Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-22

ousy by seeming Partially. At all events
never heard of bis varying the formula. He
continued, as he referred to small slip OF
paper in his hand:
when the Lord wills we will all go, and
not till then. 1t is not our part to NEEDLE
with what is in His hands. The minister has
chosen hymn 2o7 for the first piece. Wewin
sing it to the tune OF Cambridge"
At that rehearsal and during service next
day everything went as usual, but report OF
the talk that Hezekiah had heard few about
the parish quickly and no. few remarked
that the chorister looked unusually grave
II cal'late, remarked Mr.. Davis, the sheep
raiser from RAMS Hill, to his wife as they
drove home after meeting; II cal'late 'Kiah
Martin feels his years growing on him; hayf
''And cal'lato, Philander Davis returned
Mrs. Davis, with significant emphasis, ..thnt
it amt so much his material years he feels as
the loss of his friends
''s'I~' bs-thy, he amt lost no friends.
'Kiah hain't; think ies' & much of him s
ever did, an yit I'm 'bleeged TO admit that
when man gifts along in years it's time for
him to let stouter men hold the plough.
HayF'
Now, the fact was that Philander Davis
was one of the few among the older heads in
the parish who sided with the reforming ele-
ment Mr.. Davis was ambitious for Tibury
and all in it, and he prided himself somewhat
on being able to entertain new ideas after
having passed the age Of So 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 restlessness Of the 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 sophistry.
Don't tell me. Philander," she replied in
answer to his last expression, II know Just
how you feel You want to please the smart
folks on the hill, and haven't got word to
say against them. cept it does seems il they
needn't come to Tilbury and expect to run
things in city style. They want quartet,
now, don't theya and they want to interduce
Few music, don't they and not let the congre-
cation Join in, 'cept on one hymn, don't They'll
and they're goin' to try to make Hezekiah
step down on account of his age, and he been
chorister for fifty years, don't theys amt
they, should say"
"Git up, there, jim, g'iong with yer ex-
claimed Mr.. Davis. you're putty sharp,
Marthy; eff you was to look through the hole
in one of my millstones and see the other a
grindin' you'd think you saw clean through
both, wouldn't We? hay? but I don't think
you'd make much of a hand to run church,
Marthy. Hayi"
And so, with good-natured obstinacy the
discussion was continued until Mr.. Davis
helped his wife out and led the horse int. the
barn to unhitch.
Now that the chorister knew that there
was q feeling that his services were not re-
teI, 4l,rf ho
would relieve them of discomfort by resign
ing voluntarily; but weeks passed and Heze-
kiah retained lis place without & word. So
at last it was determined that he must be
approached in a Christian, neighborly spirit,
and induced to consider the matter in 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 a cheerful sense OF its
Importance, his confidence failed him when
he faced the old chorister ono October even
ing in Hezekiah's little parlor. The other
members OF tho committee sat looking at
their hats while Nj. Davis coughed awk-
wardly and began:
''Feelin' tolerable we'll these days, 'Kiahl
Hays"
1--WE been enioyin' good health all sum
mer, Mr. Davis responded Iezekiah with
dignifed asperitT
wall said Mr. Davis, after u wretched
pause and another cough, we've come up to
talk about the music.
Mr. Davis waited for the cnoristel' to lead
the way to what mast follow, but Hezekiail
kept silent So the spokesman continued:
'.You see, 'Kiah, the parish thinks they'd
ought to be something OF Il change
Hezekiah could hold cut no longer.
''Neighbors,'' he said with q trembling
voice, 81 can't make no change, I've stood
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 |, Philander,
was brought np on, and | can't sing much
else. I've kept the choir together for you,
and il the money stood in the way (Hezekiah
received $50 q year. Iii keep it up for moth
ing. No, don't say faint money; | know
that; know you want & high toned quartet
and that you're willing 70 pay. But-lvc
done my best neighbors
The old chofister bowed his head upon his
hands, and the parish committeeman wished
they had not come. Mr. Davis rubbed the
back of his head and his colleagues looked
sternly at him.
I'VE hate worse'n thunder TO hurt your
feelin's, 'Kiah, hays' lie began again, when
II know" he said; ''you don't want to tell
me I'm too old. But, praise the Lordl I'll
not stand in the way Of the parish's good. /
resign right hero"
But the committee was not wholly lacking
In human sympathy, and it was agreed that
Hezesiah should sing until the cid CT the
year, and tho chorister consented. though
with less appreciation of the favor extended
to him than most Of the committee had ex-
pected.
'Blessed il didn't feel sorry for the old
man, said young Deacon Goodspeed, speak
ing of the matter several days later. So did
q good many others, but as tho end OF the
year approached the sympathy lost its keen
ness, and in the sanlo degree the ambition of
the younger members increased, so that
eventually the desire to have . big display Of
music on Christmas led to another call on
Hezel,iah, the result Of which was that the
old chorister yielded his place at once with
out Z. word Of protest
The celebration of the kindly festival be-
gan with a musical service ON Christmas eve.
The new quartet was III place and Hezekiah
sat with the audience. III difference to old
time custom sorue Of the hymns were sung by
the entire congregation. Tho cid chorister
tried to sing with tho others, bn. after n few
bars tho tears somehow got cntangled in his
voice, and, rs he could not sing and weep
too, he stopped singing. When it was all
over several of his neighbors approached him
to say that they didn't think there'd been
any Improvement, and Hezekiah shook each
ore by the hand and answered nothing.
The last gossiping couple had left the
church, the sexton had blown out the lights
and locked the heavy doors behind him
Sleigh bells jingled family away out of hear
ing, and the slow footsteps of the sexton
crunching on the half trodden snow mingled
with the tones of tho clock in tbs high tower
striking ten. Then door inside the vestry
opened, and out of closet where brooms
and dust pans were kept an old man came
hesitatingly. He made his way very slowly
up the broad stairs to the main nesting
room. At tho door leading to the choir loft
he paused moment. His hand was on the
n L. -. 4 ,ur1