The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-05-30
THE SINGING TEACHER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Just for a few minutes Viola felt
like running away when she faced her
grown-up school. How different from
the little girls and boys of daylight
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
instantly-he was gentleman; in
fact, he had the manners of an arts
tocrat. But the thing that drew her
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, I know you are not an Ameri-
can. Won't you sing song for US
in your own language? You have a
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
a grammatical error and was fast
overcoming his foreign accent. i
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 Viola's 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 a 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
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 / go home with you, Miss
| Northcott? 1t is bad night
Viola laid hand gratefully upon
his proffered arm. Yes, indeed, Joe.
It 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 do
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? | 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 own
arlbition-how she had stopped her
musical education for lack of money
! to go further, and her determination
to work day and night until sLe had
enough money to have lessons of the
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 be
to have you for a pupil"
81 wonder" he went on, turning to
her mother, "if / may give Miss
/ Northcott some lessons on Saturday
/ IL she can spare me little time.
teach music myself"
So Violas Saturday lessons began
! and she soon discovered that hel
teacher was a marvel. Under his guild
ance her voice expanded and became
exquisitely beautiful. The cold weeks
flew and April came. The days OF
i night school were numbered.
The last night it was raining, q
drenching April shower. When Viola
appeared in the doorway Joe was
waiting to take her home.
Miss Northcott," he began almost
Immediately when he had suited his
step to hers, you aren't my teacher
any longer, but with your consent II
remain yours. It's time, too, that was
telling you my right name. ! am MAJ
Won Deerhof, or do You know it al
ready?"
Viola was silent, too amazed fol
speech.
He went on. 81 know what you are
thinking. wondering rather. Well,
will tell you. / could not learn Eng
lish well. / had teachers by the
dozen. No good! Then someone said
Do like the others Go to a goot
4 night school, They will make yor
learnt So made my name into JOE
Brown, and Joe Brown is so grateful
to his teacher he is going to keep OF
giving her lessons forever if he may
L hardly know what to say, Mr.
Won Deerhof," faltered Viola. "Yol
have done something for me I car
never repay"
Maybe some day you'll find tina
i you can" he said softly. Il love you
/ Viola I have always loved you. AnC
! perhaps you may find some time tina
| you could care little for mel"
And there was a slight pressur,
/ from the fingers thar rested so light
ly upon his arm