Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1858-09-25
Selttt Gale.
[Froln the Atlantic Monthyl
THE BEST ORIGINAL STORY OF TIE
DAY.
THE KINLOCH ESTATE,
AND HOW 1T WAS SETTLED.
CHAPTER VI.

CH AFTER VI.
Sunday was q great day in Innisfeld for
there, as in all Puritan communities, religion
was the central and engrossing idea. As the
bell rang for service, every ear in town heard
it, and all who were not sick or kept ct home
by The care Of young children, turned their
steps toward the house Of God. The idea
that there could be any choice between going
to hear preaching and remaining at home was
50 preposterous, that it never entered into
the minds of any but the openly wicked
Whatever might be their inclinations, few had
the hardihood to absent themselves from
meeting. still less 20 ride out for pleasure, or
to stroll through the woods or upon the bank
Of the river. \ steady succession Of vehicles
Thorough h.braced" wagons, few more sty-
lish carriages with elliptic springs, and here
aud there nu ancient chaise-tende6 from all
quuit,.s TO the meeting house. The horses,
from tue veteran oil twenty years service
down to the untrimmed end halftrained colt,
knew what the proprieties of the day required
They trotted soberly. with faces us sedAte as
their drivers, and never stopped to look in
the fencecoruers as they passed along. to see
what they could find to be frightened at
Nor would they often disturb worship by
neighing, unless they became inpatient vi
the length Of the sermon.
Mr.. Hardwick and his family, as we have
before mentioned went regularly TO meeting (;
Lizzy and Mark sat with him n the singers
seats, the others in q pew below. The only
guardian of the house on Sundays was large
uagainly cur, named Caesar. The habits of
this dog deserve brief mention. On all or
d!nary occasions lie followed his master or
others OF the family, seeming TO take human
delight in their company. Whenever it was
! "a Fah Fp h-y ,i 4 tnth
Ing short OF tying him would answer the pur-
pose. After time he came to know the
signs Of preparation, and would 0kulk. Up
| on setting out, Mr.. HarJUick would tell one
OF the boys to catch Caesar so that he should
not follow, but he was not to be found and
IN course OF ten minutes he would be trotting
alter his master as cOmpoSedly as if nothing
had ever happened to interrupt their friendly
relations. 1t was impossible TO resist such
perseyering affection, and at length Mr..
Hardwlck gave up the contest, and allowed
Cesor TO travel when and where he chose
But on Sunday he sat on the front-door step
! erect upon his launches, with one ear drop
ping forward, and the other upright, like the
point Of q starched shirt collar; aud though
! on weekdays he was fond Of paying the usual
courtesies to his canine acquaintances, and III
the truth must be told) of barking at strange
horses occasionally yet nothing could induce
him either TO follow any of the family, or ac-
cost dog, or chase after foreign vehicles, on
the day OF rest. Once only he forgot what
was due his character, and gave few yelps
in holy time. Bat James with glance at
his father, who was stoutly orthodox, averred
that Gesars conduct was justi6able, mas
much as the man be barked at was one of a
band of new-light fanatics who worshipped n
the school-house, and the horse, moreover,
was not shod at a respectable place, but at q
tlnker's shop in the verge Of the township
A dog with such powers Of discrimination
certainly merits place in this true history.
-, The serviceNof Sunday we're fuished.-
Those who, with dill and caraway, had vainly
struggled against drowsiness, had walked up
| with jerk at the benediction, and moved
with their neighbors along the aisles, a slow
and sluggish stream. The nearest friends
passed out side by side with meekly compo-
sed faced, and without greeting each other
until the reached the vestibule. So slow and
solemn was the progress out of church that
merry James Hardwck averred that he saw
Deacon Stone, short fat man. actually doz
ing, his eyes softly shutting and opening like
hens, as he was borne along by the crowd
The Deacon had bsen known to sleep while
he stood up in bis pew during the prayer, bu
jperhaps James story was rather spocryphsl