Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1883-10-06

IVY, III peheeihS o0etooiiS, iSVulhco
the master of song, unhesitatingly
complying with her intimation to
follow, ''and nothing would relieve
the mind more than such consoling
communion. But four parts are al
together necessary to the perfection
of melody. You have all tho mani
festations of a soft and rich treble;
can, by especial laid, carry full
tenor to the highest letter; but we
lack counter and bass! Yon officer
of the king, who hesitated to admit
me to his company might fill the lat
ter, if one may judge from the inton-
ations of his voice in common
dialogue"
"Judge not too rashly from hasty
and deceptive appearanc es," said
the lady, smiling; 'though Major
Hayward can assume such deep notes
on occasion, believe me, his natural
tones are better fitted for mellow
tenor than the bass you heard"
SIS he, then, much practiced in
the art of psalmody?" demanded her
simple companion.
Alice felt disposed to laugh, though
she succeeded in suppressing her
merriment, ere she answered.
81 apprehend that he is rather ad-
dicted to profane song. The chances
of soldiers life are but little fitted
for the encouragement of more sober
inclinations."
"Man's voice is given to him, like
his other talents, to be used and not
to be abused. None can say they
have ever known me to neglect my
gifts. | am thankful that, though
my boyhood may be said to have been
set apart, like the youth of the royal
David, for the purpose of music, no
syllable of rude has verse ever profan-
ed my lips"
"You have, then, limited your eff
forts to scored song?"
"Even so. AS the psalms of David
exceed all other language, so does
the psalmody that has been fitted to
them by the divines and sages of the
land, surpass all vain poetry. HaprS.y
I may say that l utter nothing but
the thoughts and wishes of the King
of Israel himself; for though the
times may call for some slight
changes, yet does this version which
we use in the colonies of New
England so much exceed all other
versions, that, by its richness, its
exactness, and its spiritual simplicity
it approacheth, as near as may be, to
the work Of the inspired writer. |
never abide in any place, sleeping or
waking, without an example Of this
gifted work. 'Tis the six-and-twen-
tieth edition, promulgated at Boston,
Ammo Domini 1744 and is entitled,
"The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual
Songs of the Old and New Testa-
ments; faithfully translated into
the English Metre, for the Use, Edi-
fication, and Comfort of the Saints,
in Public and Private, especially in
New England
During this eulogium on the rare
production of his native poets, the
stranger had drawn the book from his
pocket, and fitting u pair of iron-rim-
med spectacles to his nose, opened
the volume with a care and yenera-
ton suited to its sacred purposes.
Then, without circumlocution or
apology, first pronouncing the word
"Standish, "and placing the unknown
engine, already described, in his
mouth, from which he drew high
slfrill sound, that was followed by
an octave below from his own voice,
he commenced singing the following
words, in full, sweet, and melodious,
tones, that set the music, the poetry,
and even the uneasy motion of his
ill-trained beast at defiance:
"How good it is, o see,
And how it pleaseth well,
Together, cen in unity,
For brethern so to dwell,
It's like the choice ointment
From the head to the beard did go:
Down Aaron's beard, that downward went,
His garments skirts unto"
The delivery of these skilful rhymes
was accompanied, on the part of the
stanger, by regular rise and fall of
his right hand, which terminated
at the decent, by suffering the fingers
to dwell moment on the leaves Of
the little volumn and on the ascent,
by such q flourish of the member as