The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1871-06-01
Our Dog in Church.

1
ing the chapel-so many people there,
and all sitting SO quiet. In this there
was something awesome for our dog, and
when out of this unnatural quiet they
rose suddenly to sing, our dog was fright
ened and would have run out doors on
ly the doors were closed. He soon re-
covered himself They were only folks,
after all-such as he saw every day in
street and house.
He began to recognize one after an
other. He tried to get up little socabil-
ity with them, but they took little or no
notice of him. But his is a self reliant,
lrecuperative nature, so he 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. lie smelt first of the organ ; he
then smelt of the organist, and wagged
his tai! at him. The organist looked with
an amused and kindly eye, but he could
not stop. Our dog then smelt of the
basso-profundo +; he smelt Of the tenor
he smelt them on one side and then on
the other. Then he went back and re-
smelt 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 tormeuting them. To him,
at any rate, it was not melody. He walk
ed around it and smelt at every crack and
land corner, to get at the mystery. He
tried to coax little familiarity out of
that choir. They seemed to be having
good time of course, he 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
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 the back seat yet even
they were in 10 humor for play. They
pushed him away, and looked at each
other, as if to say, "Did you ever see
such conduct in church 2"
1t was rebuff everywhere. Our dog
would look closer into this matter. The
congregation were all standing up. So
he walked to the open eud of pew,
jumped on it and behind the peoples
backs, and walked to get in front Of the
little girls, that he might have an expIa,
nation with them. just then the hymn
ceased Eevrybody sat down with the
/ Ll,oI oC l. !
Everybody on that bench came near sit
ting on our dog. 1t was terrible scram-
bic to get out.
Still he kept me employed. There was
line Of chairs in the aisle. Ia one Of
these deliberately sat our dog. If every
body would do nothing but sit still and
look at that man in the pulpit, so would
he. But somehow he moved one hind
leg Inadvertently. 1t slipped over the
chairs edge. Our dog slipped over with
it, and came as near tumbling as being
with four legs can. All this made noise,
and attracted attention. Little boys and
girls and big boys and girls snickered and
suorted and strained as only people can
snicker, snort and strain where they ought
not to. 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
be was not going until they went. The
strange man grabbed for him, and he
lodged him time and again with all his
native grace and agility. This was some
thing like it was indeed fun. The sex
ton gave up the chase it was running the
sermon. Our dog was sorry to see him
90 and sit down he stood at distance
and looked at him, as if to say, "Well,
amt you going to try it again %
No. No more of that. Nobody was
doing anything save that man in the pul
pit. Our dog would 90 up and sec what
all that was about. So he marched up
the main aisle, and as he did so he wav-
ed, in majestic and patronizing sort of
way, his bushy tail, and it seemed to say,
"Well, you can sit here, glum and silent,
if you We mind to. | do no such thing
I'm dog need none Of your preach
ing ; I'm superior to all that. Things 90
easy enough with me, without coming
here once week to sit sileut, aud me
lancholy and stupid, and be scoldcd by
man whom you pay for il"
Then, in an innocent and touching
ignorance that he was violating all the
proprieties of time and place, cur dog
went boldly up on the pulpit stairs while
our minister as preaching, and stood
and surveyed the congregation. Indeed,
he appropriated much of that congrega-
tons attention to himself. lie stood
there and surveyed that audience with
confidence and assurance which, to ner-
vous aud inexperienced speaker, would
be better than gold or diamonds. He
didn't care. He smelt of the minister
He thought he'd try and see if the latter
was in mood for any sociability. No,
he was buster than any of the rest. The