Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 10.djvu/36

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��Early Manners and Custojns.

��tary display without doubt very pleasant to the survivors of the Rev- olution, while the general muster was a grand review that called out all the martial spirit of the day. Many old people now living describe with great interest the appearance of the troops and officers, and relate anecdotes concerning them.

But I linger too long on the border land of to-da}'. Let us go back be- yond the century. I find myself in the church, or the meeting-house, with its boxed-up pews, and the women ranged soberly on one side, the men on the other. The deacons' pews and the squires', with other local magnates, are at the front ; and, in some places, the galleries are for in- ferior people, while little niches high up hold the colored worshippers. Plainly our forefathers did not be- lieve in equality upon earth, however it might be in heaven. But the min- ister ranked highest of all in the social scale, a liberal education giv- ing him a prominence borne out by his calling. His wife often bore the title of Lady, and the congregation arose when she entered the church and stood until she was seated. The tithing-man with his rod stood watch- ful and ready to quell the youngsters' unseemly mirth, and to awaken the brethren when they slumbered under the lengthy sermon. The sounding- board was fastened just above the minister's head to throw the sounds downward, and which, but for this, it was thought, might fail to reach the congregation. The prayer was fervent and exhaustive, ending al- ways with a petition for King George and parliament. Then the hymn was lined by the minister and sung by the congregation. This was the dark

��age in music, and I have seen it stat- ed that a hymn begun in one tune was only too apt to end in another quite different, as every one sung as he listed, and the loudest singer came out triumphant, dragging his tune ta the front.

The women carried in their hands a kerchief and prayer-book, with a sprig of fennel or caraway to nibble, as they were popularly supposed to possess a keep-awake quality, not always borne by the sermon. But two hours in length ! Think of it, yoi> who cavil at the half-hour sermon of your pastor, who strives hard to put the thoughts of a week into a nut- shell for the benefit of the hurried worshippers. Tennyson's Northern Farmer, stupid, sottish, and conceit- ed, says, —

"An' I halliis corned to schoorch afoor my Sallf wor dead,

An' 'eprd 'em a bummin' awaay loike a buzzard- clock ower mv ypiid ;

An' I niver knawed what a mean'd, but 1 thowt a 'ad summuf to saiiy.

An' I thowt a said what a owt to a said, an' I comed awaay "

But our northern farmer was dif- ferent. Critical, conscientious. God- fearing, he came to hear the Word, with a spice of dissent, and a daring mind tiiat was ever ready to argue upon baptism, regeneration, and fore- ordination with the minister, who was himself often a man of character.

Parson Moody, who was settled over the first church in New Hamp- shire, had a faitli as great as that of the early martyrs, but bright, hope- ful, and humane. Tradition tells us that he took a pair of shoes from his wife's feet to give to a worthy but unfortunate person, and then knelt down and prayed fervently for an- other pair to replace them. His faith was requited, for a pair of shoes soou arrived.

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