CRAVEN COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA. I 25 



of music. Now It is always the fate of a country 

 chorister to be the object of envy. They who wit- 

 ness his success are apt to fancy they can do equally 

 well. It so happens, therefore, that the chorister is 

 liable to perpetual attacks, and if he is not very 

 prompt, will find the song taken out of his mouth 

 by these pretenders. So hath it ever been. So 

 was it with Capt Palmer. Others attempted to 

 take the lead, but the indignant musician was not to 

 be driven from his post. Sing he would ; and it 

 was not uncommon for a whole stanza to be sung 

 at the same time to two different tunes. In the end, 

 however, all competition ceased, and the old gentle- 

 man reigned undisputed Director of Music' It 

 cannot be denied that, for a considerable period, our 

 prophecy had a literal fulfilment in Pinevllle, for the 

 songs of the temple were bowlings. One incident 

 occurred there lately, of so ludicrous a character 

 that I cannot help narrating it, though it may ap- 

 pear inconsistent with the dignity of history. The 

 rector was in feeble health ; he had given out a 



^ This difficulty appears, by an old tradition, to have been unfelt by our 

 ancestors. Their zeal was frequently too ardent, and the delicate ear of 

 the parson was in danger of being overpowered by strong and discordant 

 voices. Mr. Richcbourg, the pastor of Jamestown, whose attachment to 

 Mr. Gendron was so nawely exhibited, as described in our notice of James- 

 town, was not blinded by his friendship into any indiscreet admiration of 

 his voice. Thus, after announcing the hymn, he would say : " Don't sing, 

 Mr. Gendron ; your voice is like a goat's ; you be quiet. Mr. Guerry, 

 your voice is sweet ; you may sing." I presume Capt. Palmer inherited both 

 the voice and the zeal of his great ancestor. 



