Excerpt from The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather

The Song of the Lark

by Willa Cather (adapted excerpt)

One may have staunch friends in one's own family, but one seldom has admirers. Thea, however, had one in the person of her addle-pated aunt, Tillie Kronborg. Tillie made enemies for her niece among the church people because, at sewing societies and church suppers, she sometimes spoke vauntingly¹, with a toss of her head, just as if Thea's “wonderfulness” were an accepted fact in Moonstone, like Mrs. Archie's stinginess, or Mrs. Livery Johnson's duplicity². People declared that, on this subject, Tillie made them tired.

Tillie belonged to a dramatic club that once a year performed in the Moonstone Opera House such plays as “Among the Breakers,” and “The Veteran of 1812.” Tillie played character parts, the flirtatious old maid or the spiteful intrigante³. Tillie always coaxed Thea to go “behind the scenes” with her when the club presented a play, and help her with her make-up. Thea hated it, but she always went. She felt as if she had to do it. There was something in Tillie's adoration of her that compelled her. There was no family impropriety⁴ that Thea was so much ashamed of as Tillie's “acting” and yet she was always being dragged in to assist her. Tillie simply had her, there. She didn't know why, but it was so.

The dramatic club was the pride of Tillie's heart, and her enthusiasm was the principal factor in keeping it together. Sick or well, Tillie always attended rehearsals, and was always urging the young people, who took rehearsals lightly, to “stop fooling and begin now.” The young men—bank clerks, grocery clerks, insurance agents—played tricks and laughed at Tillie; but they often went to tiresome rehearsals just to oblige her. They were good-natured young fellows.

By one amazing indiscretion⁵ Tillie very nearly lost her hold upon the Moonstone Drama Club. The club had decided to put on “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh.” The members of the club consulted together in Tillie's absence as to who should play the part of the drummer boy. Some members of the club suggested Thea Kronborg, others advocated Lily Fisher. But there was nothing in the least boyish about Lily, and she sang all songs and played all parts alike. Lily's simper⁶ was popular, but it seemed not quite the right thing for the heroic drummer boy.

“Lily's all right for girl parts,” they insisted, “but you've got to get a girl with some ginger in her for this. Thea's got the voice, too. When she sings, 'Just Before the Battle, Mother,' she'll bring down the house.”

When all the club members had been privately consulted, they announced their decision to Tillie at the first regular meeting. They expected Tillie to be overcome with joy, but, on the contrary, she seemed embarrassed. “I'm afraid Thea hasn't got time for that,” she said jerkily. “She is always so busy with her music. Guess you'll have to get somebody else.”

The club lifted its eyebrows. Several of Lily Fisher's friends coughed. Mr. Upping flushed. One woman called Tillie's attention to the fact that this would be a fine opportunity for her niece to show what she could do. Her tone was condescending⁷.

Tillie threw up her head and laughed. “Oh, I guess Thea hasn't got time to do any showing off. Her time to show off ain't come yet. I expect she'll make us all sit up when it does. No use asking her to take the part. She'd turn her nose up at it. I guess they'd be glad to get her in the Denver Dramatics, if they could.”

The company broke up into groups and expressed their amazement. They confided to each other that Tillie was “just a little off, on the subject of her niece,” and agreed that it would be as well not to excite her further. Tillie got a cold reception at rehearsals for a long while afterward, and Thea had a crop of new enemies without even knowing it.

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¹ to speak boastfully; brag
² speaking or acting in different ways to different people concerning the same matter
³ an intriguing or fascinating female character
⁴ the quality or condition of being improper; incorrectness
⁵ behavior or speech that is indiscreet or displays a lack of good judgment
⁶ a silly, self-conscious smile
⁷ showing a feeling of patronizing superiority