Excerpt........IT was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church. There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse the ... Read more

Excerpt........IT was a lovely morning, about eleven o’clock, and the boys of the cathedral choir of St. Bede’s were playing in the cloister of the grand old church. There was a square plot of grass in the centre, where the boys used to amuse themselves during the intervals of school-work; when it was wet they would walk round the covered cloister. One boy, of about eleven years, was standing by himself, looking shyly on without taking any part in the games of the others. He was leaning against a stone pillar, when one of the bigger boys came up to him. “You’re the new probationer solo-boy, aren’t you?” he demanded. “Yes,” replied Alfred Davidson, for that was his name. “Where do you come from?” “From Darlton.” “What’s your father?” “He’s an engineer on a ship.” “On board of a man-of-war?” “No; on one of the big ships that go to Australia,” replied Alfred. “I suppose you think no small cheese of yourself now you’ve got a place in the choir, don’t you?” said the other with a sneer. “I am very pleased to get into this choir, as I am fond of music, and I hope I shall be an organist some day,” replied Alfred. “Organist!” laughed the other. “You’ll never be fit for anything except to blow the organ. I suppose you would consider that assistant-organist?” “Certainly! some people aren’t good enough even for that,” replied Alfred, moving behind the stone pillar. “Oh, indeed!” said King, “aren’t they?” Less