The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-04

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Sitting in my pew At church, looked anx-
iousIy for the arrival Of tho minister The door
opens, and he enters the pulpit lie 10 favorte
Of mine, and congratulate myself on the pros
pect Of hearing good sermon. Before the SER
vices commence, child enters the pew before
me, and shudder ~ gaze upon his pretty
little face, for know by experience that he is
ono OF the noisiest and most restless children
that ever went to church. lie commences his
performances as the minister begins reading the
first hymn. lie jumps for the pile Of hymn
books 1t the end Of the pew, upsets them on the
door, and then tumbling among them himself,
picks them up and throws them back upon the
seat tie finally gets Que from bis parents,
with the place found for him, and keeps tolera-
bly, quiet till we rise TO sing. In the course Of
the singing he is sure to tumble over the cricket
two or three times. and seems to be highly degh-
ted at his success in not hurting himself thereby
Singing over, prayer commences. The interest
ing boy sits up GU the seat and puts his cowhide
boots against the back of the pew in front OF
him /; they slip down Immediately, AZ might be
expected, and make nm awful noise, much to his
amusement. He then gets three or four fans
and commences playing calithumpian tune
with them. When this amusement has lost its
charms, he takes up the hymn book and turns
over the leaves fast and furiously until the end
Of the prayer. These amusements he varies
until the sermon commences.
The text 10 given out and the sermon is pro-
crossing, giving promise of rich treat. Our
young friend has been invisible for some mo-
ments, and | begin to hope is going to slumber
for the remainder Of tho day; fine sentence il
near.y finished, and am anxi0usly waiting to
hear its conclusion, when an AZ full rustling from
the bottom of the pew in front Of me browns
the speakers voice. The boy has got hold of q
newspaper, and for ten minutes while he IL fold
ing and re-folding it, and turning it this way and
that way, occasionally hear word or two Of
the sermon. BY this time he is tired Of the
paper and gives it a final squeeze, when all is
silent His next appearance il standing up on
the seat directly between myself and the min
lister, and making faces at mc. This proceeding
necessitates me to look exceedingly cross and
to shake my first at him, whereupon he yanshes
| In moment more his fathers cane and hi
mothers umbrella come tumbling down on the
floor with q crash that would have made a ner-
vous person jump. His efforts to repair this
last catastrophe are attended with some little
confusion, and he is accommodated with situa-
ton on the seat next to the door. lie leans
over the door and begins playing with the but
ton, fastening it and unfastenng it, until finally
leaning forward too eagerly, the door flies open
and he il projected into the aisle, greatly to his
surprise and much to his bodily discomfort. Oh
course he begins to scream, and his mother has
| 10 carry him out Of the house. Now he is gone
breathe long breath, and listen with great
gusto to the remainder Of the discourse. II
may seem strange, but must confess that
though ordinarily of meek and forgiying dis.
position, there are times when feel that il
would be great relief to my feelings 10 punch
that boys head but i never did tho, NEVER