资源描述：
《A Village Singer 乡村歌者》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在教育资源-天天文库。
1、AVillageSingerMaryE.WilkinsFreemanThetreeswereinfullleaf,aheavysouthwindwasblowing,andtherewasaloudmurmuramongthenewleaves.Thepeoplenoticedit,foritwasthefirsttimethatyearthatthetreeshadsomurmuredinthewind.Thespringhadcomewitharushduringthelastfewdays.Themurmurofthetreessoundedl
2、oudinthevillagechurch,wherethepeoplesatwaitingfortheservicetobegin.Thewindowswereopen;itwasaverywarmSundayforMay.Thechurchwasalreadyfilledwiththissoftsylvanmusic—thetenderharmonyoftheleavesandthesouthwind,andthesweet,desultorywhistlesofbirds—whenthechoiraroseandbegantosing.Inth
3、ecentreoftherowofwomensingersstoodAlmaWay.Allthepeoplestaredather,andturnedtheirearscritically.Shewasthenewleadingsoprano.CandaceWhitcomb,theoldone,whohadsunginthechoirforfortyyears,hadlatelybeengivenherdismissal.Theaudienceconsideredthathervoicehadgrowntoocrackedanduncertainon
4、theuppernotes.Therehadbeenmuchcomplaint,andafterlongdeliberationthechurch-officershadmadeknowntheirdecisionasmildlyaspossibletotheoldsinger.ShehadsungforthelasttimetheSundaybefore,andAlmaWayhadbeenengagedtotakeherplace.Withtheexceptionoftheorganist,theleadingsopranowastheonlypa
5、idmusicianinthelargechoir.Thesalarywasverymodest,stillthevillagepeopleconsidereditlargeforayoungwoman.AlmawasfromtheadjoiningvillageofEastDerby;shehadquitealocalreputationasasinger.Nowshefixedherlargesolemnblueeyes;herlong,delicateface,whichhadbeenpretty,turnedpaler;theblueflow
6、ersonherbonnettrembled;herlittlethinglovedhands,clutchingthesinging-book,shookperceptibly;butshesangoutbravely.Thatmostformidablemountain-heightoftheworld,self-distrustandtimidity,arosebeforeher,buthernerveswerebracedforitsascent.Inthemidstofthehymnshehadasolo;hervoicerangoutpi
7、ercinglysweet;thepeoplenoddedadmiringlyateachother;butsuddenlytherewasastir;allthefacesturnedtowardthewindowsonthesouthsideofthechurch.Abovethedinofthewindandthebirds,aboveAlmaWay'ssweetlystrainingtones,aroseanotherfemalevoice,singinganotherhymntoanothertune.“It'sher,”thewomenw
8、hisperedtoeachother;theywerehalfaghast,halfsmiling.Can
