The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-20

eW.NsN1INE&S Second Westcock
-Grf$ ~ was quaint and
- old fashioned,
like the village over which il presided.
It's shingles were gray with the beating
OF many winters its little square tower
was surmounted by four spindling
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 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, half-lost
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 a 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 soli-
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 clarionet.
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 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
hring silence and reverent attention.
I'm front of the women's row stood
the melodeon, aud the two benches
behind it were occupied by the choir,
the male members of which sat blush
ingly self-conscious, proud of their
Office, but deeply abashed at the ne
cessity of sitting among the women.
There was no attempt mt Christmas
decoration, for Second Westcock had
never been awakened to the delicious
of I'm,
At last the rector appeared in his
voluminous white surplice. He moved
slowly up the aisle, and mounted the
winding steps of the right-hand pulpit,
and as he did 80 his five-year ar-old son,
forsaking his place by LOUIS side,
marched forward and seated hifaself
resolutely on the pulpit steps. He did
not feel quite at home in Second West
cock Church.
The sweet old carol, "While shep-
herds watched their focks by night, II
rose rather doubtfully from the little
choir, who looked and listened askance
at the glittering clarionet, into which
Lou was now blowing softly. Lou
was afraid TO make herself distinctly
heard at first, lest she should startle
the singers but in the second verse
the pure vibrant notes came out with
confidence, and then for two lines the
song was little more than duet be
tween Lou and the rector's vigorous
baritone. In the third verse, how
ever, it all came right. The choil
felt and responded to the strong sup
port and thrilling stimulus of the in
strument, and at length ceased t.
dread their own voices. The naket
little church was glori6ed with tn,
sweep of triumphal song pulsatine
through it.
Never before had such music beeI
heard there. Men, women and chill
dren sang from their very souls, ant
when the hymn was ended the who'll
congregation stood for some second
as in dream. with quivering throats
till the rector's calm voice, repeating
the opening words of the liturgy
brought back their self-control in som
measure.
Thereafter every hymn md chan
and carol was like IN inspiration, AM
LOUIS eyes sparkled with exsltstion.
When the service was over the peopl
gathered round the stove by the door
praisinR Louis clarionet and pettin
little Ted, who had by this time com
down from the pulpit steps. One oil
lady gave the child two or three brow
sugsr-biscuits which she had brOugh
in her pocket, and pair of red mit
tens which she had knitted for him q
Christmss present
Turning to Lou, the old lady said
81 never heerd nothing like that trun