolt!'
But I only consented to sing once
for Blanch," Alice replied, "and there
are others here who I am sure can do
much better"
"Come, please" he said coaxingly,
'just this one for me-" And once more
Alice touched the keys.
Back to a simply furnished parlor
in Sandgate, with its lamp on the
piano and open fire burning brightly
as it had one year ago, went two of
that company in thought, and maybe
others there, whose youth had been
among country scenes, were carried
back to them by the singers voice and
saw byway schoolhouse "and shad-
ed nook by a running brook" in fancy,
or perhaps q little white stone In some
grass grown corner, where, Obscure
and alone" lay boyhoods sweet
heart! All the pathos Of our lost youth
trilled in the voice Of Alice Page as she
sang that old. old song. Not one in
that little audience but was enthralled
by the winsome witchery Of her voice
and for the moment was young again
in thought and feeling. When the
guests had departed Mrs. Mason turned
to Alice and, taking her face in her
hands, exclaimed, 81 want to kiss the
lips that have brought tears to my
eyes tonight"
The last evening Of her visit she de-.
ctded to spend with her brother, and
when she came to bid adieu to her
hostess that much dreaded naughty
mother had resolved herself into q
charming lady.
at is> odd, Bertie," she said to h,r
brother that evening when they wei e
alone together. chow different people
seem when one comes to know them.
From one or two things which YOU have