The Lamar register., 1916-08-09
THE SINGING TEACHER
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

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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
of Joe Brown. One thing she OWNED
instantly-he was a gentleman; in
fact, he had the manners of an efis-
tocrat But the thing thet drew her
to him from the first was his wonder
full voice. For Viola insisted upon hay
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 a song for US
in your own language? You have a
wonderful voice.
Joe flushed happily and bowed low.
With the most pleasure. Miss North
colt" He spoke slowly. picking his
words with care, but he seldom made
a grammatical error and was fast
overcoming his foreign accent. Il
am German"
Joe Brown sang and 1t 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
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 a gust of wind
dashed fine sleet into her face and
the wind tried to lift her OF her feet.
Then a man stepped out OF the
shadow.
May I go home with you, Miss
Northcott7 II is a bad night"
Viola laid a 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 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, do
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 own
ambition-how she had stopped her
musical education for lack of money
to go further. and her determination
to work day and night until she 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. l
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
II she can spare me- little time. /