185G.] Sjme Passages in the Life of JDcacon Goodman. 147 



draw, we shall be most happy to receive you ; and when it shall please 

 the Lord to take good old Deacon Grimes to himself, (and a very few 

 days must now give him his dismission), we shall expect you to sit in 

 his seat." After half an hour's pleasant conversation, the Deacon arose 

 to take his departure. At that moment, a boy came in and handed a 

 billet to the Minister. He glancod at the billet, and " Deacon, sit down 

 one moment," said he. He read the billet, and, after some heiitation, 

 said, " I have received a singular communication from our choir leader ; 

 he has somehow or other heard of your intention to join our society ; 

 and has heard of it with very great pleasure ; but, he adds that it is 

 the earne.5t and unanimous wish of the choir that you will not sing in 

 meeting:' The Deacon was again electrified, but had got used to the 

 shock ; " Singing is praying ; and I join no church where I can not sing 

 in the meeting — good day, sir," He was vcrij "sjt in his way." 



Five miles weU of his own dwelling, lived the good Pastor of another 

 flock. The Deacon found him shelling corn in his crib. This Minister, 

 although eminently pious, thought it no harm to be a little waggish in 

 a good cause and for a worthy object. He also had heard of the Dea- 

 con's musical. troubles, and shrewdly suspected the object of his visit. 

 "Deacon Goodman, I am glad to see you," said he, " this is not exactly 

 ministerial labor, is it ?" " I am of a different opinion," said the Dea- 

 con, "any honest' and useful labor is ministerial labor; I hate all dan- 

 dies — the Lord forgive me, I don't like them ; and I like a dandy 

 Minister least of any." " You and I are agreed there," said the Minis- 

 ter ; " come walk into the house and see my wife ; she says she is in love 

 with you for your honesty and your oddities." "I never ! " said the 

 Deacon, '• but I thank you, I am in something of a hurry; and have a 

 little business which we can just as well settle here. There has been a 

 little difficulty in our parish, which makes me feel it my duty to with- 

 draw, and I have come to ask the privilege of joining yours." At this 

 the reverend gentleman looked as if he were very much surprised. " Is 

 it possible," said he ; " well, Deacon, though an ill wind for them, it is 

 a good one for us ; for it has blown you hither. We shall be most happy 

 to receive you, especially as our choir leader has followed the multitude 

 and gone West. We have been looking about for a competent man to 

 take his place. Our singers are all young and diffident, and each one is 

 loth to take the lead. We hear that you sing the most difficult music, 

 and " 



" Why, mercy upon you," said the Deacon, "I don't know one note 

 from another. I know that singing is praying, and I sing in meeting as 

 I pray in meeting." 



