The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-27

see--even ministers does. lls, natur
will git the upper hand before they know
it.
Why Sam, ministers don't ever laugh
in meetin' do thcy2
We put the question with wide eyes.
Such a supposition bordercd on profanity,
we thought it was approaching the sin
of Uzzah, who unwarily touched the ark
Of the Lord
Laws, yes. Why, haven't you never
heard how there was counsel held to
try Parson Morrell for laughing out in
prayer time
Laughing in prayer time! we both re-
peated with upllftcd hands and eyes.
My grandtathcrs mild face became Ia.
minous with a suppressed smile which
frightened it as the moon does a cloud
but he said nothing.
Yes, yes, said my grandmother that
affair did make dreadful scandal in the
time ont. But Parson Morrcl was a good
man, and I'm glad the counsel wasn't
hard on him.
Wal, said Sam Lawson, after ALL it was
more Ike Babbitt's fault than twas any
body's. Ye see, Ike he was alters for get.
ting what he could out O. the town, and
he would feed his sheep on the meetin
hous green. Somehow or other, Ike's
fences alters contrived to get out come
Sunday, and up would come his sheep,
aud Ike was too pious to drive 'em back
Sunday, and so there they was. He was
talked to enough about it, cause ye see
to have sheep and lambs II ba-a-in' and a
blatin' all prayer and sermon time, wasn't
the thing. Member that are old mcetin
house up to the north end, down under
Blucbcrry Hill, the land sort O. sloped
down, so as body he'd to come into the
meetin' house stepping down instead oil
up.
Fact was, they said twas put there
cause the land want good for nothin
else, and the folks thought putin a meet
in house ont would be clear savin'--
but Parson Morrel he didn't like it
and was free to tell 'em his mind ont tina,
it was like bringing the lame and the
blind to the Lords service, but there il
was.
There warn't better minister, nor nc
one more set by in all the state than Par.
son Morrel His doctrines was right up
and down, good and sharp, and he give
saints and sinners their meat in due sea-
son, aud for consolin' aud comfortin' wild.
ders and orphans Parson Morrel hadn't
his match. The women sot lots by him
and he was allua ready to take tea round
and make things pleasant and comforta
bic, and he had good story for every
one, and word for the children, and ma J
be an apple or a cookey in his pocket for
'em. Wal, you know there amt no pleas
in everybody, and eff Gabriel himself
right down out O. heaven was to come
and be a minister, | expect ther'd be o
pickin' at his wings, aud sort O. fault
indir'. Now Aunt Jerusha Scran and
Aunt Polly Hokun, they scd Parsor
Morrel wasn't solemn enough. Ye sec
there's them that thinks that minister
ought to be just like the town hcarse, SC
that you think Of death, Judgment, and
nothin' else, when you see him round
and ef they see man rosy and chppcl
and havn' pretty nice sociable sort of {
time, why they say he amt spiritooa
minded. But in my times I've seen min
listers that the most awakening kind il
the pulpit was the livlest when they wa
out ont. There is time to laugh Scrip
tur' says, tho some folks never seem t.
remember that are.
But Sam. how came you to say it wa
Ike Babb,t's fault ? What was it abou
the sheep?
Oh wal, yis-Tm comm to that are
1t was all about them shecp-I expec
they was the instrument the devil got t
work, to tempt Parson Morrel to laugh
in prayer time.
Ye see there was old Dick, Ike's bell
wether, was the 6ghtn'est old crittur tina
ever ye see. Why Dick would butt at hi
own shadder, and everybody said it wa
shame the old critter should be left t,
run loose, cause he run at the children
and scared the women half O. out thei
wits. Wal, used to live out in tha
parish in them days, and Lem Sudoc anc
used to 60 out sparkin' Sunday night
to see the Larkin gals-and we had to g,
right cross the lot where Dick was-s,
we used to 60 and stand at the fence anc
call, and Dick would see us and pu
down his head and run at us full chisel
and come bunt agin the fence and thcl
I'd kctch him by the horns and hold hin
, while Lem run and got over the fenc
t'other side the lot, and then | let 90 an,
!, Lem would holler and shake a stick a
him, and away he'd 90 full butt at Lem
aud Lem would ketch him by the horn
and hold him till | came over-that wa
the way We managed Dick-but ef h
came up sudden behind fellow, he,
t give him a but in the small of the bacl
that would make him run on all fours on
! while-he was great rogue, Dick was
: Wal, that summer | remember they ha,
old Deacon Titkins for tithing man, an
: tell you he give it to the boys lively
. There want no sleepin' nor no playir
for the Deacon had eyes like a gimlet
and he was quick as a at,and the young
l sters had to look out for themselves. |
/ did seem as if the deacon was like theI
four beasts in the Revelations that wa
5 full o. eyes behind and before, for whic
7 ever way he was standin' if you gave on
e ly a wink he was down on you and hi
: you tap with his stick. | know ono
. Lem Sudoc jst wrote two words in tn
l psalm book and passed it to Kesiah Lark
! in, and the deacon gave him such ia
that Lem grew red as beet aud vowe
he'd be up with him some day for thai
e Well, Lordy Massy, folks that is S
e clipper and high steppin' has to hay
}, their come down, and the deacon he ha
!, to have his.
y That are Sunday, remember it no
just as we'll as twas yesterday. The pal