The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-11-09
WHOLE NO $40.

ly upon herfather's face, and the mother said.
in deprecatng voice
"What do you want wlIrthat, fatherf"
Abel only paused an instant, and thenflew
up stairs for tho violin. He happened TO
know more about his fathers early love for
The instrument: than the Deacon suspected.
The violin was brought and placed in the
hands Of Deacon Smith, who looked at ii
with glance of affection that he could not
conceal. He found that il had Been, newly
s,rlnged. After turning it, he said to tile
Snow begin, and lot me see if | can't ac-
company you"
Ruth and her brothers arranged thom-
selves and began the song, while The Deacon
drew his bow With skill and taste that sur
prised and delighted his children.
While in the midst OF this performance, an
auditor preseEted himself at the door OPEN
ing into the passage, towards. which their
backs were turned, and this no less person.
aye than the minister; who, as the reader
may suppose, was "mmensely" surprised dt
what he heard and saw. A deacon of his
church playing on the violin and singing with
his children Profane song! He felt, for
the moment, strong emotion ofpious anger.
But he restrained himself and stood still, un-
observed, but all observing
AS the SONG progressed; sung as il was
with exquisite taste aud ovsrpowering pathes;
for the hearts of all were in what they we're
doing, the ministers feelings began to soft
en-. He felt, too, that there could be nc evil,
in poor bereavsd heart thus pouring itsele
out in expfsssve words, nor any in singing
those words, and feeling, intense sympathy
for him who was SUPPOSED first to have Utter
ed them. Once Or twice the minister felt d
choking sensation in his throat; but he swal.
lowed il down with an effort! At last, ac-
companed by a low waiting straih from the
violin, theif voices trembled on the words
''And laid you, darling, down to sleep,
With your baby on your breast"
I This was moro than the minister could
bear. Ere the next strain could be taken
up; the little party of musicians were startl,d
by deep Auttsring sob, and turning quietly
in the direction from which il came, saw
their minister in the door, striving in vain to
hide the tears that were falling over his
face. The man-the true mans heart in
him, had been touched
Deacon Smith understood, in moment,
the exact position of affiirs. He did not al!
tempt TO push his viclin out of sight, but laid
It in full view upon table: As sson as all was
settled and quiet, and good tone of feeling
been acquired, he said
"Yoi Dire tio doubt, surprised, TO find
Deacon of your church playing ON the violini
and his children singing songs. But. need
not tell you, who knows so well, that it is the
end for which thing, not evil in itself, is
done, that makes it good or bad to him who
does it. 1t might be evil for some to do
what we have been doing, but not for u.s.
We feel it not only to be innocent, but good
thus to mings our hearts and voices in SYM
pathy with our fellows. We have two duties
in life,-to love God and regard man. If
we do not properly rega d man, we clnnot tru
ly lave God. The great mistake that is
made by tile religious world; have long
felt to be the Withdrawal of itself from the
natural world and l,s natural pleasures,
instead of flowing into It and giving true
vitality to these pleasures. II is not relf+
gion to live above the world; nor ett of il,
but to live in it and fill all its uses and in:
nocent pleasures with vital and spiritual
principle. Good songs, expressive Of hu-
man sympathies and good will one towards
another, are as netessary for the perfection
of what is natural, as spiritual songs and de-
votioIal exercises arc for the perfection Of
what is spiritual.
The mister did not attempt TO controvert
what the Deacon said, although, in connec
ton with violin; the doctrine seemed 1T:
lie heretical! But; as he had been betrayed
into the tiatural weakness of shedding tears
at The mere singing of song, he fel, that IT
was best for him to say as little as possible.
After that Deacon Smith INDUCED in the
luxury of violin playing whenever he felt in
clined that way. This luxury, however, was
not enjoyed without sundry drawbacks. Ex-
captions were taken by members of The,
church to a secular officer thereof being
guilty of such violation of religious decor
u,n as playing upon fiddle, which was char
acterized by some as the DEVILS instrument.
The Deacon's mind at las, became balanced
between the question Of giving up his yio-
lin, or resgning his office in the church,.
His desire 10 be free to do what he believed
to be right, and his love for the old, mellow.
toned instrument, decided him 10 give up
the deacony, and he is now plain Abel Smith
Though quite as good Christian at heart ~
many of his more scrupulous brethren.
+ RxYIpoAn Rpcryprs rs-The receipts fol
passengers and freight on the Long Island
Railroad. during the month Of September
amounted 10 $l5.4l3 n, being an increase
; of 81, ,O33 40 over the corresponding period
Ioclaot vaar