The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-04-09
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- 6A0
The Church Piano.

The Church Piano.
"I'u never play that old niano
again J" declared Gladys Marshall. cts
just disgrace for our church to have
an Old out-of- date instrument like that
ana expect good music. And as for In
Wiling musicians from outside to come
and use that old rattletrap, or to play
70 Its accompaniment, it's nothing but
an insult!
Her complaint was not wholly with
out reason. She had invited Miss
Schlegel over from Randolph to play
at the district convention Of the Kings
daughters, and Miss Schlegel, as every
one knew, was just back from the con-
servatory, and had something more
than local reputation as a violinist
OF promise. Gladys had played her
accompaniment, and the plano, which
had long been the subject Of complaint,
was more out Of tune than usual, and
Gladys was Inundated.
I'm going straight to Mr.. Benson,
and hand in my resignation as Sunday
school pianist" said Gladys; and she
went.
The minister listened to the outburst
and said:
II don't doubt, Gladys, that the piano
Is everything you say. And am sorry
that the trustees do not see their way to
the immediate purchase Of better one.
And 1t may be that your indignation
Is needed to hasten the coming Of a
new instrument. l will see what I can
do to help in the matter.
Meantime shall we have no music?
Suppose that still for a year and
day we must have the old instrument,
tuned and patched little, but still un-
satisfactory? We must have music
yes, and we must have you; and what's
more, you must have the work! For
you need to be doing something for 9TH
ers. You have done 1t all your life,
and to drop out now-we simply can't
let you.
"Does 1t ever occur to you that the
Lord does a good deal Of playing on
imperfect instruments, such as you and
me? And don't doubt He often wishes
we produced better music. than we do.
But, Gladys, hard as it is to keep us
anywhere nearly at concert pitch, He
IL patient. So the anthem Of the ages
swells in spite of the fact that some
Of us are badly out Of tune!
And do you know that noble poem,
'Opportunity'-the story Of the man
who could have fought bravely If he
had had better sword, and the kings
son who picked up the poor, broken
fragment that the grumbler had thrown
away, and with it fought so successful
~ that he turned defeat into victory?
do you remember Watts painting,
Hope? She sits blindfold on the top
Of the world, you remember, the strings
of her harp all broken but one; and
she makes the best music she knows
how on that one string, hoping all the
while, I doubt not, for a better harp.
"Come, we will start movement for
q new piano. Meantime we will have
the old one tuned, and there will be
Sunday school as usual next Sunday.
and the Kings Daughters will hold
their meetings Gladys Marshall,
pianist !"-Youth's Companion.
A Prayer.
o Lord, we thank Thee for Thy pre-
cious promises of grace that sustain
and encourage us in all our manifold
experiences. Thou art ever the same,
and Thy word abideth forever; Thy
goodness is from everlasting unto ever
lasting, and Thy loving kindness never
ceaseth. Make our hearts ever sensi-
tive to Thy touch Of love that they
may render praise for every blessing
which crowneth our days. Help us to
learn thankfulness for that divine wis
dom which can withhold as we'll as
grant, when we ask amiss. Teach us
to measure all things by the standard
Of eternal worth, and to trust all to
Thee where we cannot see. Give us
grace and strength that we may daily
grow In the knowledge Of Thee. Assist
us In every trial, and uphold us
through all temptation by Thine own
almighty power, that we may rise to