The worthy Rector knew nothing about these proceedings for a long time; when he found them out, he promptly put a stop to them. Such disorderly conduct is more rare than it once was, as the following anecdote will illustrate. In some places the custom holds, on the erection of a new organ, to deliver a discourse expressly timed for the occasion. That much-loved octogenarian, W. Wnow with God, who for many years presided over St. Peter's Church, in a neighboring city, once delivered a discourse on Church music, in the course of which he indulged in some severe invectives on the conduct of the young people who sat in the choir. Fifty years after, when he had waxed very old, and his memory a little failed, a large and finetoned organ having been newly built, and the same old custom holding good, he repeated his former discourse on Church music. But the censure which it contained no longer applied; for the singers were some of the most, staid and devout people in the congregation, and much they stared, and much they were astonished, when they heard themselves so, severely called to task for improper behaviour; they who were religious all, and never in fault in the least particular becoming Christians. So they sent their deputy to have the matter explained to them. He said he was, glad his censures were not deserved, and that things had so happily improved since fifty years. For at the time when he was a young man, and wrote the sermon, there was much unseemly conduct in St. Peter's choir, to the great disturbance of the sober part of the congregation, and with that he dismissed them with his good wishes. The discord in the organ-loft at St. Bardolph's arose not so much from a want of knowledge of music, from being out of tune and time, squeaking tones, singing through the nose, and such faults, as is apt to exist in a country choir, but from offence taken by Mr. Tubingen at the Rector. Mr. Admuller would not permit jig tunes to be played, nor cheese and crackers to be carried up stairs, and exercised the right which was his own in controlling and modifying the taste of Mr. Tubingen. The latter gentleman appeared to think that the organ loft was an independent territory, and that the green vail, or curtain, drawn before the gallery, separated it entirely from Mr. Admuller's jurisdiction. Hence he refused to sing at all, if he could not sing his own tunes in his own way, and taking his seat below stairs, silenced the choir. This did not discompose the Rector. The beautiful anthems of our Church can be said as well as sung-or even better, if the music is not well done. Some remarked that they were glad of it, and a few old people who had a prejudice against instrumental music, enjoyed the service better. So that Mr. Tubingen experienced a defeat where he expected to enjoy a triumph, and in a few Sundays he came back to his seat, discontented, it is true, to puff out his big cheeks, and to inflict his bad manners on the congregation. It is with sincere grief that we record the death, conveyed home in a coach, and soon breathed his last, with awful suddenness, on the Twenty-first Sunday Our sorrow, and our deep sympathy with his family after Trinity, November 9th, at the age of 47, of the and parish, are shared, we doubt not, by large num Rev. WILLIAM CROSWELL, D. D., Rector of the bers of Christians, who are blessed with understandChurch of the Advent, Boston. On the day of his ings to know, and hearts to love, the Gospel and the death he was in his usual health, and officiated in his Church. We are promised, for our next, a more esChurch, both morning and afternoon. The services of tended article on the death of this one among the very the latter were closed in apparent suffering. He was best and faithfulest of Christ's ministers. A LETTER TO AN ABSENT SISTER. Elmwood, 1851. Y DEAR MARY :—Your last there is something very invigorating in bravmost interesting lettering the tempest. I could also find much to was duly received, and admire in this rainy day; the rustling of the most heartily welcomed. wind among the trees, and the drops of rain The delightful intelli- pattering upon the leaves, made a pleasant gence it contained, of your im- music for my ears, and the flowers and ripenproving health, was heard by all ofing grain seemed gladly to be drinking the refreshing drops. In Church there were some vacant seats, for all are not able to endure the storm, but the voice of prayer and praise was not less hearty than usual, and we all united with one voice and heart in thanks us with most grateful thanks. We now are hopefully awaiting the time when our dear sister may be restored to us in health, once more to gladden home by her presence. What a joyful day will that be; how widely different from the tear-giving for the refreshing rain which had been ful, anxious parting, when we tried to believe it was only for a time! but our hearts kept whispering that it was a last "good by" we were saying. so much needed. A rustic agricultural district, like our own, can best appreciate the beauty of this thanksgiving. The farmers had begun to fear that the long-continued drought at this season of the year might do much injury to the harvest: but our Father, in our necessity, had sent a "joyful rain upon His inheritance." Quite near me, in her accustomed seat, sat our little friend, Catharine. You remember how much I love the dear child. Her mild, brown eye, has so earnest, so trustful a glance, there is so much modesty and propriety in her words, that they charm me. I love to watch her, as the words of instruction fall upon her ear, there is so much interest and attention You ask me to tell you of my walks to our favorite haunts, my visits to old friends, my employments. I can easily imagine how much these and kindred topics of home may interest you. This time, I will tell you of yesterday, knowing that every Sunday you must think of us, as we assemble in the dear old Church, to which, in unconscious infancy, we were brought and washed from our birthsin, and made "members of Christ;" at whose sacred altar we knelt in awe and trembling, for