Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-01-25
WOrtester 9aiIg Syn.
From the Monthly Religious Magazine.
History of the oxford Singing school.

Concluded.
The next thing was the choice of a leading
chOrste for Mr.. Solomon Huntington's term
was drawing to its close. The Craps" of
course went to Timothy Case, and the clocks
went for Peter Belts. There was, however,
third party, which represented young Ok
fore, and which held the balance of power.
They were mostly craps" in principle,
thou h they did not make thar lie most i'm
portant plank in their platform. Peter Belts
however, was chosen by a decided majority,
for he rallied around him the kindly disposed
of all parties, who would not see him rudvly
thrust from his place. lie arose with good
deal of emotion his words were few, but TO
the point =
i thank you, my friends, for this honor, but
/ must decline. / will never sing with the
choir huddled together like a flock OF sheep.
Ofcourse tile reader will excuse him from
drawing his imagery from his own bucolical
"reminiscences. The third party rallied its
forces. They put forward, as their represen.
tatve, young blade by the name of Seth
Hubbard.
Seth lived in a remote par: OF the town,
but he was one of the rising lights OF Oxford
He was fond OF singing fond Of dancing, fond
of female society, and female society was gen.
orally fond OF him. He was engaged to two
young ladies at the same tine, and would
have been to third had not circumstances
prevented There was girl OF smart, queen.
IL appearances, that came up every Sunday
from Mr.. Thomas Cleveland's dairy farm, and
sat and sang in the quadrangle. Ellen Cleve-
land was among the best specimens OF honest
country life. Strength of muscle mind, and
heart had come to her from the work of the
dairy room. She had large black eyes, her
checks were like two baldwns and her ruby
lips poured forth strains which could always
be heard, clear as a lark'S in the highest and
most tumutuous flights of the quadrangle
Her vocabulary was very limited especially in
the direction Of polite phrases, and she cut
short with the word CANNON great deal OF
the general nonsense at the country parties
1t was currently reported and believed that
Seth had tried to engage himself TO Ellen
Cleveland, that she cut him short with gam.
mon,' that she applied her palms to bis ears
IN such wise that tuguing tunes sang through
his brain spontaneously for several hours, and
that she sat him whirIing like one of her own
cheeses, till his face subsidized into a homeward
direction. This, however, had been hushed
up, and Seth had come clear shining out of any
little clouds Of this sort. Every Sunday he
came with his gilt buttons cleaning in the
distance. AS far as You could see Seth, so far
you could see the rows of metal on him, shin
ing in the sun. Even the clouds of dust which
the carriages raised along the road seldom shut
out entirely the glimmer OF the fourteen but
tons as hey hove in siTht. You might say of
Seth then. when on his way TO church, more
truly than Goethe does of the loved one
see thee, Il Tar up the pathway yonder
The dust be stirred
Seth was chosen first chorister by a triumph
ant majority. He was decided trap" and
some OF that party having formed coalition
with young Oxford, carried the day. Almost
all the Older singers, who had given dignity
and character TO the quadrangle. went below
into their pews They were not going up into
that pigeon lof-, let Grandvile and all the
world do as il might. Peter Belts never sang
any mere. His mouth came closer and closer
together, till it occupied the extreme left of
the locks" and when the Orchestra party
prevailed, it shut entirely, and he went be
low.
Great preparations had been made Aor he
first Sunday after -; - Z = - 4 -.