Clergy -- Fiction; Iowa -- Fiction; Mississippi River Valley -- Fiction
Professor Hedden, half turning on his seat, said:
“While this next is hardly what I would call a complete composition, it
may give you an idea of the capabilities of the organ.”
When he ceased playing he said:
“It is merely an exercise in technique, but I think it shows fairly well
what can be done with a good organ.”
It may have been merely an exercise, but it had made the organ perform
as no one in that church, aside from Professor Hedden himself, had
ever heard an organ perform. The full majesty and beauty of the great
instrument, unguessed by those who had gathered to hear this first test,
stood revealed. David Dean's heart was full. It seemed to him as if the
organ, capable of speaking in such a manner, must be a mighty force to
aid him in his ministerial work; as if the organ were a living thing.
Such music must grasp souls and raise them far toward Heaven.
Professor Hedden arose and approached the steps leading down from the
organ. In the pew in front of David old Sam Wiggett, donor of the organ,
sat in his greatcoat, his iron gray hair mussed as always. David could
imagine the firm-set mouth, the heavy jowls, the bushy eyebrows, the
scowl that seldom left the old man's face. Lucille Hardcome whispered to
him and he nodded.
“Now let's hear Miss Hurley play something,” said Lucille in her
sweetest voice.
“Oh!” exclaimed Miss Hurley, cowering into her corner. “Not now, please!
Not after that!”
Lucille laughed. Old Sam Wiggett sat as before, his head half hidden by
his coat collar, but David knew the grim look that was on the old man's
face. Wiggett's word would settle the organist matter when that grim old
man chose to speak. David turned toward Miss Hurley, and she shook
her head. He did his best to smother her refusal by advancing to the
professor with congratulatory hand extended. In a moment the dozen
fortunate listeners were crowded around Professor Hedden, and Miss
Hurley, in her pew end, was forgotten.
As 'Thusia, David and Miss Jane were leaving the church Lucille,
jingling with jewelry, swooped down upon them.
“Oh, Miss Hurley!” she called. “Just one minute, please!”
Miss Jane stopped and turned.
“Professor Hedden thinks,” Lucille cooed, “or, really, I'm not sure
which of us thought of it, but we quite agree, that you must play at
least once to-morrow morning! To christen _your_ organ with you taking
no part would be quite too shameful. So”--she hesitated and her smile
was wicked--“so we want you to play the congregation out after the
professor is through. You know they will never leave while he is
playing.”
The taunt was cruel and plain enough--that the congregation _would_
leave if Miss Jane played--and Miss Jane reddened. Professor Hedden,
with Sam Wiggett, came up to them.
“Of course you must play!” he said through his beard, in his gruff,
kindly voice.
“But, I--I--” stammered Miss Jane.
“Good-night! Good-night, all!” said Lucille. “It's all arranged, Miss
Hurley,” and she bore the professor away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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