The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-11-04
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VILLAGE CHORISTERS.

tll1l1AUE CdOhlC EhO.
A pig in string is rather troublesome
article TO manage, two pigs in a string are
more troublesome still, to degree, perhaps,
in proportion to the squares Of their dis
tances--a ram in halter is also proverbial
for obstinacy-mules are celebrated for
their pertiAacity, and donkeys for their stu
pidity; but all pigs, rams, mules, and asses
in the world, put together, would be more
easily managed than company Of singers
In village church, About four miles from
Loppington there is village called Snatch
am. And you cannot imagine milder and
more gentle creature than the excellent cler-
gyman of Snatcham church. He is quite
picture, either for pen or pencil He is
not more than five feet four inches in
height, somewhat stout but not very ro-
bust; he is nearly seventy years of age
perhaps quite by this time; his hair, what
little is leGt ofit, is as white as silver; his
face is free from wrinkles either of care or
age; his voice is slender, but musical with
rfeekness. The practical principal of his
demeanoI has always been any thing for a
quiet life. The present state Of Snatcham
choir is as follows. In the first place there
is Martin Grubb, the butcher, stout ro.
bust man of about fifty years Of age, hav-
ing a round head and a red face, with strong,
straight, thick brewnish grey hair, combed
over his forehead, and reaching to his very
eyebrows. He is the oldest, the wealth.
est, and the most influential man in the
choir. He sings bass, and is said to be the
life and soul in his face, which is about. as
full of expression as bul!ock's liver.
Then there is youEg Martin Grubb, who
is a bit of dandy, with black curling hair,
and whiskers of the same pattern, pale face,
thin lips, long chin and short nose; his in
strument is the violincello. James Gripe
is leader of the treble voices, with occasion.
al digressions, as above noticed. And, in
addition to the two younger Gripes, Absa'
7 lom and Peter, who play the two clario,
{ nets, there are onesiphorus Bang, the
shoemaker, who plays the first flute; Issa
char Crack, rival shoemaker, who plays
the second flute; Cornelius Pike, the tobac
co pipe-maker, who plays the bassoon
Alexander Rodolpho Crabbe, the baker
who plays the hautboy; 'Gregery Plush, tn
tailor, who plays the serpent, together witt
divers others, men, boys, and girls VIII
make up the whole band.
This celebrated Snatcham choir made
great point to obtain leave from their min
lister for all the denominations and absurdi
ties which they were accustomed to infiC
upon the parish under the guise Of music
but the arrogantimportunity Of their solic
tation was such that they seemed to bid de
4 fance to refusal, so that their asking leav
was after the fashion of the Beggar in G
n Bias, who held his musket in the directio
sof the donors head. At a large town in tn
county in which Snstcham is situated ther
Z had been musical festival, the directors
which, in order to give ectat TO their adve
" tisements, had used all manner Of means
swell the number of the performers. Fl
n this purpose they had sought every lredl
and ditch, and highway and by-wayin in Il
country, to pick up every individual wi
had the slightest prelensiOn whatever
musical talent In such search, of eonr
the Snatcllam choir could not by any poss
bility be overlooked. They were accor