The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-04-08
OUR DOG IN CHURCH,


and all sitting so quiet. In this there
was something awesomc for Our Dog,
and when out of this unnatural quiet they
rose suddenly to sing, Our Dog was
frightened, and would have run out of
doors, only the doors were closed. He
soon recovered himself They were only
folks, after all-such as he saw every
day in the street and house. He began
to recognize one after another. He tried
to get up a little sociability with them,
but they took little or no notice of him.
Everybody seemed strangely constrained
and altered. Our Dog is pet, and this
cut him. But his is self>relant, rccu-
peratlve nature, so lie threw himself on
his own resources for amusement. He
was delightfully."- ignorant of the proprie-
ties of church or church service. The
choir Is separated from the congregation
only by slightly raised platform. On
this walked Our Dog. Again there was
singing. He first smelt of the organ he
then smelt of the organist, and wagged
his tail at him. The organist looked
with an amused and kindly eye, bat he
would not stop. Our Dog then smot of
the basso proiundo; he smelt of the tenor;
he smelt them first on one side and then
on the other. Then he went back and
resfnelt them all over again; also the
organ. That was a little curious There
might be chorus of dogs inside; and that
man at the keys tormenting them. To
him, at any rate, it was not melody. He
walked around ii and then smelt at every
crack and corner, to get at the mystery.
lie tried TO coax little familiarity out oF
that choir. They seemed to be having
good time OF course, be wanted a hand
or a paw in it himself 1t was of no use.
He stood and looked, and wagged his
white, bushy tail at them as hard as he
could. But, selfshly, they kept all their
pleasure to themselves, So he left the
choir and came down again among the
congregation. There, sure enough, were
two little girls on the back seat. He
knew them he had enjoyed many a
romp with them. Just the thing Up
he jumped with his paws on that back
seat ; yet even they were in no humor
for play. They pushed him away, and
looked at each other, as if to say, "Did
you ever see such conduct in church ?"
1t was rebuff everywhere. Our Dog
would hook closer into this matter. The
congregation were all standing up. So
he walked TO the open end of a pew,
Jumped on it and behind the peoples
backs, and walked to get in front of the
little girls, that he might have an explain
alton with them. just then the hymn
ceased. Everybody sat dewn with the
su5dned crash of silk and broadcolth.-
Every body on that bench came near sit
ting down on Our Dog, 1t was a terrible
scra mble TO get out.
Still he kept employed. There was
line of chairs in the aisle. In one of these
deliberately sat Our Dog. IF everybody
would do nothing but sit still and look at
that man in the pulpit, so would he Bot
somehow lie moved one hind leg inadver-
tently. 1t slipped over the chairs edge.
Our Dog slipped over with it, and came
as near tumbling as a being with four
/ legs can. All this made noise, and att
tracted attention. Little boys and girls
| and big boys and girls snickered and
snorted and strained as only people can
I snicker and snort and strain where they
ought not 10. Even some of the elders
made queer faces. The sexton then tried
! to put Our Dog out. But he had no
/ idea of going. He had come with our
folks, and he was not going until they
went. The strange man grabbed for him,
but he lodged him time and again with all
his native grace and agility This was
something like +; it was fun. The sexton
gave up the chase it was running the
sermon. Our Dog was sorry to see him
90 and sit down; he stood at distance
looking at him, as if 10 say, ''Well amt
you going 10 Try it again p
No. No more of that Nobody was
| doing anything save { he man in the pull
pit. Our Dog would go up and see what
; all that was about. So he marched uD
| the main aisle, and as did SO he waved
in majestic and patronizjng sort of way,
his bushy tail, and it seemed to say,
<'Well, you can sit here, gIum and silent,
/ thing. Fun dog 1 need none of your
! preaching I'm superior to all that. -
| Things go easy enough with me, without
/ coming here, once a week to SIT silent.
sad, melancholy and stupid, and be scold
ed by man whom you pay for it,
Then with an innocent and touching ig-
norance that he was violating all the pro
I prleties of time and place, Our Dog went
boldly up on the pulpit stairs while ou'
minister was preaching, and stood and
surveyed the congregation. Indeed, be
appropriated mnch of that congregation
! attention to himself He stood there and
surveyed that audience with confidence
which, 10 q nervous and inexperienced
speaker, wCsnld be better than gold or dia
monds He didn't care. He smelt o
the minister. He thought he'd try anl
! see if the latter were IN any mood for so
C liability. No he was buster than ans
of the rest The stupidity and silence o
all this crowd of people who sat there anl