Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-03-24
con Goodman enter his pew, and take up
the sheet on which the words Of the an
them upra ,,r;ntpd ~ -.Fri.. f.t l.tf4t .,if

them were printed. n 1ed.ia 1 l.i.ii OH
Unlike that of many singers the articula.
tion of. 1iltle Nary was perfect. rf The
Deacon soon found the. place; and to the
astonishment ofthe congregation, indigna-
ton of the choir, and the perfect horror o
'little Nary he struck in,' and accompa.
MED her through the whole solo. Accom-
panied! 'Oit in the Silly night accom-
panied By Capt. Bragg's battery, would
give some notion of it. Poor little Mary
was sick for fortnight.-sWhy don't you
cut that old fellows tongue Off said one
of the Boston singers. sWhat good would
it dop said the choir leader he would
howl through his nose.' They Were all
very cross. AS for the Deacon he looked
around as innocent as lamb, and thought
he had sung as well as any of them. .s
Immediately after meeting the choir
leader called on the minister. Sir said
he, this must stop. If Deacon Goodman
sings again, I do not.' ''l" '-' ''
a sOh | know it, said the minister, 4 have
long felt the difficulty; but what can we
do? Deacon Goodman is most excellent
man, and his only faults are that he isruther
set IN his wqy~ana ,rW sing in meeting."
But Deacon Goodman is a reasonable
man, said the choir leader. .-......
con most occasions, replied the minister.
EDO 90 and see him, sir, for my mind is
made up if he sings IN meeting, I VIII
not.' l Hg a.-la.d @ .a t'..i p.
| deacon Goodman said the minister, q
l'haye come on delicate errand: L have
come to present the respectful request of
the choir that you will not sing IN meet
ing.' ;.. a.lT .at rmaa 81
| The Deacon was thunderstruck; but he
soon recovered, singing is praying said
he: 'They may just as well ask me not to
pray; haH sing an meeting.' And on
the next Sunday, sure enough he did sing
louder, and if possible, more inharmonious
than ever. The men singers looked dag
gers at him; the girls hid their smiles be-
hind their music books. Little Mary was
not there,
'This shaN stop said the choir leader
Il will go and see him myself 'I.--'
deacon Goodman, we all most highly
respect you, as you must well know but
you hare aoithe music ear, or the musical
voice, and it is the earnest wish of the
choir, and many of the congregation, that
You do not again sing in meetmg.'
The Deacon was again thunderstruck,
but soon recovered. Singing is praying,'
said he 'They may Just as well ask me
not to pray; ! ShaHang in mefiag.' And
on the next Sunday, shrc enough he did
sing louder, and il possible, more inharno-
nious than ever. The men singers looked
aaggers at him; the girls hid their smiles
behind their music books. Little Mary
was not there. w..
The good Deacon was dreadiully set in
his way, and so it went on again week after
week, in the same old way. sii ~ M
But an incident occurred which contribu-
ted much to bring this singular case to a
crisis. About two miles from the Deacon's
comfortable dwelling there was wretched
howell which imperiectly sheltered the
miserable wife and children of still more
miserable drunkard.
On one of the most inclcment evenings
of New England January, the Deacon
and his family were cheerfully and thank
fully enjoying glorious hickory fire; Mrs
Goodman 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
Just finishing off a sermon by distinguished
divine of his own denomination, when the
door opened and in came his good neighbol
and own beloved and respected minister
'Why I nevern said Deacon Goodman
'what has brought you along in such night
as this!' Now, this minister had his. pecu
liarities as we'll as the Deacon. Among
others, he was very close mouthed ,abou
} his own good deeds He merely answered
81 have been about my duty, L hope.' Th'
fact was he had been 10 visit, and. to talk
and 10 pray, with poor dying negro
s'SeemS to me you are rather cruSty,' salt
THE Deacon, 'but suppose you are halt fro
zen, aud SO sit down and thaw yourself out.
Il thank you,' said the minister, 'but mere
ly called to tell you that I have Just left
scene of misery; and T want you 10 9
there early as you can in the morning. o.
my way here and home l passed tina
) wretched hovel which we all know so well
felt it my duty to stop and learn the caus
lol tilc uOIliule ulDtodi Nitiths iouiu III
wretch beating his wife; and her scream
I and his horrid oaths made my blood ru
cold, I knocked the rascal down, ('serve
,, him right said the Deacon,) and think b
= will be quiet until morning but do go {
early as you cam cod rabbit the varmint
'sisaid Deacon Goodman, 'and cd rabbit tn
eternal blasted rum shop That was th
neares. to swearing that the Deacon W;
ever known TO come. ' 1..'a .i't ''.. D
sPut Old Mag in the wagon sand he I
his son---sDeacon, don't go to night,' sal
Mrs. Goodman. 'Do wait till morning. sal
all his daughters. Let me go, said his sol
sNInd your own business said the Deaco
toall OF them, Il shall go Tonight Nhe
: it Came to that they knew there was n
; more to be said. He was dreadfully set i
his way.' He took bag and basket, an
: went to the cellar, a He filled the bag wit
t potatoes. He took piece Of pork iroI
S one barrel and piece of beeffrom anotheI
r and put them in the basket. He went t
!. lthe closet and took brown loaf and a whit
, one. He went to the wood pile and too
| III ~ =. - A. ft<.t,