They got into the Dell’s Willys-Knight and headed for the church right away. When they got there the church was filling up fast. Bertha whispered in a Dan’s ear.
“Listen, Dan, you are not in Dunadry now so you’ll be sure to be quiet.”
Reverend Clarendon opened the service.
“I’m pleased to see so many out to this celebration of a debt free Church.” He read the announcements. After that he said, “I see we still have our soloist courtesy of our sister church in the village of Dunadry, Miss Phoebe Croiner. How we all enjoyed her at our earlier service. May God bless her.”
Helen, the Sintons and probably the Croiners could hear, in very low tones, people say that the dark haired girl in the center is her. The moderator went on for about twenty minutes.
“Give to Caesar that which belongs to Caesar. Our church, here in Toronto, is known as the Ashcroft Church, It’s still here after one hundred and seventy-nine years on a foundation laid down by our forefathers and forever cherished by its present congregation. Now let’s us give God praise by singing hymn number 335, ‘The Church’s One Foundation’.”
The big organ thundered but still decided to tune itself down to reality. The choir were magnificent so far. Some people were waiting with anticipation when the monster organ toned itself down to Phoebe’s size. Phoebe sweetly, gently raised her voice to a pitch that was the one and only that Phoebe Croiner was capable of. The congregation were awestruck. Phoebe had the lungs and stamina, the results the hayfield and woods had instilled in her. It was a service to be remembered. The highly trained choir and angel of soloist were the cream on the pie. How Mendelssohn (actually Handel) could have used her in his ‘Messiah’, Helen was saying. A man a bit farther up their row of pews was clapping his hands but he must’ve had gloves on as he made no noise. I suppose it was a gesture of appreciation for Phoebe’s rendition.
The moderator kept on extolling the generosity and tenacity of the congregation, substantiating it with quotes from the Bible. He kept this oration up for probably seventeen minutes. He stood at ease for several seconds.
“Now the choir will sing the closing hymn of this memorable service. Hymn number 410 in your hymn books, ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’. Incidentally, this hymn was composed in our vicinity, Rice Lake, Bewdley and the Port Hope territory by Joseph Scriven.”
Dan whispered in his wife’s ear, “Wait till you hear this, Bertha. It’s her favorite hymn.”
The choir all stood up as the big organ kicked in. The choir was just great. Phoebe was now on her own, up in the clouds. The moderator and Rev. Clarendon were sitting side-by-side, slowly moving their heads from side to side in amazement. Phoebe sweetly and slowly finished up with the choir in moderation.
The moderator got to his feet and said, “Let us give thanks to God for a wonderful choir and their superb soloist. Let us pray and give thanks to God for all our blessings.”
As the congregation slowly filed out, Nancy and Dell were very much interested in what comments they could pick up as the people made their way to the exits. One couple were heard to say was that she was a country girl. Another man said, “That girl is a gold mine”. Another couple were wondering how Mr. Gilson ran across a girl of her caliber. Another couple were saying, “If they have her on the record, they will sell like hot cakes”.
When they got to Helen’s car, Helen said, “First thing, we are going to have some eats.”
Helen and her company were all bubbling with pride.
Dan said, “I think that she is as good as they come.”
While eating, Helen said, “ There was one fellow said they tell me that she is a farmer’s daughter. One woman said that she is another Jeanette MacDonald.”
They were still eating when Bertha said. “Dan, I wonder how are the kids making out.”
“Oh, I suppose, mother, they’re big enough to have sense enough to take care of themselves.”
“Well, Dan, you know that I’m not used to this kind of commotion.”
Helen put her arm on Bertha’s shoulder, “Bertha, neither are we. Where in the world would a group of people like us have a girl like Phoebe to be proud of and celebrate her every move? Let’s celebrate, Bertha. Let us all wait until Mr. Gilson brings her here. You will get home sometime. This is going to be one of the greatest days of your life, Bertha. We have got to get used to it”.
It’s a good job that Helen didn’t have a drink as we all know that’s a no-no with Helen.
Nancy took Bertha’s hand. “Won’t you stay, Bertha?”
