Year: 1877

- ''NiNii-'s
There was something so unusual in the singing of
the choir
That the Elder looked I'D mildly from the tenth of
And with rcadjusted eyesight, looked along the
foremost row.
" lille hundred nccks were twisted in stare
from all below.
As before the rolling thunder comes distant wall
ing moan,
There was preSagc of disturbance in the very or
gans tone.
Just thc popping of the pickets ere the battles
awful din,
Or the tuning of the ddles ere the orchestra begin
An unpreiudiced observer might have seen with
halt All eve
There was waiting an explosion that would blow
them all sky high,
Or spontaneous combustion to accept a modern
49, name,
That was waiting just motion to burst forth into
flame.
The Soprano sat in grandeur. with her book before
With her back comb turned in anger the Alto
and the Bass;
While the Tenor stood beside her with elev ated
nose,
And the Organst paved madlv at the pedals with
his toes
How could any one but Angels sing when they
feeling So
Though the hymn was Songs of Gladness" thev
would make it sounds Of Woe
When we sing about devotion, some devotion we
must feel.
Or our palntlve tones of worship will partake
somewhat of squeal.
But the Alto sung her solo and then left it to the
Bass
Who was gnawng at his moustache and was look
ing for the place:
While the OrganiSt in anger sung the leading part
alone.
And the Tenor tried to follow, but it ended in
groan.
AS the horror stricken people heard the discord
rising higher,
1t was patent to the simplest there trouble in
the choir.
And the Organlst in fury closed the organ with
crash
And the Alto sobbed in anguish and the choir had
gone TO smash.
When the Elder went among them with view to
reconcile.
The Soprano told her story with sangunary
smile
1t appeared the wretched Choristcr had introduced
girl
With IA brand new way of singing and most dis
tracing curl,
But to cap the bitter climax, this usurper wore
hat.
just duck gem beauty, and it made the rest
look flat
And the straw that broke the cames back and
made the wreck complete
She came early Sunday morning, and uSurped the
leading seat
When the Elder asked the Tenor why he left he
said: Because
The soprano said his chest tones sounded Just like
filing saws:
And he overheard the Alto one night whisper to
the Bass,
That a man with such a moustache was palpable
disgrace.
And the Bass informed the Elder that he sacrificed
his views
When he and Joined the Elders choir to
help fill up the pews.
He was an Episeopalian and if people thought
he'd take
Any nonsense from Baptist they had made
great mistake
Then the organist and Alto both put on an injured
look
Saying something i'll an undcrtone about a change
Of book:
And the Elder overheard them as he gently closed
the door,
Use the words, "A poor old Fogy" and a sent
mental Bore"
And he scratched his poor old noddle, as he am
blcd down the street,
With his spcctacles on forehead and his slippers
his feet:
And | really think the Elder has hope OF pour
ing oil
On the troubled of music to allay the sad tur
moil.
In the meantime service opens with Old China
or "Bethune
And the Deacon with his tune fork gi YES the peo-
pie all the tune
And the organ gathers cobwebs, and the people
gather grace
While they roar out Coronation to tie Deacon's
hoarsest bass
[ tea Observer