The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1912-08-15
BY
Gene SGraGa0m-
Porter
COPYRIGHT. 1904 BY DOUBLEDAY. PAGE

concert
IL was almost three hours befor,
they finished and came down the wes
trail. As they reached the bushes al
the entrance the voice Of the ange
stopped them, for II was commanding
and filed with much impotence.
"Freckles James Ross Mclean" sh,
was saying. you ell me with darl
blue despairi You're singing as Il
your voice was glass and liable te
break at any minute. Why don't yor
sing as you did a week ago7 Yor
are fraudl Yeu led me to think thai
there was the making Of a great sing
er in you. and now you are singing
do you know how badly you are sing
mgr
"Yis," said Freckles meekly. 'T'u
thinking I'm too happy to be singing
well today. The music don't CONF
right only when I'm lonesome and sad
The worlds for being all sunshine Al
prisint, for among you and Mr.. Nc
Lean and the Bird Woman I'm sftel
being that happy that I can't keep m,
thoughts on me notes. It's more thar
sorry I am to be disappointing you
Play II over, and Ill be beginning
again, and this time I'll hold hard"
"well." said the angel. at seems tc
me that II l had all the things to be
proud Of that you have I'd lift up my
head and sing"
"And what Is II I've to be proud Of
ma'amr politely inquired Freckles.
"why. a whole worldful Of things,
cried the angel eIplosively. For one
thing, you can be good and proud over
the way you've kept the timber thieves
out of this lease and the trust your
father has In you. You can be proud
over the way every one speaks OF you
I heard a man say few days ago tina,
the Lmberlost was full Of disagreeable
things-positive dangers. unhealthy as
II could be. and that since the memory
OF the first settlers It has been q rem
devious for runaways, thieves and
murderers. This swamp is named for
a man that got here and wandered
around till he starved That man
was talking with said he wouldn't take
your Job for $1,000 a month-in fact,
he said he wouldn't have It for any
money. and you've never missed day
or lost q tree. Proud! Why. I should
think you would Just parade around
about proper over that!
And you can always be proud that
you are born an Irishman. Ny father
In Irish. and II you want to see him
Just get up and strut give him q teeny
opening to enlarge on his race. He
says that II the Irish had decent terri
tory they'd lead the world He says
they've always been handicapped by
lack Of space and Of fertile soil. He
says II Ireland had been as big and fer
tile as Indiana. why. England wouldn't
ever have had the upper hand. Shed
Just be little appendage. Fancy Eng
land an appendagel He says Ireland
has the finest orators and the keenest
statesmen in Europe today. and when
England wants to fight with whom
does she al her trenchesl Irishmen,
Of counsel Ireland has the greenest
grass and trees. the finest stones and
lakes, and they've jaunting cars.
don't know Just exactly what they are.
but Ireland has all there are anyway.
They've a lot Of great actors and q
few singers. and there never was q
sweeter poet than one Of theirs. You
should hear my father recite Dear
Harp Of My Country He does 1t this
way"
The angel rose. made an elaborate
old time bow and. holding up the ban
10. recited In clipping feet and meter.
with rhythmic swing and q touch ct
brogue:
Dear hap of my country" (the az
gel ardently clasped the banjo), "In
darkness I found thee" (she held II up
to the light; THE cold chain Of silence
had hung DER thee long" (she muted
the strings with her rosy PALM; Then
proudly. my own Irish harp. I I'M
bound thee" (she threw up her head
and swept a ringing harmony. And
gave all thy chords to light, freedom
and song (she crashed into the notes
OF the accompaniment she had been
playing for Freckles).
THAT'S what you want to be think
Ing OFF, she cried. mot darkness and
and sadness, but light.
freedom and song can't begin to
think or hand of all the big, splendid
things an Irishman has to be proud Of,
but whatever they are they are all
yours and you are a part Of them
lust despise that 'saddest when l sing
business. You can singh Now you 60
over there and do I'll I'm going to
,ome down the aisle playing that ac-
and when stop In front
" you you singr'
The angels face wore an unusual
lush. Her eyes were flashing. and
he was palpitating with earnestness
She parted the bushes and disap-
feared. Freckles. straight as a young
line and with the tenseness OF war
lorse seeming battle. stood waiting.
PRESENTLY, before he saw she WAS