The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-31
THE Singing TEACHER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


Just for a few minutes Viola felt
like running away when she faced her
grown-up school. How different from
To her surprise, quite a number of
the men were foreigners who knew
very little of the English language.
But their wholesome respect for her
put metal into her purpose and fight
ing blood into her veins.
There was one man in the room who
puzzled Viola. He went by the name
of Joe Brown. One thing she OWNED
instantly-he was a gentleman; in
fact he had the manners of an aris-
to him from the first was his wonder
full voice. For Viola insisted upon hav-
ing singing. For fifteen minutes every
evening the halls of the old building
reverberated with the echoes of mas
culine voices.
And Joe Brown led them all. His
| voice was clear and deep and full
of passionate appeal that gripped the
heart of the little teacher.
One evening she called him to her.
Joe, know you are not an Ameri-
can. Won't you sing song for US
in your own language? You have q
wonderful voice.
Joe flushed happily and bowed low.
with the most pleasure, Miss North
cott" He spoke slowly. picking his
words with care, but he seldom made
grammatical error and was fast
overcoming his foreign accent. Il
am German"
Joe Brown sang and it was so won
derful-the mellowness and richness
of his voice, the feeling with which
he sang, and as Violas quick ear
noted, the wonderful training he
showed-that for some time after he
had finished no one stirred.
! Behind the tears in his pretty
teachers eyes was look of interest
that had never been there before.
The school did famously. Viola
worked hard with her class and daily
| the lessons became less irksome and
more interesting. Then there was an
innovation to which the pupils looked
forward eagerly, for every evening
Joe sang for them.
One night after the class was dis
missed, Viola opened the street door
| to go home. Suddenly gust Of wind
dashed fine sleet into her face and
the wind tried to lift her off her feet.
Then a man stepped out of the
shadow.
May l 60 home with you, Miss
Northcott? 1t is a bad night
Viola laid hand gratefully upon
his proffered arm. YES indeed, Joe.
1t was good of you to wait
After that there was little chance
for them to talk The storm increased
in violence, and, even with her es-
cort's help, it was all she could dc
to keep her feet. When at last they
reached her door she insisted upon
him going in. You must come in and
wait, Joe. No one can live in that
blizzard I'm going to call mother to
hear you sing. You don't miNd, dc
| you? l will play your accompani
ments.
So Joe stayed and sang so wonder
fully that both Viola and her mother
were thrilled.
Then Viola told him of her owl
ambition-how she had stopped he
musical education for lack of none!
to go further, and her determination
to work day and night until she hat
enough money to have lessons of thu
wonderful Max Won DeerhOf.
Max Won Deerhof!" he cried.
Yes, Do you know him."
Very, very WELL Miss Northcott.
was thinking how happy he would b
to have you for pupil.
81 wonder" he went on, turning t
her mother, IF | may give Mis-
Northcott some lessons on Saturda
if she can spare me little time.
teach music myself
So Viola's Saturday lessons begar
and she soon discovered that he
teacher was marvel. Under his guit
ance her voice expanded and becam
exquisitely beautiful. The cold week
flew and April came. The days
= night school were numbered.
The last night it was raining,
drenching April shower. When Viol
appeared in the doorway Joe wa
waiting to take her home.
Miss Northcott," he began almo
Immediately when he had suited h
step to hers, you aren't my teachs
any longer. but with your consent |
remain yours. It's time, too, that | W;
telling you my right name. | am Ma
Won Deerhof, or do you know it {
ready?"
Viola was silent, too amazed f
speech.
He went on. 81 know what you a
thinking. wondering rather. Well,
- will tell you. | could not learn En-
= fish we'll | had teachers by Il
r dozen No good! Then someone sal
Do like the others, Go to go'
night school They will make "
Learnt So | made my name into j
Brown, and Joe Brown is so gratef
to his teacher he is going to keep
giving her lessons forever if he ma,
Il hardly know what to say, n
Won Deerhof," faltered Viola. "
! have done something for me | c
never repay.
Maybe some day you'll find tt
you can" he said softly. Il love "
: Viola. | have always loved you. A