Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-04-12

teven went beyond expectation. A long
"rest'' immediately preceded the solo. l.
was no rest for poor ''little Mary" Il
was the most anxious minute she had eve,
passed. She arose, blushing and tremb.
ling. Her agitation gave a tremor to he,
voice, which added to the pathos of the
| music. 1t was beautiful.
Now Deacon Goodman always made il
a rule, when any accident had detained
him until after worship had commenced, to
come in very softly. How different from
the fashionable flourish! All were intent
on the solo. None heard, but few saw
Deacon Goodman enter his pew, and take
up the sheet on which the words of the
anthem were printed.
Unlike that Of many singers, the articu-
lationt Of "little Mary was perfect. The
Deacon soon found the place and to the
establishment Of the congregation, inGigna-
ton Of the choir, and the perfect horror Of
"little Mary" he 'struck in" and accom-
panied her through the whole solo. Ac-
companied!! "Oft in the Silly night
accompanied by Capt. Bragg's battery,
would give some notion OF it. Poor little
Mary was sick fortnight. "Why don't
you cut that old fellows tongue off?" said
one Of the Boston singers. "What good
would it do ?" said the choir leader, che
would howl through his nose" They
were all very cross. As for the Deacon,
he looked around as innocent a. lamb.
and thought he had sung as well as any Of
them.
Immediately after meeting, the choir
leader called onthe minister. "Sir," said
he, "this must stop. If Deacon Goodman
sings again, | do not.''
''Oh, know it," said the minister 81
have long felt the difficulty; but what can
we do? Deacon Goodman is most ex-
cellent man, and his only faults are, that
he is rather set IN his way, and ,piH sing in
naeeting."
But Deacon Goodman is a reasonable
man." said the choir leader.
"On most OCCASIONS" replied the min
lister.
''Do 60 and see him, sir, for my mind is
made up; if he sings in meeting, do not. !"
deacon Goodman" said the minister,
81 have come on delicate errand have
come to present the respectful request of
the choir that you would not sing IN meet
ing"
The Deacon was thunderstorm but he
soon recovered. 'Singing is praying"
said he; "they may just as we'll ask me
not to pray: shall sing in meeting. -
And on the next Sunday, sure enough, he
did: louder, and, if possible, more inhar-
monious than eser. The men singers
looked daggers at him; the girls hid their
smiles behind their music books. Little
Mary was not there.
''This shall STOP" said the choir lead
er. Il will 60 and see him myself"
ssDeacon Goodman, We all most highly
respect you, as you must well know: but
you haze not the musical ear nor the mu-
steal voice, and it is the earnest wish of
the choir, and many OF the congregation,
that you do not again sing IN meeting"
The Deacon was again thunderstruck,
but soon recovered. "Singingis praying"
said he, ''and they might as well tell me
not to pray. shall sing in meeting.
The good Deacon was dreadfully set in
his way, and SO it went on again week af-
ter week, in the same old way.
But an incident occurred, which contri-
buted much to bring this singular case to
crisis. About two miles from the Dea-
cons comfortable dwelling there was
wretched howell, which imperfectly shell
tered the wretched wife and children of a
still more wretched drunkard.
On one OF the most Indictment evenings
Of New England January, the Deacon
and his family were cheerfully and thank
fully enjoying glorious fire; Mrs Good
man was sewing for the family, and her
daughters for the Missionary Society,"
His son was reading the Massachusetts
Ploughman, and the good man himself was
finishing off sermon by distinguished
divine of his own denomination, when
bang went the front door, and in. came his
good neighbor and own beloved and re-
spected Minister. .Why never !" said
Deacon Goodman, "what has brought YOU
along in such night as this ?" Now. this
Minister had his peculiarities as we'll as
the Deacon. Among others, he was very
close mouthed about his own good deeds.
He merely answered, II have been about
my duty, hope" The fact was, he had
been to visit, and to talk, and to pray, with
a poor dying negro.
"Seems TO me you are rather crusty,"
said the Deacon, "but l suppose you are
half frozen, and SO sit down and thaw
yourself"
81 thank you," said the Minister, shut
merely called to tell you that have Just
left scene Of misery and want you to
go there as early as you can in the morn
ing. On my way here and home, pass
ed that wretched howell which we all
know SO well. felt it my duty to stop
and learn the cause of the terrible .uproar
within. l found the wi elch beating his
wife; and her screams, and his horrid
oaths, made my blood run cold. knock
ed the rascal down; ('served him right
said the Deacon, and think he will be
quiet until morning: but do go as early as
you can.
'Od rabbit the varmint," said Deacon
Goodman, "and cd rabbit the etarnal blast
ed rum shop" That was the nearest to
swearing that the Deacon was ever known
IN come