The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-07

then hymn, and set down to examine his
notes. Immediately above him, peering over
the gallery, with the most waggish express
sion ofcountenance, leaned Rug Rallies, his
fat arms folded beneath his chin, and his
round head wagging from side to side
as though there had been a thought in it dis
inclined to quiet. There was n striking con
trast between the long chin, hollow temples,
cadaverous cheeks, and severely serious face
below, and the puff-cheeked, peaked eyed,
mirth-clppedvissage peerng down upon him
with ludicrous expression of mock gravity
which sent a smile to many lip. Soon the
hymn was ended and the preacher rose and
leaned over his cushioned desk to pray. The
heads of the more reverend part of the con-
gregation were bowed, while Rug Rallies en-
tertained the rest He pulled a line from his
pocket, disengaged fish-hook from his vest,
and attaching il to the line, ne began to low
err it towards the sofa in the pulpit, People
stared and smiled, for it was scarce to he ex-
pected that Rug Raflles would make a good
''fsher of men," But this was not his object.
After he had angled for some time on the So
ia, his eye suddenly frightened, the corners
of his mouth retreated towards his ears, and
with a nod and wave of triumph, which very
nearly convulsed the waiting congregation
with laughter, suddenly brought his prize TO
light. He had managed to catch his hook
upon thread, and the Rev. Mr. Lawsey's
sermon was fast approaching the gallery
An involuntary litter caused deacon Palmer
and several others to raise their heads; but
Rug Raffles was carefully coming his notes,
and the cause ofthe untimely mirth was I'M
dlscoverable. The prayer ended, another
hymn was sung and the preacher began TO
look about him for his sermon. He thrust
his hands first in one pocket and then in the
other, examined the contents his hat, turn
ed over the leaves of his bible with irrever-
ent haste, again rummaged his pockets, look-
ed upon the floor, and then paused to wipe
the heavy perspiration from his brow, little
dreaming that his lost manuscript was far n
bove his head. But had he turned an eye
upwards he would have seen nothing but
Rug Rallies gazing down inquiringly upon
him, as tho wondering if the impurturable
parson Lawsley had really gone mad. As
for the congregation, some were enjoying the
Joke without conjunction, while others, ac-
cording to their different dispositions, had
their sympathes enlisted in behalf ofthe dis
tressed clergyman. But both classes found
it difficult to restrain their laughter. At last
the preacher in evident despair, opened his
bible, turned over the leaves handful after
handful, and finally, in state of nervous eX-
element, paused as tho TO calm his thoughts.
Rug Rallies spread the sermon before him,
donued n pair of horn-mounted spectacles
with the glasses out, and began to look inn
portant. Parson Lawsley announced his text,
and Rug Raffles nodded approximately The
preacher commenced his exordium, and Rug
nodded again with patrouizing airwhich said
as plainly as words, good boy!good boy!he has
said his lesson nicelyp In a moment the
preacher began 10 eXtemporiZe, 81 Rug frown-
ed aud shook his head violently. TWAS too
much for the gravity of the irritnted part of
hnl
ed burst of laughter which started even them
selves and put parson Lawsley to the torture.
He was not accustomed to speaking extern
poraneously, and he fancicd he had excited
the laugh by his awlxwardness. The preach
err went on hesitatingly and tremblingy: Rug
Raffles frowned and shook his head,now and
then giving quick nod of appreciation; and
the audience was a most irfeverenty smiling
one. At last the strange sermon ended and
the preacher leaned over his desk to pray
Immediately Rug Rallies commenced opera
tons again. He drew piece of Irvine from
his,pockct& tying it looscly around the pilfer-
ed sermon, began lowering it toward the sofa.
Down, down, slowly and carefully il Games;
then there was suddenjerk, and the olsen
gagged line was gathered up and slowed away
in the pocket ofthe jester. The clergyman
ended his prayer and turned to the sofa.--
There lay his lost sermon in the very spot
where he had placed it. He started back
ward with astonishment, and unfortunately
being nearer the side than he had imagined
lost his balance on the top stair and turned n
somerset to the bottom. That parson Laws
ley had surely gone mad was the general inn
preston, and the congregation scattered
leaving Rug Raffles in the vestibule chuck
ling over the success of his feat. After this
every body took occasion to tack smile TO
the name of parson Lawsley whenever it was
mentioned, and in six months time our dear
old parson was re-instalcd in his office, and
we have never wearied oi'him since. When
deacon Palmer first heard the truth of the
Lawsley story, he gave Rug Raff1es serious
reprimand, and presented him with n new
coat! This was an era in Rugs life. His
seedy thread-bare habiliments had tried Sc
verely the affection between warp and woof
and though he was never weary of caressing
the friends that had stood by him through
veal and wo, he was far from heart-broken at
the thought of separation from them.
But the deacon had not thought of one
thing-that the new coat would need shape
liness-and Rug was quite above carrying
about him such tradesman-like things as dol
lars and cents. Besides there was not tailor
in Alderbrook who would trust him. Moth
ing daunted, however, our hero shouldered
his cloth and marched to every door. 1t was
ofno use; every shop was overstocked with
work, and poor Rug was in quandary. But
at last bright thought came. He wouldn't
have his coat made by clumsy awkward
man, not he. Women's delicate fingers were
far nimbler; and there was not prettier wo-
man within fifty miles of Alderbrook than
the pale, sweet creature, who occupied the
tiny cottage at the foot of the hill near the
toll gate.
Beautiful, indeed, was young Nelly Tins
ley: more beautiful now than when decI1ed in
the gayest finery the shops of Alderbrook af-