Finally she
discovered Harriet's cabinet organ, and nothing would do but she must
sing for us.
"None of the new-fangled ones, Clara," cried her husband: "some of the
old ones we used to know."
So she sat herself down at the organ and threw her head back and began
to sing:
"Believe me, if all those endearing young charms,
Which I gaze on so fondly to-day----,"
Mr. Starkweather jumped up and ran over to the organ and joined in with
his deep voice. Harriet and I followed. The Scotch Preacher's wife
nodded in time with the music, and presently I saw the tears in her
eyes. As for Dr. McAlway, he sat on the edge of his chair with his hands
on his knees and wagged his shaggy head, and before we got through he,
too, joined in with his big sonorous voice:
"Thou wouldst still be adored as this moment thou art----,"
Oh, I can't tell here--it grows late and there's work to-morrow--all the
things we did and said. They stayed until it was dark, and when Mrs.
Starkweather was ready to go, she took both of Harriet's hands in hers
and said with great earnestness:
"I haven't had such a good time at Christmas since I was a little girl.
I shall never forget it."
And the dear old Scotch Preacher, when Harriet and I had wrapped him up,
went out, saying:
"This has been a day of pleasant bread.
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