The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1912-05-24
Leaning the
Anthem

"Say, will you play this solo part
over for me?7 asked the tenor, as he
hastily threw off his hat and overcoat
and placed his music in front of the
organist. "Just give me my pitch,
please"
I'm sorry, but can't play it now"
replied the organist. you're nearly
half an hour late and we've got to get
through all these hymns, besides the
anthem. You should have come ear
Her" He closed the music in front
of him.
'Grouch!" muttered the tenor, as he
took the music and sat down with the
rest of the choir.
"Say," he whispered to the soprano,
elf we don't get new organist pretty
soon they'll have to get new tenor.
I'm tired of Being sat upon by that
fellow"
"Well, but you know, we do have to
practice the anthem" said the So
prano, "and what's the use of our sit
ting here, listening to your solo, when
we might as well be getting real prac-
tice done?"
The tenor moved over nearer the
bass and muttered his grievance.
eyes" agreed the bass, che sure is
the limit. Why, called him up the
other night and asked him to come out
and play over some of my songs-just
a little social call, you know. Well,
he snapped out that he charged SIS an
hour for accompanying people" me
bass relapsed into bitter thoughts
"Well, what did you expect?" asked
the soprano. did you think he would
go out simply to practice with you, for
the mere pleasure of it? I'd have
charged ten, assure you"
"Come on, now, il you're going to
practice" ordered the organist, bellig-
erently. "Now, follow your music, and
all come in on the first beat" He
played the opening chords.
what on earth's the matter?" he
exclaimed, disgustedly. "Why don't
you come in? There are four beats.
and on the fifth every one Of you
come in. Now, try again, and see If
you can count four" Again he played
the chords.
ooh, just a minute" interrupted the
soprano What is my note? never
can get the right pitch. Hit my note
whom you play the opening chord
louder than the rest, will your" She
beamed upon the organist.
Nov, see here!" exclaimed the or
ganist 81 gave every one of you a
copy of this thing to practice at
home. You all ought to know it like
your own names. l can't play one
note louder than another in the first
chord! Do you suppose my playing
doesn't matter at all, just so you peo-
pie do just as little work as you CAM"
and he turned to the organ.
ooh, we'll, if YOU don't want to be
obliging!" The sopranos voice was
.scornful
The bass and the tenor laughed.
@'Serves her right" said the tenor, sot-
to voce, "for siding with him in the
first place.
Nov, one. two, three, four, singi"
counted the organist at the top of his
lungs, as he played the chords once
more.
An awful crash Of voices rent the
air. The organist flung out his hands
in dismay. "Now what is the mat
teri" he Numbered.
SCI believe that was my fault" MUIR
INJURED the little contralto. 81 was
thinking this was another anthem
that I know by heart, and started to
sing that! l don't believe I know this
one. l wasn't here last Sunday. Yes,
you mailed me a copy, but I didn't
have time to go over It, Won't you
please play my part over a couple Of
times? Then I'll know it, and Well
get along all right. All the others
know their parts" She stepped up to
the organ confidently.
ut is now ten minutes of g." said
the organist, looking at his wtach.
"Just fifty minutes of our hour are up,
and at 9:15 have an engagement. Do
you suppose that l can waste the re-
manning ten minutes on you, when
we've got this whole anthem to learn?
You sit down and listen and the rest
of you get busy nowi"
He Strengthened out the music and
lifted his hands to strike the first
chord.
"Oh, say, Wen never learn this one, I"
said the bass. Let's try over one Of
the old ones, and take this one up for
next week. The people won't know
the difference, and we'll murder this
one if we try to sing it."
"Let's!" eagerly assented the con-
tralto.
"Oh, yes, let's!" said the soprano
and the bass, in one voice.
"AIl right" agreed the organist