PATCHWORK PIECES

Otago Witness, Issue 3868, 1 May 1928, Page 77

PATCHWORK PIECES

By

Eileen Service.

(Special for the Otago Witness.) XLVIIL—IN CHURCH. Generally, on Sunday mornings, she was dressed in her best clothes and her shoes with the silver buckles, and taken for walks with her father. He carried a walking-stick and she a silk-mesh bag to hold her handkerchief, and they went right away from the everyday place into new, delightful spots. Sometimes it was to streets where Assyrian children played, and women witn 'dark, eyes watched them from the door. Sometimes it was to the top of cliffs with the wind beating its wings in their faces, and the sea in a turmoil below. Sometimes it was to the bush. She would trot along beside him, swinging her bag until it ceased to interest her and become a nuisance. Then she would slip it into his pocket and take his hand instead. She called him “Doo” on these occasions ; it • was ' a secret appellation and used at no other timesand he called her “ Doodie ” to match. She liked that. It sounded so pleasant after " Elizabeth Marian Mardie,” and always evoked a smile when it was spoken. Some day she would have a daughter of her own and call her “ Doodie” too. And she would take her to all these places that Doo and she found in their rambles. Then one day they went to church instead. And after that Doodie could never decide whether she wanted to go for walks any more, because this new experience was so satisfying. They had not been to church before, although they had often meant to go, for always, just as they were preparing to enter, one of them would see a new road which looked inviting, or remember something so exciting about a haunt they had visited .before that • they would turn away and go wandering again. But this day, they made up their minds unalterably. For one thing it was drizzling, and they had omitted to bring waterproofs, and for another it would be an education for Doodie, who ’was growing up rather much of a pagan, Doo thought. So in they went. The church was full of a dim light. It seemed to be waiting for them, gravely, and quite agreed with Doo that they should have gone before. There was also a sweet, musty taste in the air. Doodie, who before had grown tired of her bag, now felt compelled to carry it, and put her hand into the pocket to retrieve it. As she walked behind her father up the aisle, she held it tightly, and imagined she thus felt less afraid. They went into a side pew. Doo, kneeling on a hassock, pulled Doodie down also, while she shut her eyes and wondered numbly what she was" about. Then, be lifted her up beside him on the seat. But she could only look straight ahead with a fixed stare in her eyes. She felt in a panic. Suddenly a thrill went right through her, so that her flesh grew tense as if she were cold. Music was being played. From some unseen source it stole out into the church, breathing into the heaviness, pulsing through it, like mist she had once seen rolling into a valley. Softly at first so as scarcely to be heard it felt its way into every nook and cranny; then, with steady persistence, increased in volume. New’, splendid tones were joined to it. It sw’elled, growing stronger and stronger. Could the church hold it all? Could it possibly? As, in full power, it finally pealed forth triumphantly, Doodie grew white. She felt as if she were back on the cliff again, with the wind beating around her. Only now, she was caught right -up by the wings and carried this way and that. She was terrified in her ecstasy. Doo, glancing down, understood, and drew her into the crook of his arm. With transfigured face she leaned there while the wings bore her further, high so that she could scarcely breathe, high so that she was near the sun. Then slowly they brought her down again until -she was close to earth. The sound of singing restored her to herself, and she. opened her eyes to smile upon the choristers, who, appealing as cherubs in their white robes, were walking into place. The service fascinated her. There was so much singing. Doo, who, strangely enough, seemed to know all the tunes, sent his deep voice booming forth proudly, and scarcely anything was said in / speaking tones—everything was chanted. Doodie knelt and sat and stood in delighted surprise. Only when the sermon began did she relax her attention. She could not understand mere words. " ' There were many people in church, including a little girl, who, like herself, was looking about her. They caught each-other’s eye, and stared inquiringly,. Then they smiled. But here the lady beside the little girl leaned over to whisper something, so that the child turned away. Doodie, fingering her bag, kept herself ready in case she should want to look again. But the lady took too good care of her. A chandelier hung from the roof. DOodie imagined how beautiful it would bo when alight—like stars in the vault above it. If she could fly, she would like to go up and sit among such stars. She would be very still; so that nobody would notice, and when the music came she would float out on -to it, and be taken back to her place. People might thjnk she was an angel. Ohly she would need different clothes for that, something like the gowns the choristers wei;e

wearing. She wondered if they were all as good as they looked. Here the sermon ceased, and singing began again. The people knelt, one by one rising to -go up to the altar, and returning to their place with lowered eyes. Perhaps they had been receiving a blessing,' Doodie thought. She had seen a picture of such an event in one of her books at home. Then they all stood up, and, in a burst of joy, sang forth the Gloria. Doodie threw back her head. What happiness in the sound; what, surging! She felt like raising her own voice in a shout and joining in with the rest. She was quivering. Through the far window, with its richly-painted glass, a stream of light came pouring to show that the rain had ceased. Slowly the other windows shone likewise; slowly the dimness was banished. Then the whole church was filled with a flood of radiance. But Doodie. did not think of it as light. To her it was music. She had felt it before; now she could see it. And it was alive and wonderful and golden, golden like sunshine, golden like her thoughts.