Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-04-02

On the evening OF the day before, the "foi,
body of the chofisters, vocal and instrumental
went up to the rectory, and demanded an ai
dience of their worthy PASTOR The good mar
trembled at their approach, and his heart ink
within him at the announcement that they nae
something very particular to say to nm lie
thought of harp, flute, psaltery. dulcimcr, sack,
but, and all kinds OF music, ana MS ears SIcu
with apprehension of some new enormIiy abou'
to be added to the choir, IN shape OF some hea'
thensh instrument. IL was ludicrous signt
and enough to make the pastor laugh, had ne
been at all disposed to merriment, to see the
whole choir seated in his parlor, ana occupying
after fashion, every chair in the room Tor II
they were never harmonious IN any thlng else
they were perfectly harmonious as to Their mode
OF sitting they were all precisely IN the same
attitude, and that attitude was-sltting on inc
very outway edse"i the char, with tnelr hat'
carefully held .'sSW their knees, their mouths
wide open, and their eyes fixed upon vacancy
At the entrance of the clergyman they all rose
bowed with simultaneous poteness' ana looked
towards Martin Grnbb as their inouth-peace
Martln GruDD, with ms broad heaVy mana
smoothcd his locks over his forehead and SAID
Hem
We'll, Mr.. Grubb,' replied the rector ,yot
and your friends, understand, nave something
particular TO say to me-.
why, yes, sir said Mr.. Grub, we are cal
led upon you by way of deputation like, Just tC
say a word or two about singing and for the
matter of that, we have been practising pref
tvi-h bit of music out of Handel, what they sung
the musical festival, called the lialen al
Chorus ;and AS our choir sung it so well at the
festival As TO draw all eyes upon us, we have
been Thinking sir with your leave. if YOU please
aud If You have no object on, that we should just
like TO sing ii at church.
At church p
Yes. sir. if YOU please at church. tomorrow
The Hallcluiah Chorus, you know, sir being
part of the Messiah. we thought it would be par
ticuar appropriate and we are all perfect in oui
parts, and there's two or three cha ps out of the
next parish that are coming over to Snatclam
to see their friends. and they'll help us YOU
know, sir and every thing is quite ready. and
rehearscd and all that and we hope, sir you
won't have no objection, because we can never
do it SO proper as with them additional voices
what's coming tomorrow and there will be sucl
lots ofpeople come to church on purpose to hear
us. that they will all be so disappointed if We
don't sing it,
Here James Gripe, somewhat Jealous of his
rivals eloqucnce. ard taking advantage of Mar.
tins pausinr for II moment to recover breath
stepped forward, saying,
NO, SIR. we hoic you won't refuse us You,
leave, because all the people so calculate upor
hearing it, and they will 20 away in dudrcon i
so be they are disappointed; and mavhap the,
VIII never come to church again, but 20 among
the Methodishes, or some of them outlandish sects
and it would be pity to overthrow the establish
ed church, Just for the matter of stavc or two
OF music
The rector sighed deeply, but not audibly, ant
replied, saying, in u tone of mild eXpostula
ton
But tomorrow, ny f1enti'. is Good Friday
day ni extraordinary sclemnlty, and scarcely
admitting even the most solemn music in lis ser
wee.
'EXactly so, interrupted Martin Grubb; that
the very thing say, sir and therefore Inc Haze
luiah Chorus is the most peculiar appropriate
its one of the most soumest things ever hearc
its quite awful and grand-enough to make
the hair of ones head stand upright with sublime
ty.'
IT'S indeed, SIR added James Grpe; 'yol
may take my word for it, sir
perhaps. returned Martin Grubb, your rever
ence never heard it, mayhap you don't know
nothing about it. in which case we can. ii 20,
please. with your permission. sing you little bl
of it. lust to give You an idea the thing
The poor. persccuted pastor looked round up
ON his tormrntors in blank amazement and saw
Them with their ruthless mouths wide open, AM
ready to inilict upon him the utmost penalty o
thcirawful voices. In tremulous tones the worth,
man exclaimed
No no. no. prav don't-prav don't-don'
,roublc vonrsalves-I beu Won will not. know
The niece of music I, which YOU refer, and
| link if Won could nerform il any other day thai
;ood Friday
SINGER. are a peculiarly irritable class Of per
sons. and the slr,ltest opposition or contradc
ion irritstes and disnrbs them, so that, at til
| very momen, the rector uttered IA sentence at a
interfering with their will. they all surrounde
MIN with clamorous and sulky importantly, an
act IN work with all DILIGENCE to demolish hi
objections.
| please. sir said Martin Grubb, shaking hi
bio head with a look of logged wilfuncss,
don't see how it's to be done The llallelula
Chorus requires lot of extra voices what ism
to be cot every day; and if we tells them chap
as is coming over tomorrow to help us, that W
don't want their help. they may take tiff, an
never come over to Snatcham again
But perhaps the pastor meekly replied, the
may assist you in the grave and sober singing {
some serious and well-known psalms IN wine
all the congregation may unite.
On hearing this, the broad-iaced butcher en-
banded his features into contemptuous sort OF
grin, and said-'Come, now, that Is good on'
AS il regular scientific singers would come all n
way TO Snatcham lnst - sing old psalm tunes
Mr. Grlpe also saii-'fie he. lie
lie! he! he !. Is very conclusive KIND OF a
gument; and so the rector OF Snatcham ielt
to be- for he could not answer 1t, nor reiute |
nor evade 1t. lie looked this way and that wa