The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-08
From the Poughman.
SOME PASSAGES IN TIE
LIFE OF DEACON GOODMAN.
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Therein 10 shoion the Inconvenience Of not haping hc
g Musical Ear"
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do not record these incidents merely be-
cause they are honorable to Deacon Good
man, but because they are particularly con-
nected with my story. In this errand OF
mercy the good Deacon caught very Sc
rious cold il affected his throat, and his
nose, and even his lungs-and gave to ms
voice a tone not unlike to that OF the low
est note Of a cracked bass-viol, alternating
with the shrek Of a clarionet powerfully but
unskillfullv blown. On SATURDAY evening
he soaked his feet in hot water, drank copi-
ously of hot balm tea, went 70 bed and SAID
he felt comfortable. Now Deacon, said
Mrs. Goodman, you are dreadful hoarse !;
YOU roal sing tomorrow, will you'd
Singing is praying and-'-he dropped
asleep. And sure enough, he did Sing to-
morrow and it surpassed all that had gone
before 'This is the last Of it, said the
choir LEADER ] have DONE In the after
noon the choir was vacant, some Of the sing
ers absent and others scattered about in the
pews. The Minister read three verses Of a
psalm, and then Observed the choir being
absent, singing must necessarily be omitted
But Deacon Goodman saw no such necessity.
He arose and sung 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 abed.
A parish meeting was hastily called, and a
resolution UNANIMOUSLY passed, that Where
as the solemhity and decorum Of public wor-
ship depend much on the character of the
music: resolved, that hereafter no person
shall sing in meeting, in this parish, without
the appreciation of the choir !! Rather a
stringent measure, but what could they do
The Minister called on Deacon Goodman,
and handed him the resolution He read il
over three times He then calmly folded up
the paper, and handed it back to the Minis
ter, 'This is a free country yet ] hope, l
shall sing in meeting He said those very
words He was dreadfully set in his way
Then Deacon said the Minister, Il have
most painful duty to perform: ! am in
structed to tell you, that your connection with
the society must cease The Deacon here
started from his seat. Had the full moon
split into four pieces, :and danced quad.
rifle in the heavens-Orion singing, and the
Northern Bear growing bass, he could moi
have been more astounded, He was silent
Emotion after emotion rolled over his hea-
wing spirit. AT length tears came TO his re-
lief as they say in the novels He spoke,
but almost nacurately. q know am poor
unworthy creature, but hope they will take
me in somewhere' The minister wept him
self, How could he help it The Deacon's
after the interview, he was seen mounted on
old Mag, heading due North. -Four miles
in that direction lived the worthy Minister
OF another parish The Deacon found him
in his study, where also was his daughter, CO.
plying music, She was a proficient in the
art, and played the organ in her fathers
church She had heard Of the Deacon's
musical troubles, and had heard him sing. -
Sir saidhe to the Minister, there has been
little difficulty in our parish, which makes
me feel it my duty to withdraw and have
come TO ask the privilege Of uniting with
yours AT that moment the young lady
vanished from the room.
Il much regret the difficulty in your par
ish, said the Minister, and hope it will be
amicably settled. But il YOU finally con-
cluJe to withdraw, we shall be most happy
to receive you; and when it shall please the
Lord to take good old Deacon Grimes 10
himself, (and very few days must now
give him his dismission,) we shall expect
you to sit in his seat After half an hours
pleasant conversation, the Deacon arose to
take his departure. At that moment boy
came in, and handed billet TO the Minister
He glanced at the billet, and--'Deacon, sit
down one moment sand he He read the
billet, and after some hesitation, said, 4
have received singular communication from
our choir leader; he has somehow or other
heard Of your intention to join our society
and has heard Of It with very great pleasure;
but, he adds that It is the earnest and unan-
inous wish Of the choir that you will not sing
in meeiiag' The Deacon was again cleo
trified, but had got used to the shock; 'Sing-
ing is praying; and Join no church where
cannot sing in the meeting. Good day
air. He was rery set in his way
Five miles West Of his own dwelling,
lived the good Pastor of another flock The
Deacon found him shelling corn in his crib.
This Minister, although eminently pious,
thought il no harm to be little waggish in
good cause, and for worthy object. Ht
also had heard Of the Deacon's musical trou-
bles, and shrewdly suspected the object o
his visit, Deacon Goodman, am glad tc
see you,' said he, this is not exactly minis.
terlal labor, is it, q am Of different OPT,
nion,' said the Deacon, ANY honest anduseiu
labor is ministerial labor; hate all Dandies the
Lord forgive me, Idon'tlike them; and like a
dandy Minister least Of ANY, .sYou and |
( are agreed there,' said the Minister; scome
walk into the house and see my wife; she
says she is in love with you for your honesty
and your Oddities q never' said the Dea-
con 'but thank You, | am in something Of
hurry and have little business which
we can just as well settle here
There has been little difficulty in oul
Parish, which makes me feel il my duty tc
withdraw, and have come to ask the priv.
ilage of joining yours At this the Rev.