Atageteoperforminfrontofordinarypeople.Inappreciationofthenunswhoallowedmeuseoftheschoolpiano,IagreedtoplayaspreludetotheannualChristmasshow.Mymusicwouldusherthepar-entstotheirseatswhiletheirchildrenshedcoatsandscarvesfortheirelfandwise-manes.Myteacher,Mr.Martin,andIputtogetheraprogramofBach,Strauss,ahoven,endingwithpartof"SixLittlePianoPieces"inhonorofArnoldSberg,assedawaytheyearbefore.Wefeltthislast"modern"piece,whilenotoverlyfamiliartoouraudience,displayedmyrahoutbeingoverlyostentatious.ThedaybeforetheChristmasshow,Iwentthroughthethirty-minuteprogramforthenunsafterschool,andthechoicesbroughtnothingbutfrownsandscowlsfrombeheirwimples.

    "Thatswonderful,Henry,trulyextraordinary,"theprincipalsaid.ShewastheMotherSuperiorofthegangofcrowsthatranthejoint."Butthatlastsong."

    "Sbergs?"

    "Yes,veryiing."Shestoodupinfrontofthesistersandpacedtoandfro,seargtheairfortact."Doyouknowanythingelse?"

    "Else,Mother?"

    "Somethingmoreseasonalperhaps?"

    "Seasonal,Mother?"

    "Somethingpeoplemightknow?"

    "ImnotsureIuand."

    Sheturnedandaddressedmedirectly."DoyouknowanyChristmassongs?Ahymn?SilentNightperhaps?OrHark!TheHeraldAngels—IthinkthatsMendelssohn.IfyouplayBeethoven,youplayMendels-sohn."

    "Youwantcarols?"

    "Notonlyhymns."Shewalkedon,hitgdownherhabit."YoucoulddoJingleBellsorWh