Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-24
AND COUNTY, PA, SATURDAY, MARCH 81, s4o

her tyrant. " And this was the way he sfed
fat the ancient grudge' he owed her. The
truth is, Deacon Goodman knew. nothing
about grudgeS, ancient or modern. The
old Adam would occasionally flare up, but
he always got him under before sun dorm
All was ready, and in five minutes the
Deacon was 'exposed to the peltings of the
pitiless Storm But what did he care for
the storm? Il am going on Gods errand, ;
said he 10 himself. q am going to visit the
worse than widow and fatherless.' The
next thing he said was, 'Oh, get out.' That
he meant for the promptings of his own
proud heart.
Misery, misery, indeed did he find in
that most miserable dwelling. The poor
wretch himself was dead drunk on the floor.
The poor pale woman was sobbing hervery
heart out. The children were camorous
and but few Were the words oftheir clam
or. q am cold'---I am hungry'-and that
was all. The Deacon brought in the wood ;
made up fire; lighted candle: and
emptied the bag and basket. The poor old
woman wept and sobbed her thanks. sOh,
you varmint,' said the Deacon, as he looked
at the husband and father; and broke off a
plece'of bread for each of the Children
The general comrnotion aroused the poor
wretch from his drunken stupor. He look
ed up and recognized the Deacon.
Halo, old music,' said he, 'are you here
give US a staye, old nightingale. Sing as
you do in meeting. Sing and scare the
rats away 'Why, what on earth does the
4 critter meanl' said the Deacon. The poor
pale grateful woman smiled through her
tears. She could not help it. She had
been Singer in her better days: she had
also heard the Deacon sing.
] do not record these incidents merely
because they are honorable to Deacon Good
man, out because they are particularly con-
nected with my story. In this crrand Of
mercy the good Deacon caught very seri-
Gus cold: it affected his throat and his nose
and even his lungs; and gave his voice
tone not unlike that of the lowest note of a
cracked bass viol alternating with the shrek
of a clarionet powerfully but unskilliully
blown. On Saturday evening he soaked
his feet in hot water; drank copiously of
hot balm tea; went TO bed. and said he felt
comfortable. Now, Dcacon,' said Mrs.
Goodman, 'you are dreadful hoalse you
won't sing Tomorrow, will your Singing
is praying-and--'-he dropped asleep
And sure enough he did 'sing Tomorrow
and it surpassed all that had gone before.
'This is the last of il said the choir leader !;
Il have done in the afternoon the choir
was vacant, some of the singers absent, and
others scattered about in the pews.
The minister read three verses Of a
psalm; and then observed, sthe choir being
absent, singing must necessarily be omitted.'
\ But, Deacon sawno such necessity. He
. arose, and sang the three verses himself!
He stopped six times to sneeze; and blew
his nose between the verses by way of SYM
phony. The next day he was sick in bed.
A parish meeting was hastily called, and a
resolution unanimously passed, that 'Where-
as the solemnity and decorum of public
worship depend much on the character oi
the music; resolved, 1hat hereafter, no per-
sons shall sing in meeting, in this parish
without the appreciation of the choir {!
= Rather stringent measure; but what coult
they do? The minister called on Deacon
Goodman, and handed him the resolution
He read it over three times. He then
calmly folded up the paper, and handed i
back to the minister. This is free coun.
try,. yet | hope sh0N sing in meeting.
He said those very words He was dread
fully 'set in his way.'
y Then, Deacon,' said the minister, q have
a most painful duty to perform; l am in
structed to tell you that your connection
with the society must cease The deacon
= here started from his seat. Had the ful
moon split into four pieces and danced ;
quaarille in the heavens. Orion singing
|, and the North Bear growing bass, he coult
not have been more astounded. He wa
silent. Emotion after emotion rolled owe
his heaviug spirit. Sat length tears cam
to his relief,' as they say in the novels. H
spoke, but almost inarticulately. q knot
p Fam poor unworthy creature, but hop
! kthey will take me in somewhere Tn
: minister wept HIMSELF how could he hel
:. bit! The deacon's cold was nearly cured
. and about an hour after the interview h
was seen mounted on old Mag, heading du
!. North. Four miles in that direction, live
the worthy Of another parish, The deaco
{ found him in his study, where also wa
; his daughter copying music. She was
i i proficient in the art, and played the orga
: in her father's church. She had heard {
' the deacon's musical troubles, and had ais
I, heard him sing. SIR said he to the mir
lister, 'there has been little difficulty i
: our parish, which makes me feel It m
4 duty to withdraw, and have come to as
. the privilege OF uniting with yours.' "a
, that moment the young lady vanished froI
= the room.) .f:... .1.s .1.-
! q much regret the difficulty in your paris
: said the minister, 'and hope it will be am
!, cably settled, But if you finally conclude
\ withdraw, we shall be most happy TO receiy
q you; and when it shall please The Lord
! take good old Deacon Grimes to himself, ian
a a very few day must now give him his di
b mission,l we shall expect you 10 sit in h
n seat AT the moment a boy came in an
!, handed billet to the minister. He glance
o at the billet, and, deacon, sit down one mt
e ment said he.l He read the billet, and afts
< some hesitation said, 4 have received sigr