The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1854-04-26
(BY REQUEsT.) J
LIFE OF DEACON GOODMAN
VT wv III
SOME PASSAGES IN THE

SOME PASSAGES IN THE
LIFE OF DEACON GOODMAN.
Wherein is shooOa tie inconvenience of NOT
ha0jag the "NuSi,aI En-"
Most Of our readers remember Deacon
Goodman, some passages from whose life.
taken from 1.-The Plou5hman," were pub.
ished in the Observer several years since.
We have often been requested 10 reproduce
hem, and do SO noN at the instance of Il
valued friend and CORE sponlent. The sage
lessons which are covered, bat not conceal.
ed, under the abouuding humor Of tile piece,
are TOO many and too good to be forgotten.
Deacon Goodman was extensively known,
not merely in his own parish, but through
several miles of the surrounding country,
for his amiabe disposition, active benevo.
lence, and unquestioned piety. So thorough
ly was the DeAcon's character established,
that when the people Of the neighboriug
towns saw him passing by, they would say
That man was rightly named, for if there
ever was a good man, he is one And
from this there was no dissenting voice.
Nay; am wrong in saying that; for there
are some who never hear anybody praised
without an interposing and qualifying
but He may be well enough on TIE
whole, they will say, but DC. &C.; and
then they will g on and make him out
'anything buca clever fellow
The qualifying but must be interposed
even in the case Of Deacon Goodman. He
had fant: He would sing in the meeting
Call you that faut?' saith the reader -
Well then, kind reader, call it misfortune
But why a misfortune?
| will tell thee. Nature has so formed US,
that some have the musical ear, and 9th.
ers not-Now this musical ear has moth
ing to do with real character, moral or in
teIectual; but yet the persons who have not
the musical ear ought never to sing in
meeting. If they do, they will be sure to
annoy others, and make themselves ridicu-
lous. Deacon Goodman had not the 'mu-
si,al ear Whether it were the Messiah
or the Creation or Jim Crow and Zip
Coon, it was all the some to him, so far as
music was concerned; it was just so much
singing. Whatever the artist were Slvori,
or Ole Bull or poor old John Casco, it was
Just so much fddng. He had not the 'mu-
sical ear but yet he would sing in meet
ing And the gentle and respectful remon-
strances Of the choir leader vera met with
the UNMARRIED reply, Singing is praying; you
might as well ask me not to pray; | shall
sing in meeting
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 obstr
nate in what he thought a good cause; and
he was generally correct in appreclatlng the
merits OF the cause.
We all know that musical people are apt
to be sensitive and sometimes little capri
cious; and who has ever known theatrical
Orchestra, or even village choir, that had
not a regular blow up at least once a year?
Beyond all doubt, Deacon Goodman's sing
ing was a very serious grievance to the
choir, and no small annoyance to the con-
gregntion. Yetin consideration fhs great
merits he was indulged; and his regular
Sunday performances, often drew forth the
remark, that if music murder was sin,
Deacon Goodman would have much to an
swer for. But there is a point beyond which
forhegrance is no longer virtue. Great
pains shad been taken by the choir in get
ting up a new Anthem, (selected from MOI.
art) for Thanksgiving day, and the very
gem of the piece was solo, which had been
assigned to the sweet voice, and the pret-
test little girl in the village. All who at
tended the rehearsais were perfectly delight
ed with the solo as sung by little Mary =
1t was very difficult. 1t was mark
ed from beginning TO end 'Andantino,
Dolce, 'Affetueso,' 'Crescendo,' Piano,
'Pianissmoj' with changing keys, and flats
and sharps, springing out from unexpected
places; but she had conquered it all. Three
or four accomplished singers who had come
from Boston, to pass Thanksgiving in the
country, and who attended the last rehear-
sal, were in raptures with little Mary's sing
ing. They had heard Tedesco, and Bsca.
ceianti, and yet they say, for a country girl
she is prodigy. .-
In due time, Thanksgiving day arrived
and while the second belP was ringing,
news came to the village that very seri-
GUS accident had happened to the Univer-
salist minister. His horse had thrown him,
and either his leg or his neck was broken;
the boy who had brought the news had for.
gotten which, hope it is not his neck,
said the rich and charitable ola church mem
ber. When Deacon Goodman heard that
remark, he held uphis hands and exclaimed,
Il neverP
Now the Deacon dearly loved good preach.
ing, aiiG the meeting house was to him Q
house of feasting' But his religion was o.