The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-04-26

| thOught out precious little OF his GOOD WORKS,
he took care to do a good many of them,
and was far from believing with Amsdorf
that good works are an impcdimcnt to sal
/ vation.' So, said he to Mrs. Goodman, dc
you 90 to the house of feasting, and get al
the coed you can, and l will go to the house
of mourning, and do all can And away
he went TO see, and if possible, to relieve
the Uniyersalist minister.
| lr the mean lime the congregation assem-.
bled, and the worship proceeded in the usua
way. Atlenth came the Anthem. 1t even
went beyond expectation. A long rest i'm
medately proceeded the solo. 1t was nc
rest for poor little Mary 1t was the mos
anxious minute she had ever passed She
arose, blushng and trembling Her ayiia.
/ ton gave tremor to her voice, which add
ed to the pathos Of the lausic. 1twas beau
tiful
Now, Deacon Goodman always made i
a rule, when any accident had detained him
until after worship had commenced, to came
in very softly. How different from the fash.
ionabIe flourish! All were intent on the
solo. None heard. and but few saw Deacon
Goodman enter his pew, and take up the
sheet on which the words of the anthem
were printed.
| Unlike that of many singers, the articula
ton of little Mary was perfect.-The Dea,
con soon found the place; and to the aston
iShment of the congregation, indignation o.
choir, and the perfect horror Of little Mary,
he Struck in, and accompanied her through
the whole soIo. Accompanied; 'Oit in
the Silly night, accompanied by Capt
Bragg's battery, would give some notion Of
it. Poor little Mary was sick a fortnight
why don't you cut that old fellows tongue
OFF, said one of the Boston singers
what good would it dog said the choir lea,
der, 'he would howl through his nose
They were all very cross. AS for the Dea.
con he looked around as innocent as lamb
and thought he had sung as well as any OF
them.
Immediately after meeting. the choir lea.
der cal ed on the minister. Sir said he,
'this must stop. If Deacon Goodman sings
again, do not
'Oh l know it, said the minister, 4 have
long felt the difficulty, but what can we do?
Deacon Goodman is most excellent man,
and his only faults are that he is rather set
in his way and will sing in meeting
But Deacon Goodman is reasonable
man. said the choir leader.
'Onn1ost occasjons,' replied the minister
DO go and see him, sir, for my mind is
made up; if he sings in meeting, l do not.
Deacon Goodman, said the minister Il
have come on a delicate errand; | have
come to present the respectful request of the
choir that you would not sing in meeting,
The Deacon was thunderstruck: but he
soon recovered. Singing is praying, said
he. They may just as wei ask me not to
pray: l shall sing in meeting And on the
next Sunday, sure enough he did: louder,
and if possible, more inharmonious than ev-
er. The men singers l}oked daggers at him;
the girls hid their smiles behind their mu-
sic books, Little Mary was not there.
This shall stop said tie choir leader
i will 60 and see him myself
Deacon Goodman, we all most highly
respect you, as you must well know; but
you hare not the musical ear nor the musi-
cal voice, and it is the earnest wish of the
choir, and many of the congregation, that
you do not again sing in meeting
The Deacon was again thunderstruck,
but soon recovered. Singing is praying,
said he, 'and they might as we'll tell me not
to pray. | shall sing i'll meeting
The good Deacon was dreadfully set in
his way, and so it went on again week after
week, in the same old way.
But an incident occurred, which contrbu-
ted much to bring this singular case to a
crisis. About two miles from the Deacon s
comfortable dwelling, there was wretched
hoyel, which imperfecty sheltered the
wretched wife and children of a still more
wretched drunkard
On one of the most inclement evenings Of
a New England January, the Deacon and
his family were cheerfully and thankfully
enjoying glorious hickory fire; Mrs. Good
man was sewing for the family, and her
daughters for the Missionary Society. His
son was reading the Massachusetts Plough
man, and the good man himself was Just
finishing off serraon by a distinguished
divine of his own denomination when bang
went the front door, and in came his good
neighbor and own beloved and respected
Minister. why! 1 never' said Deacon
Goodman, what has brought you along in
sub night as tnis?' Now, this Minister
had his pecuarities as well as the Deacon.
Among others, he was very close mouth
ed about his own good deeds: he merely
answered. 4 have been about my duty,
hope The fact was he had been to visit,
and to talk, and pray, with poor dying ne
gro. Seems to me you are rather crusty,
SAID the Deacon. But | suppose you are
half frozen, and SO sit down and thaw your.
self out 4 thank you, said the Minister
but merely called to tell you that l have
just left scene of misery; and want you
to go there as early as you can in the morn.
ing. On M way here and home, passed
that wretched hovel which we all know SC
well. / felt it my duty to stop and learn the
terrible uproar within. | found the wretch
beating his wife; and her screams, and hi'
horrid oaths made my blood run cold.
knocked the rascal down; ('served hin
right, said the Deacon, and think he will
be quiet until morning; but do go az early
as YOU can. 'Od rabbit the varmint, sale
Deacon Goodman, 'and cd rabbit the eter
nal blasted run. shop That was the near
est to swearing that the Deacon was eve
known to come.
Put old Mag in the wagon said he t.
his son. Deacon, don't go to night sale
Mrs. Goodman. DO wait till morning,
! said hiS 1aurhrprc IT ct a,,e rrn c.;d ii;