'But does any one approve of the New Version?' cried Averil,
recovering from her speechless wonder.

'Don't come down on me,' said the Doctor, holding up his hands. 'I
know it all; but the singing psalms are the singing psalms to me--and
I can't help my bad taste--I'm too old to change.'

'Oh! but, papa, you do like those beautiful hymns that we have now?'
cried Gertrude.

'Oh! yes, yes, Gertrude, I acquiesce. They are a great improvement;
but then, wasn't it a treat when I got over to Woodside Church the
other day, and found them singing, "No change of times shall ever
shock"!' and he began to hum it.

'That is the Sicilian Mariners' hymn,' said Averil. 'I can sing you
that whenever you please.'

'Thank you; on condition you sing the old Tate and Brady, not your
"O Sanctissma, O Purissima,"' said the Doctor, a little mischievously.

'Which is eldest, I wonder?' said Ave, smiling, pleased to comply
with any whim of his; though too young to understand the associations
that entwine closely around all that has assisted or embodied
devotion.

The music went from the sacred to the secular; and Ethel owned that
the perfectly pronounced words and admirable taste made her singing
very different from that which adorned most dinner-parties. Dr. May