“Well, if that’s what you all want, I do not want to be a killjoy. Okay. Helen, let’s all be thankful the service was over at eight o’clock. Now it’s ten after nine and no sign of Phoebe and Mr. Gilson. “
Helen said that they were probably having a real old the jam session, including Mr. Grainger, chairman of the Board.”
At nine thirty-five, in comes Mr. Gilson and Phoebe. Dell and Nancy clapped their hands.
“Well, it was quite an evening for us all,” said Mr. Gilson. “Some of the choir girls went off to the basement and made coffee and cookies for all. Everybody and his brother wanted to shake hands with Phoebe.”
First thing Phoebe asked, “Mum, how you been in touch with Earl and Esther?”
“Yes dear, I have. Dad says that they are going to be fine.”
Mr. Gilson went on, “A lot of the people were amused at Phoebe’s pronouncements in her Prince Edward County drawl. All I can tell you is that she was the sweetheart of the evening. Now Phoebe, show the folks that card that you have. Mr. Carlson said that he had no part in the invitation, but he did say that they were all very highly respected people. Helen, all you have to do is say yes or no.”
The card that Phoebe was sporting was a very pretty invitational card with gilded edges. It said, ‘We would feel honored if you could see your way to be our guest at the Glynnis club, it being the occasion of our engagement.” Signed Trevor Hazelton and Joanne Arliss.
Sam said, “At the hum drum after this service, when Trevor presented Phoebe with this card, there wasn’t much time for discussion. Phoebe thanked him for the invitation and said that she would consider it and get in touch with him later. Well, Helen, the Hazelton’s are very prominent family in Toronto. They have around sixteen freighters on the Great Lakes. “
“That’s all very well, Sam. I do not think that Phoebe would accept their invitation to attend that exclusive club and feel inferior. You know that all the high society of Toronto will be there in dresses and gold jewelry. We couldn’t match that, Sam.”
“All I know, Helen, is that some girls in Toronto would give their left ear to have an invitation on that occasion from the Hazeltons.”
“Well, Sam, I shall give Mr. Hazelton a call tomorrow and get the low down on the situation. And it won’t be a simple phone call. I shall have him come here and have a cup of tea with Phoebe and I. Our Phoebe is going nowhere as an inferior. I shall call Isabel Campbell. She is a member of Club Glynnis. You know Isabel, Sam, of the church auxiliary.”
In the meantime, the Sintons and the Croiners were preparing for the trip back to Dunadry. Sam and Dan were engaged in conversation. What impressed Sam was that the Croiners were not overly impressed with their daughter’s accomplishment. They just took it as a matter of fact. Dan told Sam that there was a lot more to Phoebe than that sing song she did in the church tonight.
“Don’t get me wrong, Sam. I’m proud of her. I think that you did real good tonight. But if you saw her in the woods come freeze up and the sleighing is good, you get her on the other end of the cross cut saw for three hours and you will be glad to see her lay it down. I’ve seen her do it, then pick up a six pound axe and start splitting. When she gets mixed up with a lot of girls in the village, she can be a bloody scream when they put on a pantomime in the hall. And there is Nelly Norton, a born comic.”
When the Sintons and the Croiners were getting into the car for home, Phoebe gave mom a big hug. Bertha could hardly say goodbye for a big lump in her throat.
Phoebe said, “Bye bye dad,” as she gave him a big kiss. In tears, Phoebe said, “Tell Earl and Esther that I will bring them something from the big city.” Phoebe went to the window of the car. “Mum, I will be seeing you all on Wednesday for sure.”
Helen and Sam are bidding each other good night. “I will fill you in when I get more information on that invitation.”
At last Helen and Phoebe were alone. Helen said, “Let’s have a little chocolate drink together. You have had a hectic week, dear. You will be glad to be home again.”
“Yes, I will but I have enjoyed my stay here. I have met so many nice people out here. And, Aunt Helen, I will also miss you.”
“That’s alright, dear, but I do hope that we will see each other more often. Now, about this invitation that you have. They are very reliable people. If it is arranged that you accept, well you go and be yourself with no apologies to anyone. That’s me, Phoebe Croiner.”
“Gee, Aunt Helen, Mr. Gilson is a wonderful man. He took me around like I was his baby daughter.
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