Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-07-19
The Leisure Hour.
L.rTGHx.vG ~ .uRRTI.S".
ny MRS. II. II. STOWE.

we were IN ulSgrace,. we boys, ana lne
reason of it was this we had laughed out
in meeting time! To be sure the occasion
was trying one, even TO more disciplined
nerves. Parson Lothrop had exchanged
pulpits with Parson Summeral, of North
Wearem. Now, Parson Summeral was a
man in the very outset likely TO provoke
the risibiles of unspirtualized juveniles.
He was thin, wiry, frisky little man, in
powdered white wig, black tights, and silk
stockings, with bright knee buckles and
shoe-buckles, with round, dark, swapping
eyes, and a curious, high, cracked, squeak
ing voice, the very first tones OF which
made all the children stare and giggle.
The news that Parson Summeral was GO
ing TO preach in our village spread abroad
among us as prelude to something funny.
1t had flavor like the charm of circus act
ing; and on Sunday morning of our story
we went 10 the house of God in a very hi
larous state, all ready 10 set off in a laugh
on the slightest provocntion.
The occasion was not long wanting. Par
son Lothrop had favorite dog yclept Trip,
whose behavior in meeting was notorious
ly far from that edifying pattern which be-
fits a minister's dog on Sundays. Trip
was nervous dog, and a dog that never
could be taught to conceal his emotions 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 SER
mon was longer than suited him, he would
gape with such loud creak of his jaws as
would arouse everybody's attention. If
the flies disturbed his afternoons nap he
would give sudden snars or snaps; or If
anything troubled his dreams, he would
bark out in his sleep in manner not only
to dispel 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
n general thing, 10 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 :he more set on attendance, and would
hide behind doors, jump out of windows,
sneak through by-ways and alleys, and lie
hid till the second bell had done tolling,
when suddenly he, would appear in the
broad aisle, innocent and happy, and take
his seat as composedly as any member OF
the congregation.
Imagine our youngsters on the Qui Uire
with excitement at seeing Parson Summer
al frisk up into the pulpit with all the vi
vacity of black grasshopper. We looked
at each other and giggled very cautiously,
with due respect to Aunt Lois's sharp OBJ
servation.
At first, there was only a mild, quiet sim
mering of giggle, compressed decorousy
within the bounds of propriety, and we
pursed our muscles up with stringent reso-
luton whenever we caught the appreben-
sive eye of our elders.
But when directly after the closing notes
of the tolling second bell, Master Trip
walked up the front aisle, and seating him
self rquarely in front of the pulpit raised
his nose with critical air toward the scene
of the forthcoming performance, it was too
much for us-the repression was almost
convulsive. Trip wore an alert, attentive
air, BETTING a sound, orthodox dog, who
smells possible heresy, and deems 1t his
duty 10 watch the performances narrowly.
Evidently he felt called upon to SEQ why
and what were to occupy the pulpit in his
masters absence.
Up rose Parson Summeral. and up went
Trips nose vibrating with intense atten-
ton.
The Parson began in his hlgh-cracked
voice to intone the hymn:
"'sing to the Lord aloud
"(Pleaso to turn out that dog
Z" And make joyful noise.'"
The dog was turned out, and the choir
did their best to make a joyful noise, but we
boys were upset for the day, delivered over
TO the temptations OF Satan, and plunged In
waves and billows Of hysterical glggle,
from which neither winksnor frowns from
Aunt Lois, nor tho awful fear of the tith
ing-man, nor the comforting bits of fen
mel and orange peel, passed us by grand
mother, could recover us.
Everybody felt, to be sure, that here was
a trial that called for some indulgence.
Hard faces, even among the stoutest saints.
betrayed transient quiver of the risible
muscles, old la dies put up their fans.
youths and maidens in the singers, seat
laughed outright, and for the moment n
general snicker among the children was
pardonod. But was one of that luckless
kind whose nerves once set in vibration.
could not be composed. When the reign
of gravity and decorum had returned, Har-
ry and / sat by each other, shaking with
suppressed laughter. Everything in the