Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-24

| "
hauing the sMusical Ear.n
Deacon Goodman was extensively known
not merely in his own parish, but through
several miles of the surrounding country
for his amiable disposition, active benevo.
lence, and unquestioned piety. So thor
oughly was the Deacon's character estab-
lished, that when the people of the neigh
boring towns saw him passing by, they
would say-'That man was rightly named
for if there ever ,ras a good man, he is one.
And from this there was no dissenting
voice. Nay; am wrong in saying that
for there are some who never hear any,
body praised without an ihterposing and
qualifying sbut , sHe may be wellehough
on the whole,' they will say, 'but' &C..
&c. and then they will go on and make
him out 'any thing but clever fellow.
The qualifying 'but' must be interposed
even in the case of Deacon Goodman. He
had fault He would sing in meeting.--
sCall you that fault p saith the reader.
Well then, kind reader, call it misfortune.
sBut why misfortune % afa.....,.
1 will tell thee. Nature has so formed
us, that some have the smuscal ear and
others not. Now this musical ear has
nothing to do with real character, moral or
intellectual; but yet the persons who have
not the 'musical ear ought never to sing i1
meeting. If they do, they will be sure to
annoy others, and make themselves ridicu-
lous. Deacon Goodman had not the 'mu-
sical ear.' Whether il were the 'Messiah,'
or the Creation or Jim Crow and Zip
Coon, it was all the same TO him, as far as
music was concerned it was Just so much
singing. Whether the artists were Sivori,
or Ole Bull, or poor old John Casco, it was
just SO much fddiing. He had not the
'musical ear and still less, if possible, the
musical voice but yet he rould sing IN
meeting. And the gentle and respectfulre-
monstrances of the choir leader were met
with the unvarying reply, Singing is pray
ing;l you might as well ask me not 10 pray !;
| wW sing in meting.'
1t is not proper for the biographer TO
! hint at another trait in the good Deacon's
,,haracter. He was rather sset in his way ,
or in other words he was dreadful obsti-
nate in what he thought a good cause; and
lie was generally correct in appreciating
the merits of the cause. ~HUA,LE1ET
We all know ti,;;;s.t musical people are
ant to be sensitive and sometimes little
capricious: and who has ever known a
theatrical orchestra, or even village choir,
that had not a regular 'blow up at least
once a year! Beyond all doubt, Deacon
Goodman's singing was very serious grle-
vance to the choir, and no small annoyance
to the congregation. Yet in consideration
of his great merits he was mdmged, and
his regular Sunday performances, often
drew forth the remark, that ifmuslc murder
was sin, Deacon Goodman would have
much to answer Tor. But there is point
beyond which forbearance is no longer a
virtue. Great pains had been taken by the
choir in getting up new anthem, (selected
from Mozart) for Thanksgiving Day, and
the very gem of the piece was solo, which
had been assigned to the sweetest voice and
the prettiest little girl in the village. All
who attended the rehearsals were perfectly
delighted with the solo as sung by 'little
Mary.' 1t was very difficult. 1t was
marked from beginning TO end, 'Andantino,
sDolce,' .Affetuoso,' sCrescendo,' piano,
sPianissimo,' with changing keys, and flats
and sharps, springing out from unexpected
places; but she had conquered it all. Three
or four accomplished singers who had come
from Boston TO pass Thanksgiving In thu
country, and who attended the last rehear
sal. were in raptures with little Mary's sing
inc. They had heard Tedesco, and Bis
caccian ii, and Madam Bishop; and ye
thew say, 'for country girl, she is pro
In due time Thanksgiving day arrived
and while the second belp was ringing
news came to tn g village that very seri
Gus accident hat happened to the unlverSa
| list minister. His horse had thrown hin
and either his leg or his neck was broken
| the bow who had brought the news had ior
gotten which, hope it is not his neck
said the rich and charitable old churc'
member When Deacon Goodman near
that remark he held up his hands ana eS e,
claimed i neverr Now the Deacon ueafl lea !,
loved good preaching, and the mee',h
house was to him "house OF ieasu lug.
But his religion was Of a very pras.'es
kind, and although he thought but precIo,,
i little of his good works. he took care 10 q
a good many Of them, and was far from be
; lieving with Amsdorf that good works az
only impediments to salvation" So, SAL
!. he to Mrs. Goodman, 'do YOU go to tn
g church of feasting, and get all the goo
: you can, and will go to the house 9
; mourning, and do ALL can.' And away h
went to see, aud if possible, to relieve tn
Universalist minister. tal.. a.a. . b
In the mean time the congregation a.
sembled, and the worship proceeded IN tn
usual way. At length Came the anthem
1t even went beyond expectation. a lon
'rest' Immediately preceded the solo.
S was no rest for poor 'little Mary 1t WI
n the most anxious minute she had eve
z passed. She arose, blushing and trembiIn'
Her agitation gave tremor to, her y9ic'
t. which added 10 the pathos Of the music.-
- 1t was beautiful. asp q
:" Now, Deacon Goodman always made
in rule, when any accident had detained h
L LII na1