the first time, "to eat of that Body, and drink of that Blood," which is given to re-expressed in the varying color, the thoughtfresh us on our weary way through life; beneath whose sacred shadow our forefathers quietly and securely sleep. I know that you have now been delightedly visiting those time-Christ," and taught what that holy privilege worn structures, built in days long gone by, when men thought it a good and acceptable work to give the best of their substance to the glory of God; but yet I know, amid all the hallowed associations which cluster around these sacred buildings, there is still a place left for memories of us, and our humble village Church. My walk yesterday I feared would be very disagreeable, but I did not find it so. It is true, the rain fell: but you remember, I think, ful eyes, and eager, determined look, one can not but see that she is one of those blessed ones, who, having been " baptized into involves, is earnestly striving “ to follow the blessed steps of His most holy life." O, what a contrast was there, Mary, between her bright, happy, peaceful face, and the furrowed brow and care-worn lineaments of her aged grandfather; for he, too, was there. You know how ill he was when you left us; he now blesses God for that long sickness. I cannot forbear telling you all the story, although it will occupy a large space of my letter; but inasmuch as these poor people are some of your friends, I think you will not mind that. "Yes, yes," said he, "Catharine, my darling grandchild, has been reading to me some such words from the Bible. But O, I can hardly think such goodness is for one so desperately wicked as I have been." For a long time we talked; and often, The old man was very sick for many weeks after you left, and we all knew that the wretched hovel where he lived was the great cause of his protracted sufferings. At length, when he was very weak, and almost unable to re-since, our dear Rector has visited him, and sist at all, as he had always done, when such a measure was proposed, he was removed to the clean and orderly dwelling of his excellent daughter-in-law. Here, under her kind care and watchfulness, he gradually regained strength, and soon a still greater change was perceptible in him. His former sullen manner was now subdued, and he seemed now to like to have Catharine by him. One day, as I called, I found him seated by the open casement, and tears were trickling down his furrowed cheeks. I was about to withdraw in silence, but the old man saw me, and bade me enter. now he is more hopeful. What a change is there! There are now no angry bursts of passion, no violent threats, as once there were. I have seen him at times bowed down by remorse and sorrow for his past grievous transgressions, but he has found now where to go for relief, and at the foot of the cross of the dear Saviour, we may surely trust that his penitent sighs will be accepted, and that the "Comforter will abide" with him. There is a cheerful expression in and about that humble home, which makes it delightful; love is there, and we see its power; for he, who once was the unkind, violent, sinful man, He then told me of his remorse for his past is now, through its influence, brought submiswretched life, and that the sweet tenderness, sively to Him Who is love. He seems never and steady, persevering charity of his excel- happy without Catharine by his side. But lent daughter had touched his heart. He there is something about the child which strayed in youth far from "the straight and makes me fear she is not long to be with us. narrow road," throwing off "the light and It is not that her cheek is ever delicately easy yoke," for the chains and fetters of evil pale, or that her slender form seems unable passions. Manhood's vices added to his sins. to endure the chilling blasts of life's wintry His only son was brought up in ignorance and day, but the earnest, thoughtful expression of folly. Then he told me that his son had mar-her dark eye, and the sweet accents of her ried one whose love for him was never low-toned voice, seem to speak of one, who estranged, though it met with cruel indiffer- is soon to join the happy spirits in their songs ence and neglect. The son soon died a vic-of praise, ere her youthful innocence has retim of intemperance, and still the old man ceived one stain from the temptations of the took no notice of his daughter and grand- world. child but at last, sickness overtook him, and in his misery and poverty, they had come and repaid his past unkindness with gentle deeds of mercy. Now the thought of his past life was agony to him. It was a dreadful sight, sister, to see that aged man bowed down by the weight of so many unrepented sins. I told him of the Friend, Who was ready, even now, to hear his penitent sighs, Who had mercifully spared his life, and still was extending to him the means of grace, and Whose angels were waiting to aid him in his struggle to return to that path of holy obedience from which he had so long wandered. I should like to write much more to you today, but my time is quite exhausted. I enclose in this some flowers, which I gathered in the woods this morning; you will almost be able to tell the exact spot from which I plucked them. Their beauty will have departed long before they reach you, but they will remind you, that even the broad ocean which rolls between us, cannot cause a separation; but that a thousand old familiar things bring you hourly to our fond remembrance; and let this thought admonish you to take good care of your health, that when spring brings her bright blossoms to us again, you may return to rejoice the heart of your sister, M. C. THE NATIVITY, O, BRIGHT is the bough of the holly seen, The cedar is wearing its deepest green, Bring new made wreaths for our faithful priest, And the breath of the evening that sighs through the A halo of light from the courts above, Brings an odor more fragrant than Ceylon's vine; Bring wreaths, green wreaths, for the holy Fane, Is brightening now o'er that feast of love, Bring wreaths, bright wreaths, for the youthful choir, To