Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-05-14

nut dlOHB NIlOSt SluCS uIt Dullt lnt COullOItd
and commodious dwellings of the inhabitants
back of which to the hills on the one side and
the river on the other, extend rich farms and
fertile meadows. Seldom is there any noise on
"thc street," at Westminster. 1t does not re-
semble Broadway, nor does it find its represen-
tative in State street at Boston. The school |
boy, it Us true, shouts at noon-tme and even |
tide, and the shrll whistle of the engine screams
through the valley of the Connecticut remind
ing of the whoop of earlier days. But these
appertain to every place and tell of the advance
of steam and the schoolmaster.
Of those objects in this quiet village, which
would most naturally attract the attention of an
admircr of the infant civilization of the past
century, none is more prominent than the old
meeting house. 1t was formerly placed, as was
the custom of the times, in the middle of the
high road, but it has since been removed, and
now stands on the line of the street. Its arch
itecturc is simple and the soundness of its tim
bcrs, even at this time, bears witness to the ex-
celcnce of the materials which were used in its
construction. Within, all is strange to mod
ern eye. The minister's desk placed directly in
front Of the huge widow, is overshadowed
by the umbrella-like sounding-board, from
which, in former days, words of wisdom and
truth often rcverberatcd. Our ancestors were
n frugal people, who regarded the air, not as an
NiShNlN al NlhNn W NuSic NOIus, but uS a ht-
dum by which ideas were to be conveyed, and
in order that nothing, especially of a sacred
character, should be lost, they fell upon this
contrivance, designed to give to the hearers the
full benefit OF all that the preacher might choose
to utter. As you stand beneath this impending
projection, sitting sensation will steal over
the senses, and a ludcrous dread, lest its mas
sivencss may descend and crush you as you re-
gard it, is not entirely absent from the mind
You might also feel like comparing it in situa-
ton to the sword of Damocles. But otherwise
the comparison fails, for the hair which holds it
Is bar OF iron, and the structure itself bears
striking resemblance to stemless toad-stool.
Modern theologians might find in it persona
fication of the cloud which overhung the mercy
seat, and this perhaps is the most orthodox
view in which we can regard it.
:; Uhderneath n;n s the pulpit is small apartment,
,a,,n ;fG PD"uei "i't 'eaO ooio'Ss W aiie
welI doscr;ho ,ho fool;nra ~ ,ha ,.oaoI,oS ,,or
'n1 ieeil"ss vi tie Pi.".neI' nor
L. nov no was enSoieu ~ ie.dl. %
T ,l's ds ,uiiuay aiter sunday WIN i,'ent
oarnrs ns ,h d u,,ei ms re- . ne Ma'I lS
so,,,rh, ,ba,', - ~ G.. " sn. ..o H. a',a
IsJ;n,i ,',ei.' ~ 'ceN ioi sue'! ~ l''e n'1'
aro ar.ar,.'I H. LL W, "'," Wv u.oA, ai
- 'iseI '"e "o''uee u" wuon "ere useu
,h;ns .;,L s;, 80 - ncslue tn.in s,oou ion6
the synagogue the farmers dogs which would
sometimes intrude during the protracted SER
VICE terrible instruments were these long
WHIPS to the little boys, and the least wriggle
OF their utmost tip. was more potent to tfem,
than the most pointed denunciations. Above
the deacon $ seats, on couple OF nails, rested
poIe, AT the end oil which was attached silk
en- pouch. ms was the collecton-6ox, which,
nke the spear oil lthuriel, brought forth from
those II touched, solid though not always will
ing concessions TO the cause OF truth.
II there were any exercises of the sanctuary,
which more than others received attention, it
was those which were under the care of the vii
lase choir. me singers OF sacred melodies oc-
cupieu the whole front OF the long gallery, and
u. inc announcement OF the hymn, the confu-
SION lhto which they would be thrown, could
not out appear 10 stranger, to be almost n,
proclaimng the mage on which the tune was to
be found. the preparatory scraping of the yio-
lin. or premonitorv key.note of the Hute al
WAYS afforded infinite amusement to the voung-
er norton of the audience. and were regarded
by the old men as necessary evils. which were
10 he endured in natinnce and without comnlaint
Then would succeed n momcnt of silence IN he
broken by the discordant harmony Of soneak-
ing flsettoes. belching bassos. and airs. bv no
means as gentle MS those which float
,
'o"' Ar"oy inc o'es'
But the music was inspirting, il not to the lis
teners, yet to the performers, and when the ex-
cited fiddler who was also the leader, became
wholly penetrated with the melodies which his
vocal followers were exhaling, regardless of the
advice of the minister to omit the last stanza,
he would, with an extra shake of his bow, and
a resonant Young America. put her through"
conclude the hymn as the poet intended it