Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1854-10-08
The Fiddle With A Hea1 emily Croak.


There is hamlet-no matter where-inhabited
mainly by the defendants of the Scottish COyenan-
'cs who have inherited from their fathers not on
y their sturdy, unbending integrity, and whole
souled pety; but all their bitter hostility to "tbe
sinful practices Of the men who WELD the fiddle
bow or who join the dance.
A young minister had come to settle among
them; With a smile ever upon his countenanee.
and kind word for every body, while zeal for his
Masters work shone out in every action, he soon
drew around him the sympathies and the love OF
his humble parishioners. But ere long he preeev-
ed change; friendly greetings were cOldy return
ed mysterious hints of the awful guilt OF mlnlster
al backsiding occasionally reached his ears-knots
of men were seen gathered at the corners oil the
streets, engaged in earnest conversation, indicating
by their looks and gestures that the occupant Oh
the humble parsonage that stood full in view, sup
piled the theme.
vague rumor had begun to float through the
hamlet, deeply affecting, in the estimation Of the
stern old SeOtchman the moral character of their
minister. 1t was heard with incredulity and in
dignantly repeed; but it gathered strength; doubt
succeeded to confidence, until the most stubborn
increduity could resist no longer; the unmistabIe
signs of tortured cat-gut;" proceeding from the
parsonage ITSELF reached the ears of that knot of
men, and the awful fact stood revealed, that their
minister "played the fiddle" Such an enormity
could not be tolerated The elders of the Church
came together in secret conelave, TO consult upon
the course to be pursued in such emergency, and
as the eonsumatIon of their deliberations, com
mittee was appointed to wait forthwith upon the
minister at his home, "and deal with him in ell
faithfuness,H and bring back report of the result
of their mission to the remaining elders who would
in the meantime anxiously await their return.
During all this time, the pastor himself had not
been an unconcerned observer of what was going
on among his people; neither was he ignorant of its
cause. Conscious of rectitude, he did not think
that duty required of him the sacrifice of exquis-
te and holy qualification, to satisfy unreasonable
predjudices that he believed would be removed by a
judicious course. From the window of his study
he saw the committee of the elders approaching
with unwilling steps, and Immediately eonjecturing
the object of their visit, he determined at to
meet the question in a way that they little expect
ed. Meeting them with his usual cOrdiality, he
ushered them into his snug study and without Civ
ing them an opportunity to enter upon the subject
of their mission, he commenced an animated con-
versation upon a subject that Immediately arrested
their attention.
Music was his theme. lie spoke of it as an aid
to devotion--of its power to subdue the soul-to
elevate it above the earth-to bring it into almost
immediate communication with its Creator. He
described the venerable Psamist of Israel pouring
forth with the enthusiasm of inspiration those gl,
rious songs of ZiOn that ever since have been ii
comfort and delight Of the people Of God, anu
sweeping with his trembling hands the strings of
his harp, until the swelling sound was echoed back
from the surrounding hilI-tops. Carried away with
the ardor of his own feelings he from bis seat
and taking from a case that stood in one corner of
the room wellworn violncello, he sang to its ac-
one Of those immortal choras, 50 dear
to every Christian heart, and especially to every
Scotchman. Possessing a rich full voice, and no
little skill in the management OF his avorite nstru-
nent, he poured out such a food of harmony as had
seldom greeted the ears Of his speI-bound listeners.
L stern old men were conquered, conquered by
the very weapon that they come to condemn. As
the pastor returned the instrument to its accusou-
ed place. the elders arose and grasped his hand, and
without alludng to the object of their visit, they
babe him goodbye"
Meanwhile, as time wore away, the remaining
elders, who were anxiously awaiting the return Of
their Committee somewhat doubtful, perhaps, o.
he result-became impatient Of their protracted
leay-drawing no very favorable augury there
rom. At length they entered and resumed their
place in the august circle. Somewhat embarress-
ID at the novelty of their position, ENJOYS who
had failed even to speak Of that for which they had
been sent, they sat for time in silence, until
more impatient than the rest exclaimed "IIae ye
dealt wi the minister, and hae ye destroyed the
de'ils' weapon "HOut ava, mon, wi, your deail'1
Indignantly replied one of the Committee; "it's
name oyour wee bit sinfu dancing fddIes, but its
a great, big fiddle, vi heavenly eroak.-N. l.
BIaSicul RsUier.
A Tale About Idols.