Columbia College - Columbian Yearbook (Columbia, SC)

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up in the mountains that I first saw her. I was sitting opposite her at a little veslrer service they hadout on the mountain side late one afternoon. I looked at her. and somehow I was strangely impressed with the Feeling that she couldlsing. Iler very l'aee had music in it. 'Ii was anxious for the time to come to sing a hvmn so I could hear her. When the hvmn was announced-I remember just as well what it was. that one about 4'ln the Iliour ol' Trial -liei' Face lighted up, and I saw she was going to sing. 'I'heu all ol' a sudden a change came over her and a look almost ol' agony crossed her il'ace. She dropped her head in her hands and remained so until the end ol' the song. She did not sing a single note. It puzzled me. Somehow I wanted to Iind out about that girl more than anything I ever wanted before. Once more during a song I saw her act the same way. and every time I could I watched her, and she never sang a note that I heard all during the t'onl'erence. Well, luek was mv way. 'I'he very last day she got sick, and, as I was the t'onl'erem'e dot-tor. I was called in. I know I was a fool to do it, but I couldn't help it. Belore I lel't I asked her il' she ever sang. She looked startled, and the same expression came over her face AI' had seen that day on the hillside. She lay quiet a l'ew moments. Then looking suddenly up at me, she said :I 6' tl believe I can trust youf' With that she began telling me a story. 'I have a good voieef she saidg 'several tine judges of voice tell nie that I eould make good on the operatic stage. It is the thing I want to do most in this world. I love to sing, oh, I just love it almost more than life! But-just when I had made up my mind and was preparing myselt' tor it,' she paused a moment, 'I was stopped. 'l'he hand of God was upon me. I had been planning my life for my own sellish pleasure. He called me away from my choice to do IjIis will-to go as a loreign missionary. I rebelled. The struggle was awful. It may seem a little thing to others, but to me it is everything. My best nature Wong I am going to do the will of mv Master,-her voice broke, then she went on. 'But I cannot use my voice any more. Even the hymns they sing here I want to sing with them so, but I must not.' Her 'Iaee was so sad and sorrowful, I attempted to reason with her. 't 'But that is no reason why you should not sing at all now,' I said. 'God has given you your voice, and, while I-Ie doesn't want you to use it seltishly, IIC does not care--nay, I-Ie even wants you to use it for I-Iis glory., f'She shook her head sadly. :I tried to reason that way, too. But it was no use. As soon as I used my voice in sacred music in sa great church one day, and the people pressed around so afterward in praise of me, I was overwhelmed. I could not bear the thought of losing the great opportunities of fame my voice held out. Applause enthralled me. I forgot my purpose and even went so far as to go back to my teacher and take several more lessons in preparation for the stage. But I was stopped again before I had gone too far. I see now that there is only one way. 92

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i' 'This is better than the applause of thousands. I am so glad I waited-for lhisf she whisperedfi The doetor paused in his tale a11d wiped his eyes. 'LX I'ew weeks after that, he continued, 'tiny little missionary became sick of a lever. I was with her at the very last. ,l, had to push through a yard crowded with people whose dark lives she had made brighter. Among them I saw a dark little woman with a ehild in her arms, weeping. They loved their missionary dearlrv, these poor people. She told me she wanted to sing something for nie. Her voice was very weak hut most wonderfull,v sweet. 'Ill the hour of trial, Jesus, plead for me, Lest by base denial, I depart from Thee., She sang the song through to the end. She smiled once more. 'Hlle plead for mej she whispered, 'I did not departi- The sweet voice failed and my friend had left her 'hours of trial, and had gone to everlasting peace. The stoiv was ended. It was too dark for the two men to see each other's faces, but their hands met in a strong grip as before. I The doctor rose. The other caught him by the sleeve. ullid you love her, too ?'7 he asked, huskily. 'tYes, his comrade answered simply. I loved her for-somehow I connected her with-another. I always felt that in her lived the spirit of-my little mountain sweetheartf' . K -I Q r I . i ' M - . , g A 1,1 I ,J ., - -- f- 94