join the glad chorus that swells the skies, Bring evergreen wreaths for the Christian's brow, He hath put from his heart the bright things of earth, EDITOR'S TABLE, W. E. L. AT the close of another volume, the Editor, in tak- To the Christian man, Christmas is a time of reing leave of his readers for a brief space, invokes upon joicing. It is the anniversary of the day which brought them all the blessings of the season. It is a season of heaven nearer to the earth, and prepared the way for peace, of love, of fraternal fellowship. Soon the raising earth to heaven. It is therefore a season of Church will commemorate the nativity of her Divine (joy. A period when men can dwell upon the love of Founder; and the world, catching the song of trium- the Father, and feel their hearts grow warm and full, phant praise, will also acknowledge the Saviour, but as they beat responsive to the glorious theme. May only that it may make the chastened joy of the Chris-such joy be yours, kind reader, and may each returntian a pretext for additional feasting and revelry. It ing anniversary of the day, find you nearer to your acknowledges and disowns Him by the same act. It Father's home! commemorates the birth of Him who came to win men to heaven, by making it an occasion for festivities and excesses which bind them still closer to the earth. It celebrates the advent of the Pure and Holy, by giving a looser rein and a freer scope to sinful passions and propensities. It converts a blessing into a deeper curse, and while, like the devils who believe and tremble, it is forced to stand up and bear witness to the truth-it strives to destroy the weight of its testimony, by turning it into an occasion of blasphemy and insult. On this day our thoughts should also be withdrawn from self, and go out into the world among those less favored than ourselves, into the highways and by-ways, in the midst of the children of poverty; and there they should grow into acts of kindness and charity, to comfort the hearts of the forlorn and the desolate. There are many such, to whom the Christmas time brings but a more piercing wind and biting cold, and into whose wretched hovels the merry chimes come but to add to their despair, by telling them of a joy without in which they cannot share. There are many whose prayer, if it could find expression, would flow out in the spirit of the following beautiful lines, which we take from the Rev. Mr. Wells's "Report of the Mission to the Poor." Boston: "THE POOR BOY'S PRAYER TO ST. NICHOLAS. "I saw in my dream,' and a poor boy prayed, And these were the words of the prayer which he said: 'St. Nicholas ! once I used to be glad When Christmas came round; but now I am sad!. us. two of the following engravings, which have been issued on large paper, for framing, viz., Trinity, Grace, Holy Communion, Ascension, and St. Thomas's Churches, New-York. Also, Portraits of Bishops White, Seabury, Provoost, Bass, Croes, Madison, Claggett, Griswold, Ravenscroft, and Bowen, The volume for 1851, handsomely bound in muslin, may be had at the office, 121 Fulton-street. The numObers will be bound for subscribers for FIFTY CENTS, or if they are in good order, they will be exchanged for a bound volume at the same price. We shall have some volumes beautifully bound in rings.extra gilt, for the holy-days, at the price of $3 25, or $1 25, if exchanged for the numbers. This will form one of the most beautiful and attractive gift-books of the season. You are busy up town with all your gay things- BOOK TABLE. We have received, from the Messrs. Appleton, THE WOMEN OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY; a series of Portraits, with appropriate descriptions by several American Clergymen, Edited by Rev. J. A. Spencer. A. M.. author of " The East," &c., &c. It is a truly elegant volume, of quarto size, illustrated with seventeen suJanu-perbly executed engravings, from original designs. We have not space to speak of its merits as we would desire, but cannot close without saying that it is one of the most elegant and appropriate gift-books of the sea TO SUPSCRIBERS.-We shall commence in the ary number, a story entitled "THE QUEEN'S FATE," a Romance of the days of Herod, written for the Evergreen by NEW CONTRIBUTOR. The period selected is one of the most eventful in Jewish history, and the crimes of Herod, entitled the Great, invest his reign with a terrible interest. The story forcibly depicts the heartless cruelty of the king, and of those by whose counsels he was swayed, and will give a new and powerful attraction to our pages. The other de partments of our Magazine will be reinforced by the aid of new contributors, who will add to our columns a still greater variety and interest, The volume for 1852 will contain nearly one fourth more reading matter than the present. son. From the same house we have received another splendid volume, from the pen of Dr. Wainwright, entitled THE LAND OF BONDAGE; its ancient monuments and present condition; being the journal of the author's tour in Europe. It contains a large number of plates, of high finish and execution, illustrative of important addition to the works already published in the letter-press, and will be cordially welcomed as an relation to the East. The beautiful style in which the publishers have issued it, will make it a choice gift for the season. The Messrs. Appleton also issue "CHRISTMAS WITH THE POETS," "LYRICS OF THE HEART," and “BEAUTIES OF THE COURT OF CHARLES II" All of these are in the highest style of the art, and adapted to the LOUIS' SCHOOL DAYS; a story for boys, by C. T. May; and LEGENDS OF THE FLOWERS, both neatly Those of our subscribers who intend availing them-illustrated- we can now only mention. selves of our offer to furnish two copies for three dol lars, by sending on the name of one additional subscriber with the payment in advance, are requested to forward the name as soon as convenient, that we may know how to regulate our edition. Those who pay in advance will be entitled, without charge, to any season. A number of other notices are unavoidably postponed. |