The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-03-27

present selectmen bears this name in
 part-who was thrifty farmer and
 western oyster dealer He had for
 large customer in Utica, N. Y., Dutch
 tavern keeper who also kept country
 store of general merchandise, This
 Hollander had large and costly bass
 viol among his wares and miseellane~
 ous goods, which had been imported
 from the old country,
 In our money of the present day the
 value placed on this instrument of mu"
 sic, If it can be so called, was about
 $125. This bass viol had been for sale
 8 long time, but no purchaser was
 found to take it off from the Dutch
 mans hands.
 Now, it so happened that MT. Brad
 ley during the month of March in
 certain year, was making his last oys-
 ter venture for the season In central
 and western New York, Unfortunately
 for the oysters and the profits MT, Brad
 ley expected to make, the weather was
 unusually warm, which decreased the
 depth of the snow every day and pre-
 vented sleighing parties to a great eX-
 tent, who always made large demand
 for this kind of sea food. Owing to
 this very unfavorable condition of
 things MT. Bradley drove into Utica,
 with most Of his oysters unsold. His
 old friend, the Dutch inn keeper while
 pleased to see him, did not talk great
 deal about buying any part of his load
 The weather was too warm. MT. Brad ley thought of the big bass viol and
 knew that there had been something
 said about buying one for the meeting house in East Haven. He offered the Dutchman his entire remaining stock
 of oysters for the base viol, sometimes called violoncello. The owner would
 not at first consider the offer without the payment of one hundred shillings
 to boot.
 Bradley would not pay this differ ence, but after long bantering and bar
 gaining, and good deal of Dutch and
 Yankee talk, a trade was finally made,
 and the big bass viol was carefully
 brought to East Haven. MT. Bradley,
 however, to his disappointment, did not i succeed in getting it off hls hands as soon as he expected. A serious condi-
 tion of things, not a theory, confronted the owner and the society. Upon in- vestigation it was found that not single person who attended meeting" knew anything about the instrument. i The society's committee offered nine teen pounds for it, if any one could get the music out of it, according to rules. He could not blame the society; for of what use was an instrument of music
 of any kind-especially a bass viol
 whose tones are said to be deep, soft
 and agreeable-if there was no one to
 manipulate it.
 | Now 1t so happened that there was
 a young man by the name of Pardee, a skillful leader in the choir of the 1 Episcopal church, who had the reputa-- tion of knowing something about bass | viols.
 | This same MT. Pardee was becoming a frequent caller at King Bradley's large mansion on the west side of Null len hill
 This fine residential structure was de-
 molished years ago, and some of the
 old material was used by Deacon Will I liam Forbes in the building of the pres
 ent church rectory.
 1 One May day young Pardee was told that MT Bradley desired to interview | him. The young musician lost no time | in answering the call and obeying the 1 summons. MT. Pardee was informed | that the person who sent for him had been somewhat unsuccessful in making his last oyster trip. There is bass viol in the corner of the room that was
 taken in exchange for oysters. The l Episcopal church cannot afford to buy it. MT Bradley went on further to say,
 that you (Mr. Pardee), are exemplary in your conduct, and it is known that you excel in music, and also that you are paying attentions to my daughter. You have not as yet formally asked me for her hand, and you have no posi- tive knowledge that in the end you will be acceptable. Now I have called you to my house to make you proposi- tion. The Episcopal church can find l another choir leader; probably in 8 l few weeks.
 | Now if you will sell that base vioI for about the price that the meeting house | society has offered provided someone | could be found in South End, East Ha- | ven or Foxon who knows how to work | it, and after the purchase, if you will agree to play on it in the meeting house, | you may have my daughter in mar | riage, and l will give her by will a I large share of my property.
 1 It is sufficient to say that the bar ! gain was ratified in every particular, | and the big bass viol was purchased and transferred to the singers gallery | in the meeting house, and the Episcopal ] church lost their choir leader. | In this connection it can be said | that the end of the last half of the l present Lenten season Is fast approach | ing An endeavor should be made to l improve the opportunity that is pre- | scented at this time to amend our daily 1 conduct, and live In the future so as to l be at peace with the Maker of the uni verse, and our fellow men. It is our | good fortune to belong to the Episcopal church, and it should be a common am- l bition to be conscientious in the dis | charge of every duty.
 Kind words and deeds'' should al- ways, under all circumstances, be our "watchwords' in the relations we bear | to our pastor He has the burdens and | responsibilities of life to a greater or 1 less degree, that are common to all men, and he should be encouraged and strengthened by his parishioners by 1 their going iii the way he directs. In conclusion my sincere thanks are rendered by your exceedingly kind and courteous attention that you have paid l fo tho aadiDp- Of this papar rr-J,;ct,