HIS AUDIENCE

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 13, 26 March 1892, Page 307

HIS AUDIENCE

A pretty story, which has, moreover, the merit of being true, is told of a certain professional singer. He had a beautiful tenor voice, of which he was apt to take the best of care, so that when he was crossing the Atlantic one summer with a party of friends, they were not surprised to find that he disappeared from view every evening at just about the same time. * Afraid of the night air,’ said one, with a slight smile. ‘ Afraid we’ll ask him to sing probably !’ said another, but no one questioned him, as he was known to be quite immovable from his own way. But when the last night on board came, a delegation descended to his state-room to beg for a song or two, and discovered that he was not there. They looked for him in vain, until at last the captain, who had evidently kept the secret as long as he could, said, pointing in the direction of the engine-room : • I think you’ll find him down there ; that’s where he’s gone every evening.’ Sure enough when the delegation arrived at the engineroom, they beard the sound of a guitar and a voice, and there, lolling against the wall, was the recreant tenor, singing his best for the delight of the stokers, whom he had entertained in this way for more than an hour every evening during the voyage.’