Greetings of the Season and Other Stories by Metzger Barbara

Author:Metzger, Barbara [Metzger, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Regency Romance
Publisher: Untreed Reads Publishing
Published: 2013-10-27T22:00:00+00:00

5

“Oh, dear. Oh, dear.” The vicar was predictably upset at the Greene boys’ news that their mother would not be able to play the church organ. “And the bishop does so love a musical service. He has always sworn that music brings one closer to heaven. I was hoping to bring him closer to releasing the funds for our extension.”

“What if we could find someone else to play the organ for you instead?” Jasper asked, peering at the cleric through one cracked lens.

The vicar looked at the middle boy, then winced at the lurid colors of his eye. Mr. Davenport had carefully avoided asking about the split lip, swollen nose, broken spectacles, and missing teeth: What he didn’t know was better all around, he felt. “Another proficient performer in this town? Why, if you could find one, that would be more than a good deed, my lad. That would be a miracle.”

“What if this organist wasn’t a usual churchgoer, sir? Would that matter?”

“Such talent can only be a gift from God—that’s what the bishop said. So I would welcome Beelzebub himself, if he could play the Messiah. But—”

“And it is all right for us to invite this person to come play for you?”

“Of course, of course, but there is no one, lad, no one at all. Perhaps the choir can be encouraged to sing louder.” He waved them off, so despondent he forgot to give their homework assignments.

Once they were away from the manse, the other boys turned on Jasper. “Why did you say we’d find him an organist? We’ll never, and then he’ll make us do more good deeds.”

“I know someone who can play,” Jasper claimed. “Miss Viola Gaines.”

Martin opened his cut lip again, laughing. “She can’t play the church organ!”

“I heard her playing the pianoforte one day when Vicar kept you on after lessons.”

“Is she as good as Mama?”

“Almost,” Jasper answered loyally. “And she’s almost as pretty.”

“She smells almost as nice,” Benjamin added. “I helped her get her cat out of a tree once, and she gave me a biscuit.”

“She dresses better than Mama,” Jasper said, and no one could contradict him. They all sighed, wishing they had some way to earn enough to buy their mother that length of velvet.

“But just because she can play the pianoforte doesn’t mean she can play the organ,” Martin reasoned.

“There’s still ten days before Christmas Eve. Mama can teach her. She taught Georgina Marsden to play Greensleeves, and Georgie’s just a dumb girl.”

Martin was beginning to permit himself to be convinced. “But Miss Viola never goes to church. Why should she do it for us?”

“She’ll do it if the vicar asks her special.”

“I’m not writing any more letters,” Martin announced. “Two jaw-me-dead lectures were enough. ’Sides, we made up Dr. Goodboy; copying the signature of a man of God has to be a sin.”

“You don’t have to write another letter, ’cause Mr. Davenport said we could invite her, plain and simple, he did. Only he didn’t know her name.”

“And if that doesn’t work,” Martin said eagerly, “we can get Benjy to cry.

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