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

day, sir.' He was very 'sot in his way
Five miles West of his own dwelling, lived
the good pastor of another flock The Dea-
con found him shelliug corn in his crib. The
minister, although eminently pious, thought
it no harm 10 be little waggsh in good
cause, and for worthy object of his visit
Deacon Goodman, am glad TO see you,'
said he, this is not exactly ministerial labor,
is itP Il am of different opinion said the
Deacon, 'any honest and useful labor is min
iserial labor; | hate all dandes-the Lord
forgive me, I don't like them; and like a
dandy minister least of any, 'You and are
agreed there said the minister come, walk
into the house and see my wife; she says
she is in love with you for your honesty and
oddities' 4 never' said the Deacon. 'but
thank you, am in something of "A hurry; and
have a little busines which we can Just as
well settle here
'There has been little difficulty in our
parish, which makes me feel it my duty TO
withdraw, aud have come TO ask the privi-
lege of joining yours AT this the reverend
gentleman looked as if he was very much sur
prised. .
Is it possibc!' said he. 'Well, Deacon,
though an Ill wind for them, it is good one
for us, for 1t has blown You hither. We shall
be most happy to receive you especially as
our choir leader has followed the multitude
and gone West We have been looking about
for competent man TO take his place. Our
singers are all young and ditiident, and each
one is 10th to take the-lead We hear that
you can sing the most difficult music, and, =
'Why, mercy upon you 2 said the Deacon
Il don't know one note from another. |
know that singing is praying, and sing in
meeting as pray in meeting
Excuse me, my friend,' replied the minis
Ter, Il, is your modesty that now speaks you
do understand music, you must understand
music or you could never sing Mozart with
proper expression and did you not sing that
beautiful solo which is worthy of an angels
ear and voice?' Now this was all Greek to
the Deacon, and like sensible man as he
was, he always said nothing when he had
nothing to say. 'You say truly continued
the minister 'that singing is praying. But
10 those who know nothing of music, ii is
praying in an unknown tongue, and L am
sure you are not Papist enough TO approve ot
that music is a language, and like other
languages must be learned before it can be
spoken. When the deaf and dumb attemp;
TO speak our common language they make
:. strange noises, and still worse noise do we
make when, without the musical ear or musi
cal voice, we attempt 10 sing
Thus sensiby did that good minister speak
The Deacon was good deal struck up tho
sci IN his ,rdy, he was not a fool and only
needed 10 be touched in the right place. 1T
never appeared to me in that light BEFORE
said the deacon thoughtiully.
f 'And yet, my friend, it is the true light
said the minister 'Aud now, do let me give
you word of advice GO home and take
your old seat on Sunday; and never again at
tempt to sing in meeting. For if your heart is
right, your ear is uniuned, and your voice, tho
: kind, is anything, but musicals The Deacon
. said nothing, but thought the more He
: mounted old Mag. The angel of reflection
, came down, and sat upon her name, and
looked him full in the face. Reader, does
that seem incongruous Is the old mare S
name improper seat for an angel. ! am a.
fraid YOU are proud. Who once rode on an
4 ass?
J The Deacon passed point on the road
where on one side was sturdy oak that had
4 hao, h1C,t,r h,r ,pb -I,ripl and
! on the other, fourshing willow gracefully
: bending before the passing breeze. 'Od rab-
= bii,' said the Deacon to himself; il was the
g first word he had spoken, Ito think that
G should be such an obstinate old FOOL
v He approached his own village. The rea
e son for his errand abroad had been strongly
e suspected, and they were all on the look on
P for his return. There stood the choir leader
} welcome home, Deacon, said he, hope We
have not los, you yet Get OUT said The
4 Deacon, with good -natured but rather cheap
n ish look and on he went There stood the
IS minister 'Weicome home, Deacon, | hope
a we have not lost you yet 'Get-;' hc
n was Just going to say get out, but habitua
II reverence for the minister, cut him short H'
% looked at the minister and the minister, look
l. ed at him, and both burst into a fit of laugh
u ter The choir leader came up and took th'
: Deacen's hand joined in the merriment 90
= rabbit you all, said he: and ON he went. A
:, the front door and windows OF his own hous'
were his wife and daughters, and Two or three
h of the singing girls, 'all of litter They ha'
j. seen and heard his interview with the minis
10 ter and knew thai all was well. 'Od rabbit
% the whole of you;' said he, and went TO pu
10 old Mag in the stable.
d Deacon Goodman took his old seat on Sun
s. day, but since that days adventure, has nev
is er sung in meeting, Once, and but once, di,
d he attempt to raise psalm on his own pri
d vate account. He was in the cows mango
j. Now, the neighbors were always ready to dc
n good turn for Deacon Goodman and befor,
l. he had finished the first verse, two of then