The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-07-05
Trouble i'm the Choir.

ANeis was something 50 unusual in the sing
ing of the choir
mat the Elder looked up mildly from the
tenth of jeremiah,
Aho with readjusted eyeglass looked along
the foremost row,
While n hundred neeks were twisted in a stare
from all below.
Az before the rolling thunder comes a distant
wailing moan.
There was presage Of disturbance in the very
organs tone.
Just the popping of the pickets, ere the bat
ties awful din,
Or the tuning of the nddles ere the orchestra
begin.
An unprecedented observer might have seen
with half an eye
There was waiting an explosion that wopld
blow them all sky high,
Or spontaneous combustion, 10 accept amod-
ern name,
That was waiting just a motion to burst forth
into fame.
The Soprano sat in grandeur, with her book
before her face,
With her back comb turned in anger on the
Alto and the Sass;
While the Tenor stood beside her with an Gle
And the Organist paved madly at the pedals
with his toes.
How could any one but Angels sing when they
were feeling so?
Though the hymn was "SOngs of Gladness,"
they would make it sounds of Woe"
When we sing about devotion, some devotion
we must feel,
or our plaintive tones ofworship viii partake
somewhat of squeal.
But the Alto sang her solo, and then left it to
the Bass,
Who was gnawing at his mustache, and was
loOlngfor the place;
While the organist, in anger, sung the leading
part alone,
And the Tenor tried to follow, but it ended in
groan.
As the horror stricken people heard the dis
cord rising higher,
it was patent TO the simplest there was
trouble in the choir.
And the organist, in fury, closed the organ
with a crash,
And the Alto sobbed in anguish and the choir
had gone to smash.
When the Elder went among them with aview
TO reconcile,
The Soprano told her story with sanguinary
smile;
Itappeared the wretched Chorister had intro
duced girl
With brand new style of singing and a most
distracting curl.
But. TO cap the bitter climax, this usurper
wore hat
Just duck-a gem-a beauty-and it made
the rest look fiat;
And the straw that broke the cameIs back
and made the wreck complete
She came early sunday morning, and usurped
the leading seat
When the Elder asked the Tenor why he left,
he said: "Becaise
The soprano said his chest tones sounded
just like filing saws;
And he overheard the Alto one night whisper
TO the Bass,
That man with such a mustache was pal
pable disgrace"
And the Bass informed the Elder that he
Sacrificed his views
When he came and Joined the Elders choir,
60 help fill up his pews.
He was an Episcopalian, and if people thought
he'd take
Any nonsense from Baptist they had made
great mistake"
Then the Organist and Alto both put on an
injured look,
Saying something in an undertOne about ga
change of book;''
And the Elder overheard them, as he gently
closed the door,
Use the words, "a poor old Fogy,' and "a
sentimental Bore"
And he scratched his poor old noddle, as hs
ambled down the street,
With his spectacles on forehead and his slip
pers on his feet;
And ] really think the Elder has hope of
pouring oil
On the troubled sea of music, TO allay the sad
turmoil.
In the meantime service opens with old
"China" or "Bethune,"
And the Deacon with his tune-forl gives the
people all the tune;
And the organ gathers cobwebs, and the peo-
pie gather grace,
While they roar out Coronation" to the Dea-
cons hoaTsest bass
"A. r WordeE ia the UtioG IN. ~ Observer.