The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1854-08-19

cry anu FURNITURE. rom thirty to forty
vessels sail from Denmark TO Iceland every
year"
The Fiddle with Heavenly Croak."
The following from a correspondent of the
New York Musical Review and Choral Ad-
vocatc will repay pcru>a!. There are ma
ny preludlccs which hang like dead weight
upon the progress ofsociety,or upon the ndi-
Vidual who chcrishes them, which are no
better bounded than the one so cilcctuallv
removed by the parson =
Prc'ndicc> founded on religious or conSci-
cntIoUs >crupleS are among the most inyctcr
ate, ana not un:rcluentlv among the most
unreasonable. Such are the preiudices for
merlv eXl>tin"-and not yet by any means
entirely cxtinct-chiclly among the descend
ants OF the PuritanS, and the early Reform
crs. respecting the use of instrumental music.
and lis introduction into the worship of the
sanctuary. Sometimes they extend ONLY to
instruments of a certain character; wind in.
>trumcntS. snrh As the hntr. &c., are tolcra-
ted. wnI!c all such as owe their efficacy to
cat gut and har.arc ban>ncd from the church
and their u'c deemed scarcely reputable in
the family circle
There is a hamlct--no matter wherein
hamtcd mainly by the descendants of the Scot
ti>h Covenanter>, who have Inherited from
their fathers not only their sturdy, unbcnd-
bending integrity, and wholc->ollcd pi,tv
but all their bitter hostility to 1.-The sinful
practices OF the men who wicd the fiddle
bow or who JON IN the dance.
y Young mi!.i>tcr hal come to settle anon,
them. With smile ever upon his cou.t,n
ancc. and kind word tor cvcrvbo,!y. Will,
zeal for lis Masters worh >honr on, in every
action. hr soon drew drOum | I!n the ,yrpa-
tines and The love of hi humble pari>hionrr>.
s'nt ere ionG he perceive! rhanrc: friend
~ greetings were coldIv returned u.v>:cri-
ous iiiii~ OF lhc awu! .uilt OF ministerial back
>iidln-> occasionally rca he'd his car~-kno,>
of men were >cen gathered at the corners of
the streets, cn-a.rd in earnest conversation
Indca'n"' by their looks and TeSInr": H.; hat
the ocui,aut .t 81 - P'Hoh'gc tHtl
St"uE st tj'itt ii vltw, supplied their theme
\ yauUc fumor had begun to float 'lrouoh
the hamlet. deeply affecting. in the c>,iua-
tion oi the -:1rn old Scotchmcn. the moral
character OF their Minister. 1t was heard with
ncrcdnilv. and Indignantly rcpcllcI; Lnt
it gathered strength doubt succeeded 10
confidence, until the most stubborn in
crclullty could resist no LONGER: ;hc unmista
kca'l" i cn> Of tortured cat-yut." proceed
lng from The parsonage it~cli.rcachcI the ears
OF that knot OF men and ;lc awful fact stood
revealed. that their minister played the fiji!
die >uch an cnormitv could not hc tolerated
J I'll ! |
rr"i con'itrt'. To coN>u.t l!pnu the course to
hc pursued III su,'h al emergency, and as the
con>umarion Of their !clhrrarion> 4 commit
lee was appointed 10 wait forthwith unon The
minister at his home. and deal WI him in a
t1tlitu'nc>>." and hing back a report other
mission To the rcnanin. elders. WHO would
in the meantime await their return.
iturn" all Tins time the pastor hm>clfhad
not been an unconccrnrd observer of wha.
was cong on among hi- people neither was
he ignorant 0t Is ciI.>r. Conscious. Low,,-
rr. Of rccti'u1r he did not think tha, du.y
required OF HIM he sacrifice q. A hov crati-
hrall"a. to satisfy uurca>onable rrediu,li,.v>
that he believed wou,d lc Removed l., a iu,!i-
ciou> course. From the window OF Ll- study
hr saw the conmi'c, Of IA" elders al,,roach-
IL" with unwilling steps. and Immediately
cunIcc!uilng the object OF their visit. le de
tcrnnucd AT once 10 meet the uncStion IN y
WY that tfcy little expected Mcciinr them
with his usual cofdiaitv. he rl>hcr,. them in
to h.s snug study. and without -i,ing ,l,rn
an opportunity TO enter upon the subject Of
Their mission. he commenced an animated
conversation upon ~ .joct that immediately
arrested their attention.
Mn>lc WIS his theme. He spoke of it as
an a.d TO icvo'ion--ot is power TO eubdnc
the >oul- IL elevate it above the caith-to
NNnG It to almost mmculatr communication
wl'h IL Creator He described .hc vcncra
bic P>alni>t OF Israel a> POURING forth with
the enthusiasm of inspiration those glorious
SONGS ot tLion. that ever since have been the
comfort AMI delight oi the people OF God. ard
>wcclIr- with his trembling hand the strings
Of his harp. until the swelling sound was
echoed back from the surrounding, hill-to,,>.
Carried away with the ar,!or of his own feel
ms. he r,Sr from his seat. and takirp from a
case that stood III one corner Of the room a
well worn 'lollnccllo. he .ang to its accom-
lanlcincnt one of those immortal choralS, 50
dear to every Christian heart. and especially
70 every Scotchmau. Possessing a rich. full
voice. an no little skill in the management of
his iavorite instrument. he poured out such a
flood ot harmony is had seldom greeted the
ears OF his spcl-bound listeners The stern
Old men were conquered. conquered by the
very weapon that they had come to condemn.
as the pastor returned the instrument to its
accustomed place. the elders arose and grasp
ed his hand, and without abiding to the OBJ
icct OF their visit, they bale him good bve."
meanwhile. as time wore away the remain
ING elders. who were anxiousv awaiting the
return of their committee. somewhat doubt
tul, perhaps OF the results became impatient
of their protracted dclay-drawing no very
favorable augury tlcreirom. AT length they
and resumed their place in the an-
gust circle. Somewhat embarrassed at the
novelty Of their position. as envoys who had
failed even to speak ot that for which they
had been sent, they sat for time in silence,
until one. more impatient than the rest, ex-
claimed. lilac We dealt wi the minister and
have We destroyed the dc'iFs weapon -
''Ilout away. mon, wi your dealn'," indic-
nantv replied one of the committee: ''it's
name O. your wee bit sinful dancin fiddles. but
its great big fiddle wi heavenly croak."
DISTINCTIVE MAEkS-"The tree is |
known by its fruits" The only exception to
his is the dogwood, which is known by its
Dark.
Gy A good life is the best philosophy,
lear conscience the best law, honestly the