The Republican journal., 1888-12-20

N E:Stc44sS ~
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'Kah laint; l think ie>' : much of him 5
ever did, an yit I'm 'blccged 10 admit that
when a man gifts along in Years its time for
him to let stoutcr mon hold the plough.
Hny?'
Now, the fact was that Pnilander DAVIS
was one of the few among the older heads i'll
the parish who sided with the reforming ele
ment. Mr.. Davis was ambitious for Tilbury
md all III it, and he pridcdhimsclf somewhat
on being able to entertain new Ideas after
having passed the age of 80. At the last
church meeting his support had been recog-
nized by his election to membership of the
parish committee, and he, therefore, was well
informed on the res1lessness Of tie younger
members regarding the matter Of music 1t
was the one point Of serious difference be
tween him and his wife, and she WAS not to
be- hoodwinked by his sophistrv,
Don't tell lne. Philaudcl'," she replied in
answer to lis last expression, II know Just
how you feel. You want 10 Please the smart
folks on the hill, and l haven't got a word to
say against them, cept it does seems if they
needn't come to Tilbury and expect to run
things in city style. They want quartet,
now, don't they! and they want to introduce
g2tion JOIN IN, 'rept on one hymn, don't they
| and they're gojr' to try to make HezeliaE
step down Oh account OF his age, and he been
chorlster for fifty years, Cont they: amt
they, should say
"Git up, there, jim, g'long with ye.' ex-
claimed Mr. Davis. You re putty sharp,
| Marthy; Ct You was to look through the hole
| in one of my ,lillstoucs and see the other
grindin' you'd think you saw clean through
/ both wouldn't We. hay! but | don't think
| you'd make much Of Il hand to run a church,
Marthy. Hay!"
And so, with good-natured c5stinlcy the
discussion was continued until Mr.. Davis
helped his wifi. out and led the horse into the
barn to unhitch.
Now that the choris;er knew that there
was a feeling that his services We're not re
CURED, the parish committee hoped that he
would relieve them Of discomfort by resign
| ing voluntarily: but weeks passed and Heze-
kiah retained his place without word 50
at last it was determined that he must be
approached il Christian, neigAborly spirit,
and induced to consider the matter i'll the
right light As the Oldest member of the
committee, Philander Davis was deputed to
do the talking, but though he had accepted
the appointment with cheerful sense of its
inheritance, his confidence failed him when
he faced the old choris.cr one October even
ing i'll Eezekiahs little parlor. The other
members of the committee sat looking at
their hats while Mr.. Davis coughed awk-
wardly ard begall
'.Feelin' toerable well these days, 'kiah:
Hay"
GIVE been enioyin' good health all sum
mer, Mr. Davis" responded Hezekiah with
dignifed asperity.
"Wall," said Mr.. Davis, after Il wretched
pause and another cough, 'we've come up to
talk about the music"
Mr.. Davis waited for the chorister to lead
the way to what must follow, but Hezekiah
kept silent So the spokesman continued:
"You see, 'kiall, the parish thinks they d
ought to be something OF change"
UeZei,iah could hold out no longer.
.Neghbors," he said with a trembling
voice, Il can't make no change I've stool
up In the loft there more'n fifty years and
haven't missed but two Sundays. I've sung
the good old music that You and I, Philander
was brought up on, and l can't sing much
else I've kept the choir together for you
and if the money stood il the way (deZekiaf
received $50 u year. Id keep it up for moth
ing. No, don't say faint money; l know
that; know you want a high toned quartet
and that you're willing to pay. But-Fvt
done my best, neighbors."
The old chcristei bowed his head upon his
hands. and the parish committeeman wishee
they had not come. Mr.. Davis rubbed The
back Of his lead and his colleagues looked
sternly at him.
1--WE hate worse'n thunder to hurt YOU
feelin's, 'kiah, hay!' he began again, vvhe1
al
Il know" he said; "you don't want to tel
me I'm too old But, praise the Lord! II
not stand in the way of the parish's good.
resign right here"
But the committee was not wholly lackin:
in human sympathy, and it was agreed tina
Hezekiah should sing until the cid of tn
year, and the chorister consented, thoug
with less appreciation Of the favor extende
; to him than most of tho ommitteo had c1
pected.
'.Blessed if didn't feel sorry for the Oh
man." said young Deacon Goodspeed, speak
ing of the matter several days later. So di
good many others, but Us the end Of tn
year approached the sympathy lost its keer
: ness, and in the same degree the ambition c
tho younger members increased, 50 tia
. eventually the desire to have a big display {
: music on Christmas led to another call G
Hezekiah, the result of which was that til
i. old chorister yielded his place at once witt
out q word of protest.
The celebration of the kindly festival b'
gan with musical service Oh Christmas ey'
= The new quartet was in place and uezekia
=. sat with the audience. In Difference to Of
y time custom some of the hymns were sung b
= the entire congregation. The old choriste
- tried to sing with the others, but after a fe
! bars the tears somehow got entangled in b
!, voice, and, as he could not sing and wee
;, too, he stopped singing. When it was q
!, over several Of his neighbors approached hi
= to say that they didn't think thcre'd bee
q any Improvement and Hezekiah shook eac
one by the hand and answered nothing.
). The last gossiping couple had LETT tt