The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-04-24

For the Post.
SINGING ON DANCING BRANCH

SINGING ON DANCING BRANCH.
Some time since was solicited by an old
acquaintance to attend Singing In Monroe
county, at the "Mcspsdden School House,"
on Dancing Branch, where my solicitor in
formed me regular monthly Singing was
kept up by the well disciplined and enter
prisng people Of that neighborhood and vi
cinity. On Saturday last it was either part
of my fortune or misfortune to be there. The
evening was somewhat unpleasant, because
Of the clustering winds and flying clouds that
foated in the elements above. But on my.
arrival found many Of the youths Of both
sexes assembled. The house was crowded
of whom were equally cheerful as harmless
birds assembled to sing IN the gentle zepbyrs
Of a summers morn. Being spectator only.
and destitute of musical faculties and conse.
quently non.participant in the exercises Of
the day, ] had nothing 20 do bat 10 look on
and listen, which l did with more delight
than a thousand tongues could tell in buu-
dred years. Mr.. Magill, worthy gentleman,
conducted the singing Every thing was car
ried on with decency and in order. None Of
the improprieties so common on such occa-
sions We're there to be seen. All behaved as
if aware that others were critcising on their
department 1t is not good thing to ex-
| aggerate or to heap encomiums on improper
objects, nor should We eulogise where enlogy
is undue, for praise makes proud its object;
yet venture to say few neghborhoods can
now be found in all our country able to meas
ure arms with Dancing Branch in the way Of
vocal music, thing so useful in every coun.
try, and almost essential to our happiness.
| Now, | wish to notice here that the Nc
| Spadden neighborhood or Dancing Branch
as it is usually called, Is q neghborhood noted
! for the excellency of its morals the harmony
of IFS societies and the quietude of its people
"A neighborhood of which it is often said
none can be found to excel it, in Tennessee
or any of her sister States. If this be so, the
reasonable conclusion drawn from the premi-
ses is. there must be a reason why it is so,
since effect and cause are inseparably con-
nected and one cannot exist without the
| Uh"ei' ~ 10: 'hS'eioici S'ou th'Ht thae w
should notice effects, and if they are found
| to be good learn their causes, and make them
known to all the world as fast as means may
offer us opportunity. Now l know it would
be vain for one like me TO undertake to revo-
lutionize a world like this, and therefore do
not intend to do it. Yet, it is not vain that
| should speak truth, and tell what / think
to be the reason of the difference between
that neighborhood, in moral point, and
many others Of equal advantages. and why it
is that they are happy and meet their friends
with cheerful countenances while others are
out of humor, down.cast and perplexed.-
The reason | think is quite obvious to every
one of ordinary observation. The people
there give attention to every thing that hai
a tendency to improve the mind or refine the
morals. They attend with promptness to sa.
cred singings, sabbath schools prayer meet
ings, de-, all of which are almost indispensa.
ble to the happiness, prosperity, welfare and
safety of people. They think it no hard
task to do the will of their master. They
go to chureh-they listen to the language Of
wisdom, and hear the voice of warning, and
this is the reason of the difference.
AN OBSERVER.
| UcXinn co., ApriL 9Th, 1857.