White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1859-01-27
WHITE CLOUD, KANSAS, THURSDAY, JANUARY 81 1853

I-H-f.fA .ItE THIIftfflT
idea. As the bell rang for service, every
ear in town heard It, and all who were
noFsick or kept at home by the care Of
young children. turned their steps toward
the house Of God. u The idea that there
could be any. choice between going to bear
preaching and remaining at home was so
Fpreposterous, that it never entered into
the minasof any bat the openly wicked.
Whatever might be their inclinations; few
had the haFdibood to, absent themselves
from meeting, still less to ride ont for
pleasure, or TO stroll through the woods
or upon the bank Of the river A steady
Succession of vehieleSAthorough braeed'
wagons, a few'moFestylish carriages with
elliptic springs, and here. and there an
ancient chaise-tended from, all quarters
to the meeting house. The horses, from
the veteran Of twenty years service down
to the untrimmed and half trained colt,
knew what the prophecies Of the day re-
quired. They trotted soberly, with faces
as sedate as their drivers, and never
stopped to look in the fence corners 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 at 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
in the singers seats, the others in pew
below. The only guardian of the house
on Sundays was a large, ungainly cur.
named Caesar. The habits Of this dog
deserve brief mention. On all ordinary
occasions he followed his master or Others
of the family. seeming to take human
delight in their company, Whenever it
was desirable to have him remain at
home. nothing short Of tying him would
answer the purpose. After time he
came to know the signs of preparation,
and would skulk. Upon setting ont. Mr.
Hardwick would tell one Of the boys to
catch Cesar so that he should not follow,
but he was not TO be found and in the
course of ten minutes he would be trotting
after his master as composedly as if moth
hdO ChCi W liGll
friendly relations. 1t was impossible to
resist such persevering affection. and at
length MIR. Hardwirk gave up the contest,
and allowed Caesar TO travel when and
where he chose But on Sunday he sat
on the front door step, erect upon his
launches. with one ear dropping forward
and the other upright, like the point of
starched shirt collar; and though on week
days he was fond of paying the usual
courtesieS TO his canine acquaintance,
and (f the truth must be told) of bark
ing at strange horses occasionally, yet
nothing could induce him either to follow
any Of the family, or accost dog, or
chase after foreign vehicles on the day of
rest. Once only he forgot what was due
to his character, and gave few yelps in
holy time. But James, with a glance at
his father, who was stoutly orthodox,
averred that Caesars conduct was iustifi-
able, inasmuch as the man he 5arked at
was one of band of new-light fanatics
who worshippea in the school honse, and
the horse. moreover. was not shod at a
respectable place, but at tinker's shop
in the verge Of the township. "A dog
with such powers of discrimination GER
ta,nly merits place IN this true history.
The services Of Sunday were finished.
Those who. with dill and rsraway, had
vainly struggled against slrowsiness, had
walked up with a jerk at the -bcnediction,
and moved with their neigAbors along
the aisles, slow and sluggish stream.
Tile nearest friends passed. outside 1by
side with meekly composed faces, and
without greeting each other until they
reached the vestibule. SO slow and sol,
-emn was the progress out Of church that
merry James Hardwick averred that he
saw Deacon Stone, short fat man, actu-
ally doing, his eyes softly shutting and
opening like a hens, as he was borne
along by the crowd. The Deacon had
been known to sleep while be stood up in
his pew during the prayer. but perhaps
James story was rather apochfyphal.
Mark Davenport, OF course, had been
the object Of considerable attention during
the day, and at the meeting house door
numbers Of his old acquaintances gathered
round him. No one was more cordial in
manner, than Squire Clamp. His face
was wrinkled into what were meant for
smiles, and his voice was even smoother
and more insinuating that usual. 1t was
only by strong effort that Mark gulped
down, his rising Indignation, and. replied
ciyilly. vf,ass5r gau srsssK fsias,ak
Sunday in Innis6eld ended at sunset.
though. labor was not resumed until the
next day but neighbors called upon each
other in the twilight. aud talked over the
sermons Of the day, and the affairs Of the
church and parish, That evening, while
Mr.. Hardwick's family were sitting around
the table reading. a long growl was heard
from Cesar at the door. followed by an
emphatic sGet ont ~ The growls grew
fiereer, and James went to the doort to see
what was the matter. Squire Clamp was
the luckiess man, The dog had seized
his coat tail, and had pulled it forward.
so that he stood face to face with the
Souire. Who was vainly trying to free
himself ~ poking at his adversary with
a great baggy umbrella, James sent
away the dog with a -epTimand, but
laughed as he followed the angry man
into the house, He always cited this
afterwards as a new proof Of the sagacity
of the grim and uneompromising Cesar.
saS-sorry yo've had such at-ti,ne with
the dog" said Mr.. Hardwiek.; he don't