The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-11-09
.a1 " From Godeys Lsdy's Book for November,
DEACON SMITH AND HIS VIOLIN.
ny +. 1. ARTHUR.

yf3s F 7il BY 4. &. ARTHUR.
ioq In his younger days, Deacon Smith was
, looked upon as very carnal-minded young
man. The father, old Deacon Smith, mac
many painful exercises about his son Abel
who, 10 use his own language, was strangely
dispssed to follow aGef the man Of this
world - and he did not hesitate, in season
and out of season, lecture him on the evil
y tendency Of his ways: r.. ''
sa And, in very hu,h, Abel did give promise
of making bad Christian, according 10 the
standard Set up by his father and the leading
Puritan spirits ofhis day; for Abel, blessed
with good health, good spirits, aud light
b.dy, would, in the face of warning, entrea'
tyand ghoslly admollition, indulge in The
d sinful practice Of dancing; singing carnal
songs, and playing upon that most plofane Of
all musical instruments, the violin
How a son of his could ever 60 SO far
as,ray. was a matter of serious wohderto old
Deacon Smith. 10 him il seemed. and SO
lie often said, when mourning over the sad
deciens sion ofAbel, that Satan had especial
ly desired to have him from boy, for from
his earliest youth, Abel had shsWn strange
fondness for sinful pleasures, as will be seen
IN what we will hete relate:
is There was lad named Thomas, whose
ftther, in the cotnh6h estimation OF the re-
iiuious cort,thnni,y around him, neither "fear-
e God nor regarded man." That is, ne
saw nothing sinful in natural pleasures, it
i,dalged lawfully and without excess, and
lived in the praclve of his faith on th's sub
i,ct The lad, ibis son, had obtained a Jews
harp, and learned 10 play upon it the pro,fane
Mrs Of uYankee Doodle," "llail Colurhbia,n,
"st. Pa,rick's Day. and "Auld Lang Syne."
AS he lived near neighbnr to Oeacnn Smith,
he was in the habit Of meeting Abel almost
eyery day, although the parents OF the latter
made many efforts to keep the children apart,
and often punished their little boy tor dso-
Incidence on this score. But there was
something abotit this son Of a sinful father
that attracted Abel, spite Of interd'ciion and
nunishmen,s, and caused him TO seek his
company whenever an opportunity OF meet
ing him occurred. :,
One of the chief attractions possessed by
Thomas was his Jey's-harp, and his ability
10 plas upon it. Music was Abels lead'hs
bosaion. and by the time lie was four years
lid he could catch a tune and hufn it almost
,be first time he heard il; and was constantly
A;.,ressiug the ears of his parents, and re-
ceiv,nq sharp rebukes for induglng in strain :.
of.Yankee Doodle,' or "Scots wha ha' y
h;,bar tocally or nslrumeutaliy-.he lnsru-
mental part consisting generally OF solo on
, lin cub with his little fist, or else perform
I'd with d stick on the wall, window sill, or
any other article from which he could elicit
q sound. ..
One day Abel was so fortunate as TO re-
se;ve the present ola sixpence. With this
bo started off full speed ON visit to his in
,erested friend Thomas, and met him with
proposi,ion to buy his Jew's-harp, tor winch
he offered the aforesaid sixpence. Upon
,h;s simulo instrument, under the instruction
ofThomas. he had already learned 10 play
one Ar two airs so well, that no one. could pos
s;blv mistake them. The proposed exchange
of property was readily effected.
On the morning when this occurrence
,oot Mace. Pev. Jedediali Caniwell; the
,n,nis,er. had called iii 10 see DEACON Smith
ond have sjtiie conversation with him, touch
mo the thlhrs Of the Spirit. As they sat 10
,,e,her in earnest conference, their solemn
s,ates were suddenly disturbed by the soun'
of music in the room; and, shocking 10 re
late. Il came from Jew's-harp, whose i'ttl'
,,onune was vibrating most ene1rgetlcahy II
a. ,Ie time of"Yaukee Doodle" In mo
tnent after, the door was thrown open, AM
Abel camo stamping into the room, win nj
teeth closed tightly upon the iron bow ant
b;s finger touching with unwonted skill thu
musical tongue of his prize. His head wa
set back 50 far, and his eyes so nearly CLOS
ed that he made the circuit of the room twice
iarore discovering the august presence
,he minister and his angrey father; nor wa
ituntil a sharp word of the latter fell np"'
his ear, that he became aware that mere Wa
an au1ience as we'll performer:
s.Give me THAT, sir!" said the stern father
with brows drawn down, and eyes glanclh
forth birch rodsby the dozen.
Abe,is reluctance TO part with his Jews
harm was easy TO be seen looking out frof
,be sudden alarm with which this unexpec
Sd encounter had inspired him.. -
.Now 90 out or the room, sir! l will Sc
vou about this after awhile" =,
As Deacon Smith said this, he broke IN
fnnoue out Of the innocent instrument, an
twisted the symmetrical bow in mi
sh.net, form. Pour Abel, when he saw tn
bopeless tuin, burst into tears, and ran OF
nffDe room; finding hiss mother he hid \
face in her lap and ssbbed wildly tor mar
minutes: J, ~. ;.;...s. !,
vo;cs of solemn warning, as soon as the CHI
had retired, sunless you watch over that ..
hau Ie.'e'' oG,llu md nrayerfullY,