The Sauk Centre herald., 1908-08-06
THE LITTLE
MOTHER
BY OWEN OLIVER
(Copyright.)

When was very little girl made
up my mind that l would be a great
singer when l grew up. used to go
into the lumber room and sing to the
old newspapers and boxes and pre-
tend that they were thousands OF peo-
pie.
Nobody else seemed to think any.
thing of my voice except father. He
praises everything do, SO he doesn't
count. He even praised the way /
kept house, just after mother died,
when was only II.
When l grew bigger thought that
my voice might be rather good II had
lessons; but knew that father couldn't
afford them Che is an author), and
couldn't spare time from the house
keeping. So l gave up the idea OF be-
ing great singer, and only sang be-
cause liked singing.
When was 16 one of fathers novels
was a success at last. So we paid on
the bills and the money that father
had borrowed, and he bought me a
some lessons, because l had taught
myself, and didn't finger properly.
One day she accompanied some
songs for me; and then she made me
sing at the concert for the church
organ. After that they asked me to
sing at all the concerts in the town.
loved to hear my voice in the great
hall and to make it sound the very
best it would, and to feel as if the ac-
compartment was sea of music and
l was swimming in it, and l was moth
ing but a voice, and the world was
nothing but music.
l sang better than usual at con-
cert just after l was IT, and they made
me sing the second encore twice. 1t
was the one that called Dicks Song
to myself, but l didn't tell other peo-
pie. He had won two scholarships
and was going away to Oxford next
term, and that made me think about
him when sang it.
When l had finished singing and
went back to my seat beside father he
was talking to a big old gentleman,
with long white hair and an enormous
red nose, and blue eyes, and a smile
that made you like him directly. He
was very nice to me when father in
troduced him.
glanced at his card, which he
handed me, and then l remembered.
Why" cried You are the Mr..
Arten, who brings out all the great
singers!'
81 want to bring out one more" he
said. Your voice will never be alb.
solutely at the top of the first rank
l will not deceive you-but people will
think that it is, through your wonder
full gift of feeling. You must have
lived great deal in your II years, my
child, to feel like that"
l couldn't help smiling.
Why" said. Il haven't done any.
thing at all! I've never had the time
you see, because mother died when
l was II, and I've had to keep house
for father and the boys ever since"
'Only that" he said "Ah-h! Well
you will be very nearly the first con,
tralto of your generation, if you would
come to me and work hard for a
couple of years."
Il would" 1 said, "if could"
He said he thought it might be man.
aged, and he would speak to father
about it. l was so excited that
danced round the room when he had
gone.
Father was very quiet when 1 told
him about it, and laid down his pipe
and put his elbow on the chair, and
his chin on his hand and stared in the
FIRE; and then l thought how he would
miss me-he and the boys. l ought
to have thought of that before, but ]
hadn't. It shows how selfish l was.
"Oh, daddy" l cried. Il didn't
think-how horrid l was-I don't
want to go after ALL"
went and stood behind him, with
my hand on his shoulder, and my cheek
against his hair. l did not want him
to see how disappointed l felt. But
he pulled me round where he could
see my face.
1T isn't that, DEAR" he said. 1T is
time that we paid back some of the
sacrifices that you have made for U.S.
Six years of household worries, when
you should have been a careless child!
God bless you, dear! You have your
own life to live, but Are you sure
it is the best life for you, Molly?"
You know how you feel about
writing, father" 1 answered. 81 feel
like that about singing"
He sat me down on his knee and
kissed me.
Father wrote the next day and told
Mr.. Arten that l would 60; and he
wrote back and said he was very glad
and would come in fortnight. So !
was very busy seeing to my clothes,
and arranging about the housekeep.
ing
The Sunday before l was going was
awful. We were all very quiet at
breakfast, and suddenly Bob blurted
out that he shouldn't like Sundays
when I was gone; and Jane dropped
two plates and broke them, and ran
out of the room; and Tommy would
come and sit on my lap, and father
had to wipe his spectacles. He said
tho+ he. ctooyo NJ tho ooAeoo hod