old Dawn she was not to breathe where
we had been, an' from that day to this I never would have a actor or a
actress in my house. I'd just as soon have a _real_ loud woman as one
who gets out on a stage where every one is lookin' at her and
pretends to be one. She'd have no shame to stand between her and the
bad. Oh no! there must be reason in everythink. I was prepared for a
terrible lot of fools and rot, but that I should be so lowered was a
eye-opener."

"I feel exactly the same in regard to the stage, Mrs Clay, but I like
concerts, when the singers just come out and sing--do you not?"

"That ain't so bad, I admit."

"You would not object to Dawn singing on a platform, would you?"

"No; doesn't she often sing on the platform in Noonoon? They're always
after her for some concert or another. It's a bad plan to sing too
much for them. They don't thank you for it. They'd only say we're
tired of him or her, and the one who'd be sour an' wouldn't sing often
would be considered great."

"Well, let her have lessons, so she could sing with greater ease at
these concerts."

"She can sing well enough for that. It would be throwing away money
for nothink."

"But if trained she could sometimes command a fee."

"I've got plenty to keep her without that," said the old lady,
bridling, "and it might give her stronger notions for the stage."

I was thankful that I had never published my calling.

"I had me own ideas of them before--walkin' about, and everythink they
do or say they're wonderin' what people is thinkin' of them, and if
they're observin' what great bein's they are. An' I've seen 'em
here--goin' in fer drink an' all bad practices, and w'en I remonstrate
with 'em, 'It's me temperament,' says they, an' led me to believe by
the airs of them that this temperament makes 'em superior to the likes
of ordinary human bein's like me an' you; an' this temperament that
makes 'em not fit to do honest common work, but is makin' 'em low
crawlers, is the thing that at the same time makes 'em superior. I
don't see meself how the two things can be reconciled. There must be
reason in everythink."

"If you want to turn your granddaughter from the stage, let her start
vocal training. You'll see that before twelve months she'll have
enough of it. It would keep her content for the present, and in the
meantime she might marry," I contended.

"If I could be sure she wouldn't come in contact with them actin' and
writin' fools; if sh