Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-05-22
A FLASH IN THE PAN.

1t IL not everybody who knows what a
minor canon IS or what his duties are; So
Tor the sake of the uuinformed let Inc say
at once that his chief duty is to take his
turn in reading, that il, in homecoming
and singing the daily services IN a cathe-
dral. Such is my duty. | am minor
canon of the cathedral church of March
bury | occupy "A house within the csthe-
dral close, ana thus enjoy the privilege Of
passing my days 'far from the madding
crowd" The life is uueventful enough
Little happens from years end to year )
end to vary the humlrum of existence. In
fact nothing more exciting than a garden
party at the bishops or dinner AT the
dcauery or tea Mt the archdeacon's. Even
these superior Functions" cause but a
slight and transient runle upon the calm
flow Of life's Stream.
For many years, a. a minor canon, | have
breathed tAi, serene and placid atmosphere
OF the close. Often have wondered IL !
Should live all my life thus; or whether
some d9yor other, something would Startle
me, like a bolt from the blue, and | should
find myself plunged, on a sudden, into the
midst Of the most exciting events. For
many years, year after year and month
alter month, have regularly taken my
e H., o =
particularly remarkable has ever happened
t. mr-until Yesterday; and Yesterday
something ala happen.
it was Monday. and in the afternoon. as
WA, walking alon2 the lIi-h street OF
Alarchhury, was met by a distinguished
looking person whom | had observed at
the services in the cathedral on the pre-
Vious day. Now it CHANGED on that sun
day that was singing the service. Prop.
erly speaking it was not my turn, but az
nay brot her MINOR canons were either away
from MarcLbury or i'll in bed | was the
ouiy or left to perform the necessary
duty. The DISTINGUISHED looking person
was tall, big man, with a round, fat face
and small features. His eyes, his hair and
mustach. CHS face was bare but for Il
small must.cheI were quite black. aud he
had very Pheasant and genial expression
lie wore atal hat. set rather ianutilv Oh
his heud. and he was dressed in black
witha long frock coat buttoned across the
chest aud Gttin,, him close to the body.
As he came. win a half saunter, hal
swae.rr. al,rL the street knew hin
alsi.tu. at once by his apuearaucc; and es he
came r.arer / saw from his manner that
he\va, Intending to stop and speak to me
for he slightly raised his hat. and in a soft
lucIoGinu, voice. with a colonial "tTaur'
which WIS lar from being disagrreable an,
yyhicU. .rd..I /, NV ear l,nye n certain adj
dit,a,ia. .a-.rest 10 his remarks. he salutec
me with "lo5d dav. sirn'
"GnoId,v" answered with inst q littI,
reserve. i'm nv tone
81 n,n,. SIR h. broan. 'you will excus,
luy..iouui-,o Won in the street. but. wis
,o,c. Won how very murl, enioyed TN,
1,.u.i,..t y,.,r cathedral Yesterday | AN
an Au.tralian sir and we have no sYcl
music i'm nv country
ri ,f,rpo,e NOT " said
"',.. sir 80 Ln want an "no+bip,, pea Il,
90 nue am very fond Of n,usic ami n
my Lusipo.. brou,,bt me in hi. d;rnrtio,
fbou,,bt womb SION at vonr ritv nm,
taketh. onYorrroi.v If pay,n,, a yiait +,
yonr Grand cathedral Ana am JeIi,,ltn,
,n,1a. =, rI.a.ad indrad tL,t .Snnl
Ii,eto leave some memorial Of NV Wis.,
b4ninJ me sTould like. sir. to do son,f
tbir., fan. ,,o,,r choir -
~ Ann sire it is very kind Of Won ~ RI