The organ of the temperance reform. (Cincinnati, O. [Ohio]) 1852-1853, 1852-03-05
From the Knick eFbOokeT MaEazine.l
A NEW ENGLAND COUNTRY CHURCH.
BY TX MARVEL.

The country church is a square old building
of wood, without paint or decoration, and Of
that genuine Puritanic stamp which is now fast
giving way to Greek porticos and c)ckney tow
ers. 1t stands upon hill, with little church
yard in its rear, where one or two siekly look
ing trees keep watch and ward over the vagrant
sheep that Craze among the graves. Bramble-
bushes seem to thrive on the bodies below; and
there is no flower in the little yard, save few
golden rods, which flaunt their gaudy and in
odorOus colOrs under the ice of the northern
wall.
New England country livers have IS yet been
very little inocuated with the sentiment of
beauty; even the doorstep to the church is
rude flat stone, that shows not single stroke Of
the hammer. Within, the simplicity is even
more severe Brown galleries run around three
sides Of TIE building, supported by timbers, on
which you still trace, under the stains from the
leaky roof, the deep scoring OF the woodman's
axe. Below, the unpainted pews are ranged in
square forms, and by age have gained the color
OF those fragmentary wrecks Of cigar boxes,
which you see upon the top shelves in the bar
rooms Of country taverns. The minister's desk
is lofty, and has once been honored with coat
Of paint; as well as the huge sounding board
which, to your great amazement, protrudes from
the wall al a very dangerous angle of incllna-
ton, over the speakers head, As the Squire's
pew is the place Of honor, to the right of the
pulpit, you have little tremor yourself at the
sight OF the heavy sounding board, and cannot
help indulging III quiet feeling Of relief when
the last prayer is said.
There are, in the Squires pew, long, faded
crimson cushions, which, it seems to you II. ust
dufa hapk nparlv IN tho mt ,F tha
Christian era in this country. There are also
sundry old thumb worn copies Of DR.. Dwights
version Of the Psalms Of David, appointed to
be sung in churches by authority of the Gener-
al Associate Of the State Of Connecticut -
The sides OF DR.. Dwight's version are you OBJ.
serve, sadly warped aud weather. stained; auC
from some stray figures which appear on fly
ing leaf, you feel constrained to think that the
Squire has some time employed quiet nterva
OF the service with reckoning up the contents ei
the old stocking leg at home.
The parsOn is a stout man, remarkable, in
your opinion, chiefly, for a yelowish- brown
wig, strong nasal tone, and occasional violent
thumpS on the little dingy, red velvet cushion,
studded with brass tacks, at the top Of the desk.
You do not altogether admire his style; and by
the time he has entered upon his Fourthly," ,"
you give your attention in despair, to a new
reading lit must be the twentieth) Of the pre-
face to DR.. Dwight's Version of the Psalms.
The singing has a charm for you. There is
long, thin faced, flax haired man, who carries
tuning fork in his waistcoat ard who leads
the choir. His position is in the very front rank
of gallery benches, facing the desk aud by the
time the old clergyman has read two verses Of
the psalm, the country chorister turns ronnd to
gf o. iIa oCt h..
smith a Carroty -colored school master, two Wo-
men in snuff coiored silks, and a girl in pink
bonnet to announce the tune.
This being done in an authoritative manner,
he lifts his long music book glances again at his
little company, clears his throat by powerful
"ahem" followed by powerful use of ban
dauna pocket handkerchief, draws out his tu-
ming fork, and waits for the parson to close his
reading. He now reviews once more his COM
pany, throws reprovjng glance at the young
woman in the pink hat, who at the moment is
biting off stout bunch Of fenne, lifts his mu-
sc-book, thnmps upon the rail with his tuning
fork, listens keenlys gives another slight ahem!
falls into the cadence swels into a strong Cres-
CeadO, catches at the first word Of the line a;
though he were afraid it might get away, turn:
to his company, lifts his music. book with spirit
gives it a powerful slap with the disengageC
hand, and with majestic toss Of the head, soar
away, with half the women below struggling OIL
in his wake, into some such brave old melody a
-"Litchfied!"
Being visitor, and in the Sguire's pew, yor
are naturally an object Of co siderable attention
to the girls about your age; as vel! as to great
many ola ladies in iron sp5CtaCles, who mortfy
you excessively by pattiug you under the chin
after church and insist upon mistaking you for
Frank, and force upon you very dry cookie
splCed with Caraway- seeds.
You keep somewhat shy Of the young ladies
as they are rather stout for your notions Of beau.
ty, and wear thick caif-skin boots. They com
pare very poorly with Jenny. Jenny, you
think, would be above eating gingerbread be.
tween service. None OF them, you imagine
ever read "Thaddeus Of Warsaw or ever usec
a colored glass seal with heart upon it. Yor
are quite certain they never did, or they coul,
not surely wear such dowdy gowns, and sucI
their thumbs as they do!
The farmers you have high respect for par
ticularly for one weazen- faced old gentlema
in brown surtout, who brings his whip int
the church with him, who sings in a stron
voice, and who drives span Of grey colts. Yc
think, however, that he has got rather sto
wife; and from the way he bumOrs her in stol
ing to talk with two or three other fat Wome
before setting off for home, Though he seems
be a little fidgety) you naively think that
has high regard for her opinion. Anoth
tOwnsmau who attracts your notice, is sto
old deacon, who, before entering, always ste
around the corner Of the church, and puts \
hat upon the ground, to adjust his wig in uui
way. He then marches up the broad aisle in
stately manner, and plants his hat and b
pair Of buckskin mittens, on the little table uI
der the desk. When he is fairly seated in
corner of the pew, with his elbow on the to
rail-almost the only man who can couoforts