146 Sjine Passages in the Life of Deaco?i Goodman. [March, 



and — " — lie dropped asleep. And sure enougli he did " sing to-morrow," 

 and it surpassed all that had gone before. " This is the last of it," said 

 the choir leader, " I have done." In the afternoon, the choir was vacant, 

 some of the singers absent and others scattered about in the pews. The 

 Minister read three verses of a psalm ; aud then observed, " the choir 

 being absent, singing must necessarily be omitted." But Deacon Good- 

 man saw no such necessity. He aroee, and sung the three verses himself! 

 He stopped six times to sneeze ; and blew his nose between the verses 

 by way of symphony ! The next day he was sick abed. A parish 

 meeting was hastily called, and a resolution unanimously passed, that 

 " Whereas the solemnity and decorum of public worship depend much 

 on the character of the music : resolved, that hereafter, no person shall 

 sinff in meeting, in this parish, without the approbation of the choir ! " 

 Pvather a stringent measure ; but what could they do ? The Minister 

 called on Deacon Goodman, and handed him the resolution. He read it 

 over three times : He then calmly folded up the paper and handed it 

 back to the Minister. " This is a free country yet I hope." " 1 shall 

 sing in meeting." He said these very words ! He was dreadfully 

 " set in his way." 



" Then, Deacon," said the Minister, " I have a most painful duty to 

 perform. I am instructed to tell you that your connection with the 

 society must cease." The Deacon here started from his seat. Had the 

 full moon split into four pieces, and danced a quadrille in the heavens — 

 Orion siuging, and the Northern Bear growling bass — he could not have 

 been more astounded. He was silent. Emotion after emotion rolled 

 over his heaving spirit. "At length tears came to his relief," as they 

 say in the novels. He spoke, but almost inarticulately. " I know I am 

 a poor, unworthy creature, but I hope they will take me in somewhere." 

 The Minister wept himself How could he help it ? The Deacon's cold 

 was nearly cured ; and about an hour after the interview, he was seen 

 mounted on old Mag, heading due north. Four miles in that direction 

 lived the worthy minister of another parish. The Deacon found him in 

 his study, where also was his daughter copying music. She was a pro- 

 ficient in the art, and played the organ in her father's church. She 

 had heard of the Deacon's musical troubles, and had also heard him 

 sing. " Sir," said he to the Minister, " there has been a little difficulty 

 in our parish, which makes me feel it my duty to withdraw ; and I 

 have come to ask the privilege of uniting with yours." (xVt this moment 

 the young lady vanished from the room). 



" I much regret the difficulty in your parish " said the Minister, " and 

 hope it will be amicably settled. But if you finally conclude to with- 



