The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-24
Threefold.


when Elizabeth Andrews drifted back from the
oorderland where she had tarried so long her hus-
Dand asked, What shall we call the little one
bess would not have her named because /
wanted you to choose her name yourself"
What IS your choice, John?" The thin fin
gers closed weakly over his strong brown hand
Elizabeth is the dearest name in the world to
me, but you shall call the child whatever you wish
still have one Elizabeth" brushing the hair from
her forehead with tender touch
Let US call her Mary; not a Understanding de-
Ilvatlon just sweet, simple Mary Then we'll have
her consecrated to our Lady and ask our Blessed
Mother to counsel, guide and protect our little
girl all through life"
Nothing would please me better dear; love
me name OF Mary more, think because it is our
Lady's than for any other reason"
So the frst-born of the Andrews was called
Mary. She was her mothers right hand her
fathers comfort-a sweet-tempered helpful child
but she was hopelessly deaf. Her great passion
was music. She would sit for hours at the piano
letting her fingers stray over the KEYS producing
all manner of sweet sounds Professor Merwin
when asked if he could teach her to play answered
with SMILE "Not only can | teach her to play the
piano, but l predict that she will become finished
musician Mary has in her fingers" And
such seemed to be the case. for those slender fin
gers never struck a dscord; they seemed to feel
and recognize every variation of sound.
When Mary about IS Father Halpin asked
her to play the organ for the childrens choir Sis
ter Placide was always with the children and the
young organist relied entirely upon her to guide
the singers and keep the music up to the degree
of excellence which Father Halpin required. Mary
cherished a very tender devotion to Our Lady, and
was never happier than when teaching the children
to sing her praises.
Mary had composed the music for a hymn to
which she set the words of Adelaide PrOctor's ex-
quisite poem, "Threefold" She had worked on it
tirelessly and so lovingly that the melody
throbbed in her brain and echoed in her heart with
sweet persistency.
On the first Sunday in May there was always
a May-day celebration at Notre Dame On that
day the statue of our Lady was crowned with sweet
spring flowers, and the entire congregation was
placed under her protection for the ensuing year
The Young Ladies' Sodality and the Children Of
Mary-robed in white-walked in procession from
the school to the church. The sodality banner was
carried at the head of the procession, and each
socialist carried bunch of flowers for our Lady's
altar
The May day was always a great occasion for
Mary. She had arranged two of the beautiful
May hymns for the children to sing during the
procession Miss Haskell the leading alto of the
big choir" to sing Mary's hymn "Three-
fold" during the interval between the sermon and
benedcton.
May day dawned bright and clear. The sodal-
lists approached Holy Communion in the morning,
and all ready for the celebration in the after
noon. Half an hour before time for service mes
with a foreboding of evil as. with trembling ing-
ers, she tore open the note and read:
Ny Dear Miss Andrews: ! awoke this morning
with a sore throat. Though l have been treating
it all day it grows rapidly 1t will be impos-
sble for me to sing this afternoon. / am more dis
appointed than you possibly be, for [ had
looked forward to the singing of "Threefold" with
such pleasure.
Hoping that I may have that pleasure some
time in the near future, | am very sincerely yours,
JULIA N. HASKELL.
Mary sir ;uto the school chapel With
bowed head 81 1t before the altar and wept
bitter tears, h old" was very dear to Mary;
the beautiful oro7 had become prayer to her.
She had woven much of that feeling into the mel
ody and the hymn was to have been special Of
fering of love TO Lady on this the first day of
her own beautiful month.
Perhaps she had taken too much pride in her
work she thought; and by so doing had made her
offering unworthy Mary had read much of Miss
HaskeTs voice, and she knew that the music Of
''Threefod" was we'll adapted to its range. After
a few minutes of fervent prayer she felt comfort
ed Perhaps the sacrifice of her viii would be more
acceptable to our Lady than the beautiful music
would have been.
Turning from the altar, Mary found Sister
Placde beside her. Without word she placed the
note Ia the good Sisters hand. When she had
finished reading the note Sister Placide wrote up
on the little ivory tablet which Mary always wore
al her side: eve must have the hymn, dear. Why
not sing it yourselfW
Mary gave her a startled look, the blood mount
ing slowly to her pale checks She seized the tablet
and wrote rapidly, a have never sung note in
my life"
But am sure that YOU can sing, and especial
~ this your composition, the hymn you love
so we'll Do you not sing it in your heart"
eyes," wrote Mars, who, not being able TO near
her own voice, seldom spoke preferriug to use her
tablet for continuous conversation eyes, think |