The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-05-05
From the Musical World and Times.
Father TaylGr, the Sailors
Preacher.

Preacher.
You have never heard FATHER TAY-
LoR, the Boston Seaman's preacher?--
Well-you should go down to his church
some Sunday. 1t is not at the court-end
of the town. The urchins in the neigh
borhood are guiltless of shoes or bonnets.
You will see quite a sprinkling of "Po-
lice" at the corners. Green Erin, too, ,.is
we'll represented: with dash of Africa
checked off with "dough faces"
Let US 90 into the church: there are no
staned-glass windows-no richly dra-
iperied pulpit-no luxurious seats to sug-
gest nap to your sleepy conscience. No
odor of patchouli, or ao0npareil, or bouquet
de Ulolct will be waited across your pa
trician nose. Your satin and broadcloth
will fail to procure you the highest seat
in the ue,-they being properly
reserved for the "old salts"
Here they come! one after another,
with horny palms and bronzed faces. 1t
stirs my blood, like the sound of a trum-
pet, to see them. The seas they have
crossed! the surging pillows they have
breasted the lonely, dismal, weary nights
they have kept watch.--the harpies in
port who have assailed their generous
sympathies! the sullen plash of the sheet
ed dead in its vast ocean sepulchrel-what
stirring thoughts and emotions do their
weather beaten faces call into play
God bless the sailor!-Here they come;
sure of welcome-conscious that they
are no intruders on aristocratic landsmens
soil-sure that each added face will send
thrill of pleasure to the heart of the
good old man, who folds them all, as one
family, to his patriarchal bosom.
There he is! How reverently he drops
on his knee and utters that silent prayer.
Now he is on his feet. With quick
motion he adjusts his spectacles, and says
to the tardy tar, doubtful of berth,
Groom here, brother" pointing to seat
IN the yHlplt. Jack don't know about
THAT! He can climb the rigging when
Boreas whistles his ferceSt blast: be can
swing into the long boat with stout
heart, when creaking timbers have par
ted beneath him: but to mount the pull
pit!-Jack doubts his qualifications, and
bushes through his mask of bronze.-
"Room enough, brotherw again treasures
him; and, with little extra fumbling at
his tarpaulin and hitching at his waist
band, he is soon as much at home as tho
he were on his vessels deck.
The hymn is read with heaTt-tone.-
There is no mistaking either the poets
meaning or the readers devotion. And
now, if you have scientific musical ear
(Which, thank heaven, l have not, you
may criticise the singing, while am not
ashamed of the tears that steal down my
face, as [ mark the effect of good Old
Hundred (minus trills and fourishes) on
Neptunes honest, hearty, ,whole-souled sons.
The text is announced. There fol-
lows no arrangement of dickeys, or brace
lets, or eyeglasses. You forget your
ledger and the fashions, the last prima
donna, and that your neighbor is not one
of the upper ten, as you fix your eve
with me on that good old man, and are
swept away from worldly moorings by
the flowing tide of his simple, earnest ell
oquence You marvel that these uttered
truths of his, never struck your thought
less mind before. My pen fails to con-
vey to you the play of expression on that
earnest face-those emphatic gestures
the starting tear or the thrilling voice.
but they all tell on Jack"
And now an infant is presented for
baptism. The pastor takes it on one arm.
| o, surely he is himself father, else it
would not be poised so gently. Now no
holds it up, that all may view its dimpled
beauty, and says: SIS there one here who
doubts, should this child die to-day, its
right among the blessed!" One murmur-
ed spontaneous No, bursts from Jacks
lips, as the baptismal drops lave its sin
less temples Lovingly the little lamb is
folded, with kiss and blessing, to the
heart of the earthly shepherd, ere the ma
ternal arms receive it.
Jack looks on and weepsl and how can
he help weeping! He was once as pure
as that blessed innocent! His naotber--
the sod now covers her-often invoked
heavens blessing on her son; and well be
remembers the touch of her gentle hand
and the sound of her loving voice as sue
murmured the imploring prayer ior MN,
and how has her sailor boy redeemed his
youthful promise' He dashes away bis
scalding tears, with his horny palm; butt
please God, that sabbath-that scene
Shall be n talisman upon which memory
shall ineffaceably inscribe,
$50 and sin no more"
FANNY FERN.