Eastern times., 1855-09-06

OUR CHOIR.

OUR CHOIR.
You must know, dear Independent, that we
of the Red Cottage, belong 10 the choir
Henry blows the flute and fills the chorister's
chair; Carlotta embellishes the soprano, and
l have the alto all to myself.
We take great credit TO ourselves that we
are always at our seats on Sunday, be it sun
ny or cloudy, wet or dry snow storms are as
nothing to us-we wrap our coaks about US,
and nerve ourselves to climb the hill of diff
cuhy-a lofty eminence, which is spanned by
an iron bridge, the pride of the village-and, {,
sure as the bell tolls, there we are, ready to
rise at moments notice It's true that some
times on very rainy Sundays, Carlotta has
been heard to wish that she could be a fish for
the nonce, and swim up the mud-puddle to the
church door, or even a boomer, with no long
petticoats 10 drabbe, but the little puss says a
thousand silly things, and this nonsense has
after all no connection with our real doings.
Do not for moment suppose that we red
cottage-ites constitute the choral body; on the
contrary, many and many pretty faces come
smiling in bringing sunshine with them, at
the toll the Sabbath bell, and arrange them
selves behind the red curtain, which shelters
our sanctum from the common gaze, and dim
pied fingers, encased in fairy gloves, rustic
among the leaves of the National Psalmody, ,
when our pastor names the hymn, and sweet
voices there pour forth their SOULFUL melody,
let US hope sometimes acceptably, in worship
10 our Heavenly Father.
Besides these, on the bass side of our gall
lery there are fine manly figures, and rich,
thoughtful faces. Among them for years aud
years, lin fact long before arrived at the dig
nifty of the 'alto seat,O a sturdy, stout-built
Dutchman, has stood and sung, firm as the
everlasting hills-digging down to the deep
est depth after his heavy tones, and grinding
them out with methodical precision, perfectly
regardless of spndry winks and nudges pass
ing from time to time between his immediate
neighbors at the strength of his singing com
pared with its sweetness. Indeed, he once
said to friend in confidence, Il don't 5'Here
they want me to sing, for that very reason I'm
goin' to sing
He is thoroughly orthodox-to the back
bone. Says he don't find any proof in his Bi-
ble that infants are saved, and stands to the
improbability that they can be, notwithstand-
ing he has young ones of his own blood play
ing around his hearthstone. He looks askance
at all innovations and mprovements--even in
the form of contribution box, and still goes
poking the long handled things our grand
fathers used among the congregation with
dogged perseverance says they are just
right-good enough; , though the tassels at
the end have become ragged and shaggy with
long service, he won't hear of getting new
ones. If a stray fiddle finds its way into the
'alto seat,' he mathematics it in good set
terms, and advises, with pious frown TO turn
out the irreverent interloper, neck and heels.
Any unlucky dog which happens to thrust its
ptying nose into the church door during SER
vice time is sure to attract the ever watchful
eye of the deacon, and he directly leaves his
place-his mouth portentiously drawn at the
corners, his eyebrows fearfully gathered to-
gether, and perambalates the aisle in his
squeaking Sunday boots, his long swallow
tailed coat keeping time TO the motion of his
sturdy legs, and kicks out the intruder without
the least show of the quality Of mercy. Gre
ating thus It's true, little diversion from the
original order of the exercises, and provoking
too, much giggling among the small children,
and it may be, eliciting an involuntary smile
from children of larger growth, but vindicat-
ing beyond all question the sacredness of the
time and place. Once, however, he drew
upon himself an angry retort he bur little ex-
pected from the owner of small black puppy
upon whom he visited his righteous lndigna-
ton. She was an elderly maiden ,athe own
cry and the dog was dear TO her, and she arose
with puffed-out cheeks and fiery eyes. when
she witnessed the treatment her pet was re-
ceiyine at the deacon's hand, Cor foot rather)
and calling to the injured darling, over her
shoulder, swapping her fingers, and pursuing
mn her mouth the while, Pink Pink - AS
she reached the door, Pink at her heels, she
turned about, and jerking her head at the ex-
cellent Dutchman. (who was waiting her exit
with his elbows resolutely out, and his large
hands firmly clenched,) exclaiming, 'Kick a
daag, will you, and deacon tu,' and so slam
ming the door, she seemed to shake off the
dust from her feet against him, for she never