Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-12
LAUGHING IN MEETIN'.
BY MRS. II. II. STOWE.

BY MRS. II. II. STOWE.
WE were in disgrace, we BOYS, and the
reason of it was this; We had laughed out
in meeting timel To be sure the occa-
sion was trying one, even to more dis
cipliDed nerves. Parson Lothrop had
exchanged pulpits with Parson Summeral,
of North Wearem. Now, Parson Sum.
neral was man in the very outset likely
to provoke the risibles of unspiritualized
Juveniles. He was thin, wiry, frsky
little man, in powdered white wig,
black tights, and silk stockings, with
bright knee-buckles and shoe-buckles,
with round, dark, swapping eyes, and
curious, high, cracked, squeaking voice,
the very first tones of which made all the
children stare and giggle The news that
Parson Summeral was going to preach in
our village spread abroad among us as
prelude to something funny. It had
flavor like the charm of circus acting; and
on the Sunday morning of our story we
went to the house of God in very hilari-
Gus state, all ready to set of in laugh on
the slightest provocation.
The occasion was not long wanting
Parson Lothrop had favOrite dog yclept
Trip, whose behavior in meeting was no.
toriousiy far from that edifying pattern
which BELTS minister's dog on Sundays.
Trip was nervous dog, and dog that
never could be taught to conceal his emo.
tions or to respect conventionalities. If
anything about the performance in the
singers seat did not please him, he was
apt to express himself in lugubrious
howl. If the sermon was longer than
suited him, he would gape with such
loud creak of his jaws as would arouse
everybody's attention. If the flies dis
turbed his afternoons nap, he would give
sudden snarls or snaps; or, if anything
troubled his dreams, he would bark out
In his sleep in manner not only to dis
pei his own slumbers, but those of certain
worthy deacons and old ladies, whose
sanctuary repose was thereby sorely
broken and troubled. For all these rea-
sons, Madam Lothrop had been forced, as
general thing, to deny Trip the usual
sanctuary privileges of good family dogs
in that age, and shut him up on Sundays
to private meditation. Trip, of course,
was only the more set on attendance, and
would hide behind doors, jump out of
windows, sneak through by ways and al
leys, and lie hid till the second bell had
done tolling, when suddenly he would APP
pear in the broad aisle, innocent and hap
py, and take his seat as composedly as
any member of the congregation.
r Imagine us youngsters on the gu Uire
with excitement at seeing Parson Sum
neral frisk up into the pulpit with all the
vivacity of black grasshopper. We
looked at each other and giggled very
cautiously, with due respect to Aunt Lois
sharp observation.
At first, there was only a mild, quiet
simmering of giggle compressed decor
slxrH De nd
we pursed our muscles up with stringent
resolution whenever we caught the appre-
hensive eye of our elders.
But when directly after the closing
notes OF the tolling second bell Master
Trip walked gravely up the front aisle,
and, seating himself squarely in front of
the pulpit, raised his nose with critical
air toward the scene Cf the forthcoming
performance, it was too much for us-the
repression was almost convulsive Trip
Wore an alert, attentive air, befitting a
sound, orthodox dog, who smells posi-
BILE heresy, and deems it his duty to watch
the performances narrowly.
Evidently Ae felt called upon to see
who and what were to occupy that pulpit
in his masters absence.
Up rose Parson Summeral, and up went
Trips nose, vibrating with intense atten-
tion.
The Parson began in his high, cracked
voice to intone the hymn:
Sing to the Lord aloud"
when Trip broke in with dismal howl.
The Parson went on to give directions
to the deacon, in the same voice in which
he had been reading, so that the whole
effect of the performance was somewhat
as follows:
"'Sing to the Lord aloud
"Please to turn out that dog
"'And make joyful noise -
The dog was turned out, and the choil
did their best to make joyful noise, bu
we boys were upset for the day, delivered
over to the temptations of Satan, anC
plunged in waves and pillows of hyster
ical giggle, from which neither winks no
frOwns from Aunt Lois, nor the awfu
fear of the tithing man, nor the comfort
ing bits of fennel and oraDge-peel, passed
us by grandmother, could recover us.
Everybody felt, to be sure, that her
was trial that called for someindulgence
Hard faces, even among the stonies
saints, betrayed a transient culver of III
risible muscles, old ladies put up thei
fans, youths and maidens in the singer:
seat laughed outright, and for the momen
general snicker among the children wa
pardoned. But was one OF that luckles
kind whose nerves once set in vibration
could not be composed. When the reigl
of gravity and decorum had returned
Harry and sat by each other, shakin
with suppressed laughter, Everything i
the subsequent exercises took a funn,
turn, and III the long prayer, when every
body else was still and decorous, tn
whole scene came over me with sue
overpowering force that exploded wit
Laughter and had to be taken out of NEE
ing and marched home by Aunt Lois, a
convicted criminal. What especial
moved her indignation was that the NOR
she rebuked and upbraided, the more
laughed, till the tears rolled down m
cheeks. Which Aunt Lois construe
into willful disrespect to her authority
and resented accordingly,
BY Sunday evening, as we gathere
around the fire, the reaction from undu
gayety TO sObriety had taken place, an
we were in pensive and penitent STATE
Grandmother was gracious and forgiyinl
but Aunt Lois still preserved that frost
air of reprObation which she held 10 be
salutary means of quickening our con
sciences for the future 1t was, ther
fore, with unusual delight that we So
our old friend Sam come in and seat hin
self quietly down ON the block in II
chimney corner. With Sam we felt a
suIed OF indulgence and patronage, Il
though always rigidly moral and instruC
i've In his turn of mind, he had that {,
lom.faalinU for tran Qgraaoorq which