The Owosso times., 1921-05-06
The Unknown
Tenor
By MURiEL BLAIR
(@. 1921. Western Newspaper Union.)

aforethought and supplied a crumb OF
| comfort instead of censure.
"rhe way of the transgressor may
anon be bortsered with roses of sweet
peace and solitude. The moments Of
bygone days may drift back to you and
tide your souls heavenward. In your
hearts you are not bad. You have
perhaps sinned and your sins have
identified you. But that does not hold
you from abOut-facing to home and
loved ones, who still trust you. There
is good ahead. When you have paid
the county its penalty be sure you
show that sins identity was not COM
plete."
1t was song service day at the work.
house.
Now" said the minister, "let's sing
that good old song, 'Bless'd Be the Tie
That Binds Everybody sing. Many
Of you have good voices"
The little chapel organ began and
the leader pitched the tune. Before
the second verse was reached the
chapel was filed with music. Then
The visitors bent forward and scan
ned the faces Of the prisoners. A
voice somewhere among them rang
out in rich tenor, clear and clean as
clarion call. 1t carried It's notes as
might super-chorlster. The old song
echoed and re-echoed through the cell
halls, and the tenor led the rest.
There was a voice that might have
hn
most fastidious and critical audience.
Yet 1t was among the prisoners. But
where?
Next day music lovers went through
the workhOuse looking for the man
'who sang tenor at the song service"
He was0nOt found. They went among
the prisoners and asked. No one SEEM
ed to know.
Could it be that q famous songster
had fallen?
The critic who had "discovered
voice" would not be satisfied. He
imagined beautiful mystery in the
singers reticence. That he was a
prisoner was certain. He had been
seen. And he bore the prisoners
label.
So they looked again at prisoner
after prisoner and into cell after cell.
In the last cell but one man was
reading. They were walking noise
lessly and he did not see them. 1t
was song book he held. Then he
looked up, quietly slipping the book,
back-up, on the bunk. He arose and
turned TO the narrow windows bars.
Some one called to him. Apparently
he did not hear. They called again.
How they wished they had been abN
to use his name. But how could th0y
know it?
"Step this way-you at the window
we want to speak to YOU"
He started, as IL undecided. They
knew he heard. Then very, very slow
ly and timidly he came to them.
1t was the tenor.
"Where did you get that voice-that
tenOr?" one asked abruptly.
"Oh. thought you had another war
rant for me-when l get out. Is that |
all you want? Honest?"
1--WE have no warrant for you. We |
do not know anything about you. But
we want to know about yourself; ; |
about that voice. We've come to
help you. That tenor has no place in |
a workhouse."
They had found a singer who had |
not found himself. They led him TO
talk.
'When l was a boy used to sing
In Sunday school. A big fellow from
the church choir once told me that
would be a yeat singer some day;
that / had a voice to be envied. But |
I never tried. When got grown
followed the boys. I've been here be-
fOre-after a whiz-and that day was
the first time l ever sang like man.
The sky-guide somehow got OH my
nerves and made me forget. have
been in this time fifty-ive days. Just
got five now. I'm glad, too. for I'll
never be back. Worst time could
have picked"
The singer paused and swallowed
hard.
"Wife's sick-God's best little wom-
an; little girl-my one best bet--she's
got diphtheria. got to thinking when
the fellow said was not bad, akd
when he started the old song | had
to sing-till you saw me. I've got a
good voice? Do you know If might
help-?"
He stopped and turned back TO the
little window. He looked up through
the bars to the sky and his face re-
gained some of the soul-light II had
when he sang. Then he faced about.
IF my baby cap live"
"You will be out tonight" said one
who seemed to know. THE mayor
will pardon you this afternoon. Sing
the sick ones back to health. then
come to me some day. l will tell you
something worth while"
The big tenor's face stared wonder
ingly into the future.
They shook hands with him and
passed down the corridors. No one