The Singing Class. 23 



singing. He watched over his class with great pride, 

 not at all disconcerted by the fact, that it was soon 

 discovered that his voice added nothing to the fine 

 music, (although in speaking it was flexible and 

 melodious.) His class did not prove an exception 

 to most church choirs — the members fell out. Sadly 

 he looked on, determined to help, if possible, but 

 biding his time. On the next Sunday he anx- 

 iously awaited the issue. The Pastor gave out the 

 hymn ; an ominous silence reigned in the little 

 Church ; John waited one moment, then, quick as 

 thought, he rose in his seat and began to raise the 

 tune. Smiles illumined the faces of the singers, and 

 the leaders sang out lustily — and that was the end 

 of the choir trouble. He would say to his grand- 

 children, with a twinkle in his eye, " My class was 

 afraid of my bad singing, so I won the day." This 

 little scene illustrates the generous tact that was a 

 characteristic of the subject of this memoir. He 

 knew how to incite those around him to action ; he 

 would set the example, and Avhen his companions 

 excelled him, he could step aside with a smile, and 

 rejoice with them over the laurels they had won. 

 Perhaps this selflessness was one great secret of his 

 power over men. 



Pastor Braun at this period, lived in his parson- 

 age at Schagticoke, in that beautiful Hoosac region 

 of country — a farm of fifty acres was attached to the 

 house. 



Rev. Barnett in his " Gilead Church History," 

 writes, " For a part of his student-life, John Bach- 



