Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1869-06-23

held that position in the leading church i
a smart little town of western New York
L claim exclusive control of the chtirc
, music, and recent meddiing with it fror
rector or assistant, just as he would resen
NV dictat'"~ what sermons he shonl.
preach or what hymns read. This is no
canon law, [ know, but It's usage and
stand up for it. Be good enough to bea
this preface in 1nihd-fot it contains M
Justification.
About a year before l moved to tn,
city, the soprano of this rural church dice
and [ had to find a new one. | knew o
a fresh, delicious voice of good compass
and power belonging to young girl
Nelly Beck by name. She was the pupi
of music-teacher, friend of mine, anC
strongly recommended to my interest, no
only because she sang beautifully, but be
cause her mother was a poor widow anC
had three other young children. My only
cbiectiHn to Her Has-she was tert hand
some. You smile at this. But pretty
women sometimes play the mischief il
choirs. They firt with the tenor or bass
or both. L accept your amendment-ant
the organist. Snug place for flirting, be
hind these red curtains, / can tell you.
Well, Notwithstanding Miss Beck,
beauty, engaged her. She disappointed
me agreeably. She studied carefully, was
very respectful and obedient to me, and
ibid not firt. To be frank with you, be.
gan TO take a. real interest in her. You
Fsnticipate. les, L may. l fell in love
with her. Here, said L to myself, is just
the musical paragon and pretty woman for
you, George Morton.
became quite attentive to Miss Beck
Saw her frequently from chutch-one Of
the charming prerogatives of the organist
everywhere, and particularly in the coun.
try. Presented her with quantities OF
music. Made myself generally agreeable
to her, and the tenor a trife jealous. But
she, while accepting my civilities, made nc
sign ofreciprocating my feelings.
Thus things went on a few months
having no real encouragement from Miss
Beck, and hesitating whether to declare
myself or not-when the rector secured a
new assistant, the Rev. Mr. Hatcher. This
gentleman had formerly been assistant in
an interior county of the State, and, it was
said, owed his new position to his distant
relationship to the rector's wife. He had
handsome features, fine curling hair and
side whiskers, and often wore sweet
smile which settled grim the next minute
& better reader ] never heard. He in
toned with the distinctness of a musical
instrument. A faithful, industrious man
in parochial duties, sincerely religious, |
have no doubt Ladies society he was
extremely fond of, and, being a bachelor
soon became favorite. Perhaps, in such
personal and business relations with cler-
gymen as I sustain, look too much under
the cloth at the man. Anyhow, from the
first, l did not much fancy Mr. Hatcher.
Ny main reason, | suppose, was, that
he interfered with my music. He had a
good ear and some taste, but he could not
sing, or play on anything. Yet he wa;
presumptuous enough to advise me about
tunes; and at rehearsals, at which my in.
yited audiences were very limited and
select, would drop in on US very much at
home. L tried every plan, short of telling
him so, to show him regarded him as an
intruder But he took no hints, and
smiled on me as if ! had given him hug
/ luSiCdu VI tuC COiu shOuluCI.
I Soon after | had another cause of uneas-
iness-call it jealousy, if you will. Mr.
Hatcher showed a plain liking for my So
prano. TO be sure his intentions were
perfectly honorable. His idea seemed tC
be, so far as | could fathom him, not tC
find a wife, but to create IS strong an
interest for himself as possible on all the
marria gable ladies Of the church. Let me
NO. ss..aame him too much-for this Platonic
love-making is almost the only exciting
amusement permitted to young clergymen
But one can see that the pastime must b
destructive, sometimes, TO the peace of th'
female mind.
Miss Beck was greatly pleased with hi
coartesies, Many girls in her place woulC
not have resisted he temptation to firt
little With the rninister-the most enticin.
species of Irritation in the world, the ladie
{ say. But she did nothing worth mention
, ing to encourage him. l thought it hare
! that Mr. Hatcher should try to get tn
, better of me in Miss Beck's affections
8 when he had fifty or more handsom
young women at his exclusive disposa
: down stairs 1t is only confession 0
D human nature to say, when | saw the as
: sistant so sweet on her, that her value ros
: in my eyes. I determined to try seriousl
I to win her love, and also to force Nj
? Hatcher back into his proper place. HOY
: should | set about the task ?
: | decided to put to the practical test m
theory of the human key note.
| will not weary you with an account G
p the previous experiments (far from salts
4 factory,) which led me up to the adoptio
of this strange theory, but will only stat
b. the general conclusion at which | had al
: rived 1t was this:
!, That every human being had key
f note, to which that being is responsive az
n cording to the development of its musica
T faculty and that when human being
s keynote is struck, under the prope
conditions, that beings real nature is fc
:, the moment laid open, the secrets of th
/, heart come out on the face, and he or sh
is peculiarly susceptible to influences e1
4 erted by the person sounding the note.
Do make it tolerably clear? Than
: you-that speaks well for your attentio
and discernment. Well, this edd theory
+ now had a powerful motive for applyin
;, to practice, and every opportunity to d
5 so. Here were Miss Beck and the assis
t ant minister at rehearsals, and here wa
/ my organ, on which L could strike note
d experimentally while they stood near m,
and watch the effect upon them. A
; organ is the only instrument, except th
violin, on which my theory could
1t fairly tried; because it is the only on
= that gives steady, prolonged note, caps
Bile not only of rousing, but of keeping u
C the sympathetic condition of the perso
experimental on.
a At the next rehearsal both of my sui
&c IJects were present as usual. Miss Bee