iteChristmas."

    "ThatsfromHolidayInn,"oheothernunsvolunteered."BingCrosbyaaireandMarjorieReynolds.Oh,butyouretooyoung."

    "DidyouseeBellsofSt.Marys?"thethird-gradeteacheraskedherfel-lowsisters."Wasnthegoodinthat?"

    "IreallylikedthatBoysTown—youknow,theohMickeyRooney."

    Rattlingthebeadsonherrosary,MotherSuperiorcutthemoff."SurelyyouknowafewChristmassongs?"

    Crestfallehomethatnightandlearhefluff,practigonapaper-cutoutkeyboardfashionedbymyfather.Attheshowtheeve-ning,Itrimmedhalfmyinalprogramandaddedafewcarolsattheend.IkepttheSberg,whieedlesstosay,bombed.IplayedtheChristmasstuffbrilliantlyandtoathunderousovation."Cretins,"IsaidundermybreathasIacceptedtheiradulation.Duringmyrepeatedbows,loathingswelledovertheirloudclappingandwhistling.Butthen,lookingoutattheseaoffaces,Ibegantnizemyparentsandneighbors,allhappyandcheerful,sendiheirsincereappreciationfortheholidaywarmthgeedbythevaguelypredictablestrainsoftheiroldfavorites.Nogiftasweleastheexpectedgift.AndIgrewlight-headedanddizzytheloheapplausewenton.Myfatherrosetohisfeet,arealsmileplasteredonhismug.Inearlyfainted.Iwantedmore.

    Thegloryoftheexperieedinthesimplefactthatmymusicaltalentwasahumaherewerenopianosinthewoods.Andasmymagicslowlydiminished,myartistryincreased.Ifeltmoreandmoreremovedfromthosewhohadtakenmeforahundredyears,andmysolehopeandprayerwasthattheywouldleavemealone.Fromthenightofthefirstperfor-mawasasifIweresplitin