Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-02-07

consequently, the lad who did the work
that night, petered out on tho second
innings and had TO be reinforced by q
kind-hearted and obiging bass in the
chorus, who had heavy cold and was
willing to do most onything to help
along, and in most any capacity. The
lad refused to re-cngage for further
service, and the organist was Obliged
to trot about lively the following morn.
ing early to engage the needed power,
which, in the shape of becfy grocer
boy, promised TO be on hand without
fail
The day proved Il hard one for the
melodies and harmonics Of the Diggle-
avenue Church. 1t was good day
enough as tho weather went; but there
:, cmed to be a something hanging
about the organ loft that depressed
ones spirits, 1t was there, invisible
but felt, and almost, as it were, in slow
and constant motion.
The day was Il trlle raw, and little
fire had been built; Just enough, by the
way, TO raise the mischief with the
more sensitive OF tho organ pipes, and
to put the instrument decidedly out Of
tune.
The organist was thore early and
anxious. He waited for the becfy
grocer boy, rs ho wished not only to
coach that important power in his du-
ties, but to rub up little on his own
account; hut that considerable helper
tarried fifteen, thirty, forty-fve min
utes, until an hour had gone by. That
worthy had unfortunately met the
petered-ouJ boy of the previous eve
ming, and, on being informed by that
person that the job was one of lifting
seventeen tons, more or less, OF bel.
lows weights at least 5l7 times bv
actual count, for the small sum Of fifty
cents, while the other man got all the
money punching down Il lot of ivory
! jiggcrS, he retired - the comfortable
soclu'ion of the nearest livery-stable,
and failed 20 show up at all.
The hour weht by, and ten O'Clock
was marked by tho sonOrous metal in
the belfry tower. Fifteen minutes
marked itsoifslowiy otfOn the organist's
watch, and still no blower boy. Then
came uncasincss, n gathering congrega-
tion, pulpit occupant, and still no
boy. The organist began to move
around. He sent note by the sexton
to the brand-new chairman Of the brand
new music committee (whO was Just at
tha' time hugging himself in happy an
ticipatiOn of something glorious in re.
turn for his hard work and good judg-
menD, and that gentleman soon ap-
pcared, accompanied by the sexton.
They conferred together, and then the
sexton was hurried to the pulpit to cy-
plain the delay. When he returned he
found himself elected to the labor. His
eyes bulged out in dismav.
"What! me! me blow?"
"Why, yes, just this once"
What! ne?'
"Yes, why not? Don't you see the
straight we're inF"
"What! me? Great Heavens only
weigh hundred an fifteen; and, be-
sides
"Woll, wAat?"
"l'm all nigh broke up. kin man
age a furnace fire, an sweep ont, an
pint out pewS an that sort, but cant,
in my kindition (and hero he dropped
his voice to q confidential whispor),
kivercd all over, rs am, with bellar-
donuer plaStcrs, If ton as often
times minnit rs you want. can't
du i'll | mus remember my family
"Call it S2," said the chairman.
willing TO do most anything in the
strait they were then in.
81 cant, Mister Jones, | jes' can't"
"Call it 50 "
"No can't | cau't murder myself
for no So. ias' can't"
Just hece tho kind and accommo-
dating bass singer Of the previous even
ing, with a cold in his head, camo into
the singing seats.
The orgauist graspcd at him
"Cortainly, certainly; anything to
accommodate" said the ohliging bass,
soothiugly; and, with IN air of proud
distinction, he opened tho door that
led into the blowers stand, took off
his new spring overcoat, moistcned
his hands rs do laborerS who saw
wood, grasped the bellows handle and
waited tho signal.
II was 1880 u M, when the organ
ist commenced his voluntary. He was
vexod, nervous and excited. His first
few touches showed him that the in
strument was out of tune besides this,
his inexperienced blower gave him
wind, now in furious volume rs long
as his energy lasted, but gradually
easing of to intermittent gasps that
made sad havoc with tho music. The
organist had been improvisiDg, and
had been gathering himself for a
brilliant etfOrt-a grand burst of the
full organ. The first gasp came when
he had both hands full of coupled keys,
and both feet treading the full of the
pedals. The wind went out with a
great sob, came again with hesi-
tating, half-frightened grunt, and then
died away almost before he was aware
of it. The startled congregation looked
around, the choir grinned, and the
members of the new music committee
on their several seats turned scarlet.
From state of dismay, the organlst
sank to the depths of angry despair,
and, quickly signalling for moro wind
(Which hardly came), and kicking Off
his combination and punching in his
couplings, no played triiliugly yet
viciously, upon tho lighter stops in the
swell awhile, and then glided by mod.
ulation into the key of the opening
anthem which the choir caught up
and iloundered through in the most
wretched manner. The tenors let
themselves down by the flats, aud the
sopranos raised themselves whole
sharps at time. There were no deep.
steadying tones from the instrument,
and tho basses somehow got over the
fence. and wandered off in company
with the altos, who were practically
nowhere, while ever and anon could
be heard from away in back tho rasp-
ing tones of the bass with cold, who,
with good memory and better dis
position, was trying to make up ont of
his own individual mind what his back
and arms failed to furnish to the wind
chest. 1t was, altogether, sorry per-
formance, and the pulpit fairly scowled
its displeasure as It rose to its turn in
the service.
Tho organist slid from his bench,
Gained his excitement tho best he
could, assumed sickly smile to cover
his vexation and any otfense which his
manner might give to the flushed and