The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-10-05

and women singers served the service o.
song in the temple. A row of ladies sci
on each side, and the young fellows il
white ties behind them; all of both sexes
| observed (what never saw before, fol
once looking serious
had objected to their processioning tC
their seats; country people might have
mistaken it for another ceremony in
which young ladies take part at the altar
Then in the vestry | was obliged to use
strong language to induce Augustus to
replace in the bag--a blue one like a
brief bag-a stole Of white satin with
crosses of gold and scarlet beautifully in
wrought, and with which he was taste
fully arraying bis lawn-enveloped shoul-
ders.
Eleven oclockl clash went the bells al
together in sudden explosion, aud then
were still, their several harmonic tones
sobbing and dying away in dissonance.
We sailed forth, and the organ discours-
ed triumphant music
Augustus was nervous; he didn't keep
bis note. and sometimes made desperate
hits at distances, and only arrived within
three-qnarters Of tone. Then the choir
was Disconnected only the organist pick
ed them up so deftly that most people
thought it was all right The perform
ance on the whole was creditable, only it
was nothing else but performance. Old
Jolly alope made an il-natured remark
His daughter Emily wondered how Mr.
Augustus Claighfern could chaunt at all
without his stole; "as if a tom-cat could
not purr without his tail. 1t was the la
dies that dashed him"
After this, thought we shonld have
nothing bnt harmony in Earndale Alas!
three weeks had not passed before grim
Miss Stiers (who had only the little boys
and the rector for her audience;) came
with long story of the wicked and pro-
fame doings of the choir Charley Sea-
body had been seen by somebody who
didn't attend to the service. busy with the
golden gay ringlets Of Fanny Peahower,
(the young firt! she knew Augu 'tus
couldn't be there on Sunday, behind
the organ curtain
Miss Stiers thought it atrocious. So
did not /, but then | felt it duty to say
something and put it to Charley whether
he hadn't better sit away from the organ
oh, no, he was wanted to draw the
stops;" and the young scamp went and
told the whole parish that the rector was
jealous, and stories and fables Of every hue
were concocted and circulated in conse-
quenee, and l had to request them both
to sit with their mammas.
Then our volunteer crganist began to
quarrel. and some who could play
wouldn't play; and others who couldn t
play would play. and oftentimes hit the
wrong keys. which cried Justify in reply,
or made harmony with two fingers only.
and ofttimes anything but harmony At
last. unkindest cut Of all, came letter
from the B shop.
The proceedings in Earndale had for
sometime past occupied his attention; the
flower decorations---th choral perform
ance-the improper proceedings--and, in
consequence, remarks of parishoners about
the rector; and, what grieved his episco-
pal soul to the quick, the unauthorized
practice of singing response, which of
generations Earndale had heard read
+" Peccavi; peccavi," was all l could re-
ply. "My new organ, instead of har-
mony. produced nothing but discord."
From that day dare not think about
mnsic in Earndale, far less record my i'm
pressions. We have musical parties. but
| shrink to the very farthest corner of
the room, and dare not applaud Emily
Jolly, or Fanny Peaaower, or Bessie
FIoskin, in song. or express my abbor-
renee of bacchanalian glees. lest shonld
be saddled with personal feeling; and
when on Sundays | hear the organ tap
ped like piano-forte, l groan to myself
and wish for the famous choir of Earn
dale" with its clarionet, flute and violon-
cello