Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-12-22

;sWSN[1C5SEsg Second Westcocl
N73.. - was quaint snC
old fe shion 4
like the village over which it presided
Its shingles were gray with the beating
OF many winters; its little square tower
was surmounted by four spindline
posts, like the legs of table turned
heavenward; its staring windows were
adorned with curtains Of yellow cot
ton; its uneven and desolate church
yard, strewn with graves and snow
drifts, occupied a bleak hillside look
ing out across the bay to the lonely
height of Shepody Mountain
Down the long slope below the
church struggled the village, halflost
IN the snow, and whistled over by the
winds of the Bay of Fundy
Second Westcock was an outlying
corner of the rector's expansive par
ish, and & Christmas eve service there
was an event almost unparalleled. To
give Second Westcock this service, the
rector had forsaken his prosperous
congregations at Westcock, Sackville
and Dorchester, driving some eight or
ten miles through the SHOWS and soil
tude of the deep Dorchester woods
And because the choir at Second
Westcock was not remarkable even for
willingness, much less for strength or
skill, he had brought with him his
fifteen year old niece, Lou Allison, to
swell the Christmas praises with the
notes of her cla1ionet
The little church WAS lighted with
oil lamps ranged along the white wall
between the windows. The poor, bare
chancel-a red-cloth covered kitchen
table in g semi circle of painless rail
ing-was fanked by two towering pull
pits of white pine. On either side the
narrow, carpetless aisle were rows of
unpainted benches.
On the left were gathered solemnly
the men OF the congregation, each
looking straight ahead On the right
were the women, whispering and
scanning each others bonnets, till the
appearance of the rector from the
little vestry-room by the door should
bring silence and reverent attention
In front of the women's row stood
the melodeon, and the two benches
behind it were occupied by the choir,
tho male members of which sat blush
ingly self-conscious, proud of their
Office, but deeply abashed at the ne
eessity Of sitting among the women.
There was no attempt at Christmas
decoration, for Second Westcock had |
never been awakened to the delicious
excitements of the church greening. /
At last the rector appeared in his
white surplice. He moved
slowly up the aisle, and mounted the
winding steps of the right-hand pulpit,
md as he did SO his five-year-old son,
Iorsaking his place by Louis side,
forward and seated himself
on the pulpit steps. He did
not feel quite at home in Second West
,ock Church.
The sweet old carol, "While shep-
lecds watched their focks by night,
ose rather doubtfully from the little
hoir, who looked and listened askance
{ the glitteEing clarionet, into which
,ou was now blowing softly Lou
as afraid to make herself distinctly
card at first. lest she should startle
ne singers but in the second verse
ne pure vibrant notes came out with
onfidence, and then for two lines the
,ne was little more than duet be
veen Lou and the rector's vigorous
aritono In the third verse, how
YER, it oil came right. The choir
III end responded to the strong sup
ort and thrilling stimulus Of the IN
trumens. and at length ceased to
read their own voices. The naked
tile church was glorifed with the
weep of triumphal song pulsating
Trough it.
Never before had such music been
eard there. Men, women and chill
ren sang from their very souls, and
yhen the hymn was ended the whole 1
stood for some seconds ,
s III dream, with quivering throats, {
IL the rector's calm voice, repeating
ne opening words of the liturgy.
rought back their self-control in some t
lessuTe.
Thereafter every hymn and chant s
nd carol Was like an inspiration, and i
.ou's eyes sparkled with exaltation. l
When the service was over the people t
altered round the stove by the door,
raising LOUIS clarionet and petting l
tile Ted, who had by this time come
sxn from the pulpit steps. One old !
ASye the child two or three brown
kcuits which she had brought +
ei, and pair of red nit a
Ehe had knitted for him as s
s present. /
lou, the old lady said, c
othing like that trum- +
n