The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-10-12
Some Passages in the
LIFE OF DEACON GOODMAN.


LIFE OF DEACON GOODMAN.
Wherein Is Sltoacn the Inconvenience ofNoT
haUiHg tie "NuSicaI Ear."
Most of our readers remember Deacon
Goodman; some passages from whose life,
we extract from "The Ploughman." The
sage lessons which are covered, but not
concealed, under the abounding humor OF
the piece, are too many and too good to
be forgotten
Deacon Goodman extensively known,
not merely in his own parish, but through
several miles of the surrounding country,
for his amiable disposition, active benev-
olence and unquestioned piety. So thor
oughly was the Deacon's character estab-
-lished, that when the people of the neigh
boring towns saw him passing by, they
would say-That man was rightly named,
for ifthere ever was good man, he is one.
And from this there was no dissenting
voice. Nay; I am wrong in saying that;
fore there are some who never hear any
body praised without an interposing and
qualifying but He may be well enough
on the whole, they will say, but &C., &c;
and then they will 60 on and make him
out anything but clever fellow
/ The qualifying but must be interposed
even in the case of Deacon Goodman
He had a fault: He ar0uLHSing IN meet
ing. Call you that a fault?' saith the
reader. Well then, kind reader, call it a
misfortune. But why misfortune?'
! will tell thee. Nature has so formed
US, that some have the musical ear, and
others not. Now this musical ear has
nothing to do with the real character,
moral or intellectual; but yet the persons
who have not the 'mu sical ear ought new
er to sing in meeting. If they do, they
will be sure to annoy others, and make
themselves ridiculous. Deacon Goodman
had not the musical ear. Whether it
were the Messiah or the Creation, or
jim Crow or Zip Coon, it was all the same
to him, so far as music was concerned; it
was just so much singing. Whether the
artist were Sivori, or Ole Bull, or poor
old John Casco, it was just SO much fd-
Aing He had not the musical ear and
still less, if possible, the musical voice; but
yet he would sing in meeting. And the
gentle and respectable remonstrance of
the choir leader were met With the unva-
ried reply, Singing is praying, you might
as well ask me not to pray; | shall sing IN
meettng.'
1t is now proper for the Biographer to
hint at another trait in the good Deacon S
character. He was rather set in his ways;
or in other words, he was dreadfully OBJ
stinate in what he thought a good cause;
and he was generally correct in appreci-
atng the merits Of the cause.
We all know that musical people are
apt to be sensitive and some times little
capricious and who has ever known a
theatrical Orchestra, or even village
choir, that had not a regular blow up at
least once a year? Beyoud all doubt, Dea-
con Goodman's singing was very serious
} grievance to the choir and no small an
= noyance to the congregation. Yet in con-
, sideration of his great merits he was in
dulged; and his regular Sunday perfor-
. mances often drew forth the remark, that
, if music-murder was sin, Deacon Good.
man would have much to answer for
f, But there is a point beyond which for
t bearance is no longer virtue. Great
) pains had been taken by the choir in get
E ting up a new Anthem, Selected from
1 Mozart) for Thanksgiving day, and the
D very gem of the piece was a solo, which
D had been assigned to the sweetest voice
i and the protest little girl in the village
e All who attended the rehearsals were
e perfectly delighted with the solo as sung
: by little Mary 1t was very difficult
r 1t was marked from beginning t.
e end 'Andantino, Dolce, 'AfectuoSo,
/ 'Crescendo,; Piano. 'Pianissimo, witt
n changing keys, and fats, and sharps
l springing out from unexpected places
t but she had conquered it all. Three OIL
four accomplished singers who had com
e from Boston, to pass Thanksgiving in tn,
! country, and who attended the last re
t hearsel, werein rapturcS with little Mary
s singing. They had heard Tedesco ant
Il Biscaccianti, and yet they say, for coun
s try girl she is prodigy
s In due time Thanksgiving day arrived
and while the second belI' was ringin
/ news came to the village that very Sc
e rious accident had happened to the Uui
c versalist minister. His horse had throw
him, and either his leg or his neck wa
/ broken; the boy who had brought th
d news had forgotten which 4 hope it
o not his neck, said the rich and charitabl
is old church member. When Deacon Good