William Mercer Green Papers Box 1 Folder 4 Clippings Document 26

A Beautiful Lenten Story.

WHEN Jenny Lind, in the days of her triumph, was making a tour through this country, she stopped at Natchez, at a time when the late Bishop Green was there. It being in the sacred season of Lent, he felt it his duty to decline the invitation sent him to attend her concert.

The next day his carriage met hers as she was being driven to the boat. He, wishing to assure her that the refusal meant no discourtesy, but was simply a matter of conscience connected with the holy season, requested the driver to stop. By the interview the Queen of Song became so much impressed, that, alighting from the carriage and kneeling upon the bare earth, she begged his paternal benediction. A gentleman who was with the Bishop reates the incident as one of the most affecting he ever witnessed. The minister of God, standing bareheaded, his long white locks glistening in the Sun, laid his hand upon the head of the kneeling woman and prayed God's blessing to rest upon her, that her wonderful art might redound to His glory, and that the voice so tuneful upon earth might one day sing the angel's song in Paradise.