Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-04-27

! electrified, but had got used to the shock
Singing is praying, and join no churcl
where | cannot sing IN meefing,-good day
! Sir" he was rery ''set in his way.
Five miles west OF his own dwelling, liv
cd the good Pastor of another flock. Th'
Deacon found HIM shelling corn In his Glib
This Minister had heard of the Deacon
musical troubles, and shrewdly suspected tn,
object Of his visit. deacon Goodman,
am glad to see you,'' said he, "this Is no
exactly ministerial labor, is it ?" 81 am o
different opinion, said the Deacon, 'any
honest and useful labor is ministerial labor
hate all dandies-the Lord forgive me.
mean 1 don't like them and | like dandy
Minister least Of any, ''lOu and | art
agreed there, said the Minister, ''cOme, walk
into the house and see my wife she say:
she is in love with you for your honesty and
your Oddities IL never - said the Dea-
con. '.but | thank you, am IN something oi
a hurry: and have a little business which
We can Just as well settle here
There has been a little difficulty in Our
Parish, which makes me feel it my duty tC
withdraw, and have come to ask the priv
ilcge Of joining yours At this the Rever-
end gentleman looked a. ifhe was very much
surprised. ..ls this possible, said he, ,''well:
Deacon, though an III wind for them it is a
good one for us for it has blown you hlth-
or. We shall be most happy to receive you
especially rs our choir leader has followed
the multitude and gone West. We have
been looking about for a competent man to
take his place. Oar singers are al! young
and diifident. and each one is 10th to take
the lead, We hear that you sing the most
difficult music. and
why. mercy upon you, sand the Dea-
con, Il don't know one note from another.
| know that singing II praying and sing
IN meeting a. ] pray IN meeting
Excuse me. my friend, replied the Mn
is;cr, lit j. your mUdestY that now speaks ,
YOU d9 understand music you must under
stand mrsic or You could never sing Mo-
zart with proper expression and dId not
YOU sing that most buutilul solo, which IL
worthy of an Angels ,qr and voice - Now
this was al urcek 10 the Deacon. and like a
sensible nan us he Was De- always said
nothing when he had nothing 10 say. You
say truly. continued the Minister. that
singing Is PRAYING. But 10 those who
know nothing OF music. it i praying in an
unknown tongue, and am sure you are not
PaIi>t enough 81 approve of that. music Is
"a language. and like other languages must
De learned before 1t can be spoken. When
the deaf and dumb attempt TO speak our
common language. they make strange r0ises.
and still worse noises DO We make when
without the musical ear OF the musical voice.
we attempt 10 sing" Thus sensibly did
that good Minister speak. TIE Deacon was
good deal ''struck up Though st IN his
,ray, he was not a fool and only needed to
be touched in the right place. ''lt never
appeared 10 me in that light before" said
the Deacon th0ughtiully.
And yet my friend, it is the frue light.
said the Minister And now, do let me
give You q word Of advice. Go home, and
take your old seat on Sunday; and never
again attempt TO sing an meeting. For If
your heart If right, your ear l. gntuned,
and your voice. though kind il anything but
musical. The Deacon saidnothing but thought
the more; lie mounted old Mag The Angel
Of reflection came down. and sat
upon her name. and looked him full in the
face. Reader, does that seem incongruous
i the old mares name an improper seat for
an Angel? | am afraid you are proud.
Who once rode IN an Ass?
The Deacon passed point IN the road,
where on one side was a sturdy oak that
bad been llown over by recent whirl wind,
and on the other, a Aourishing willow,
gracefully bending before the passing breeze.
..Od rabbit - -aid the Deacon to himself;
it was the hrst word be had SPOKEN, Ito
think that should be such an obstinate old
fool i'
lie approached his own village. The rca
son for his errand abroad had been strongly
suspected and they were al on the lookout
ior his return There stood the choir leader
Welcome home, Deacon" said be, ''hope
We have not lost you yet. Get out,
said the Deacon, with a good natured but
rather sheepish look. and on he went. There
stood the minister. Welcome home, Dea-
con, hope We have not lost YOU yet.
..Gct--; - be was Just going to say get
out. but habitual reverence for the minister
cut hlm short. lie looked at the Minister,
and the minister looked at him, and both
burst into a fit Of laughter. The choir lead
or came up and took the Deacon's hand, and
joined in the merrincnt.
Deacon Goodman took his OLD seat on
Sunday, but since that days adventure. has
never sung m meeting.