The Mercur miner. [volume] (Mercur, Utah) 1895-1913, 1906-10-03
WiiLY'S VOICE

BY JOSEPH BAueHER

Willie Dodge, just turned IL, was
not only the pride OF his family, he
was the admiration of the community
at large.
He trilled like bird, or what +
more to the purpose. he sang like d
prima.donna, and all who heard him
marveled at his wonderful voice. He
possessed much girlish beauty, and
he had the gentlest of dispositions
which no amount of adulatlon could
spoil.
The many fiattering professional Of
fers made him were peremptorily re-
jected by his family. They coddled
the boy as carefully as they nursed
his voice
His uncle, Mr. Robert Triggs. the
wealthy proprietor of several large
auction stores In the city, had made
Willie his special care. Mr.. Trlggs
Intended (when the time camel that
his nephew should study under the
best masters abroad. but. in the mean
time, he should learn all he could from
local talent.
No expense was to be spared to
make Willie the greatest of modern
tenors; that he would be anything
else never for a moment. was enter
tanned by Mr.. Triggs. who had said.
more than once. that Heavens great
est gift to man was a lyric tenor
voice, that bass voice was neces'
sary evil, and that a deep-toned WON.
an was visitation OF Providence.
Willie had learned from the vii.
lage music teacher all the latter had
to teach. and began preparations for
his trip abroad. The event was cele-
brated by a musical entertainment
rendered Willie by the members OF
the First Congregational church. The
concert came off on the eve of the
boys departure. and Mr.. Triggs had
brought a score of musical friends
from the city to attest the wonder.
full quality of his nephew's voice.
The church was crowded. and
everything passed of more than sat
isfactorily until the third number OF
the second part of the programme.
Then something happened Willie's
voice had gotten away from him.
While he was in the middle OF an
elaborate Wagnerian air his voice sud
denly leaped three bars over the
clef! II fingered there for an in
slant, and then as suddenly dived be.
low It. After seesawing in this man.
ner for nearly minute, Willie sat
down. followed by-silence.
Some thought that the bellows had
burst, others that the organ pipes
we're out of joint. but Mr. Triggs. who
was an authority. raised his hand.
"The boys voice has changed" he
said; "and that's all there is about IT,"
The gloom that settled over Sunny
Vile that night was not lifted for
many months; and even to this day
the wonderful gymnastics that Willie's
voice went through that night are not
referred to without a shudder.
Willie was entirely obllvious,
strange to say. to that which to
everyone else was painfully evident,
for he continued in the choir. notwith-
standing the many hints that his res
ignation would be accepted, and that
he should be reinstated whenever his
voice had established itself upon
less uncertain basis. But he did not
take the hint. until one night at re.
hearsal Squire Bishop, the bass. took
him aside.
"Your voice is the most wonderful
thing in the world. Willie." he said.
zone can never tell what it's going to
do next. One minute it's ballooning
above high c. and the next it's grub
bling under low @. Why don't you
adapt 1t TO a sliding scale?"
That's right, Willie" said Mr..
Trainer, the tenor, who had overheard
Mr.. Bishop. But II you can only
manage to blend those two voices OF
yours IN advertise you as the great
and only duetest on earth. I'll take
you on the road and make your for"
Before the tenor could finish he lay
sprawllng under a bench, while WI
lie, with hands clenched and eyes
ablaze. stood glaring at the bass.
Look here. Squire Bishop he
squeaked, "Ive stood this thing Just
about as long as | intend to stand
It, And II you or any other man says
word to me about my voice (here
his tones scared skyward) II will
so help me Bob. l will NOW his voice
came from the depths) I'll punch his
head"
In the meanwhile Mr. Triggs was
waiting with not a little impotence
for the day when Willie with tenor
note would soothe the souls in Purga-
tory" [See AUX Italiens," by Owen
Meredith a day which. however,
never came. for Whites voice one
night resolved itself into the deepest
kind OF a most untuneful bass.