George MacDonald

Annals of a Quiet Neighbourhood George MacDonald

These events fell on the Saturday night. On the Sunday morning, I read prayers and preached. Never before had I enjoyed so much the petitions of the Church, which Hooker calls "the sendingof angels upward," or the reading of the lessons, which he calls "the receiving of angels descendedfrom above." And whether from the newness of the parson, or the love of the service, certainly acongregation more intent, or more responsive, a clergyman will hardly find. But, as I had feared, itwas different in the afternoon. The people had dined, and the usual somnolence had followed; norcould I find in my heart to blame men and women who worked hard all the week, for being drowsyon the day of rest. So I curtailed my sermon as much as I could, omitting page after page of mymanuscript; and when I came to a close, was rewarded by perceiving an agreeable surprise uponmany of the faces round me. I resolved that, in the afternoons at least, my sermons should be asshort as heart could wish. But that afternoon there was at least one man of the congregation who was neither drowsy norinattentive. Repeatedly my eyes left the page off which I was reading and glanced towards him. Notonce did I find his eyes turned away from me. There was a small loft in the west end of the church, in which stood a little organ, whose voice, weakened by years of praising, and possibly of neglect, had yet, among a good many tones that wererough, wooden, and reedy, a few remaining that were as mellow as ever praiseful heart could wish topraise withal. And these came in amongst the rest like trusting thoughts amidst "eating cares;" likethe faces of children borne in the arms of a crowd of anxious mothers; like hopes that are youngprophecies amidst the downward sweep of events. For, though I do not understand music, I have akeen ear for the perfection of the single tone, or the completeness of the harmony. But of this organmore by and by. Now this little gallery was something larger than was just necessary for the organ and itsministrants, and a few of the parishioners had chosen to sit in its fore-front. Upon this occasionthere was no one there but the man to whom I have referred