Connecticut western news., 1872-08-09
LAUGHING IN MEETIN'.
BY MRS. H. B. STOWE.

BY MRS. H. B. STOWE.
 We were in disgrace, we boys, and the req son of it was this We had laughed out in meeting time To be sure the occa sion was trying one, even to more disciplined nerves. Parson Lothrop had exchanged pulpits with Parson Summeial, of North Wearem. Now, ParSon Summeral was man in the very out set likely to provoke the risibles of unspirit- ualized juveniles. He was thin, wiry, frisky little man. in a powdered white wig. black tights and silk stockings, with bright knee buckles and shoe-buckles, with round, dark, snapping eyes, and curious, high, cracked, squeakipg 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 a flavor like the charm of circus acting and on the Sunday morning of our story we went to the house of God in very hilarious state all ready to set of in laugh on the slightest provocation.
 The occasion was not long wanting. Par son Lothrop had favorite dog yclept Trip. whose behavior in meeting was notoriously far from that e1ifying pattern which beits minister's dog on Sundays Trip was a nervous dog and dog that never could be taught to conceal his emotions or to respect SOANCAIAoAdAleiSS. II duy lAlDS hUOuL LuG per formance in the singers seat did not please him he was apt to express himself in lugu. brious 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 disturbed his after noon's nap he would give sudden snarls or snaps, or if anything troubled his dreams he would bark out in his sleep in a 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 reasons Madam Lothrop had been forced as a 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 attend ance, and would hide behind doors. jump out of ~indows, sneak through byways and alley,. 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 us youngsters on the qua Vise with excitement at seeing Parson Summeral frisk up into the pulpit with all the vivacity ot black erasshopper We looked at each other and gigrled very cautiously, with due respect to Aunt Lois sharp observation.
 At first there was only mild, quiet sim mering of giggle. compressed decorously within the bounds of propriety, and we pursed our muscles up with stringent resolution whenever we caught the apprehensive eye of our elders.
 But when, directly after the closing notes of the tolling front bell, Master Tripp walked gravely up the centre aisle, and seating him. self squarely in front of the pulpit, raised his nose with critical air towards the scene of the forthcoming performance. it was too much for us-the repression was almost convulsive Trip wore an alert, attentive ear, befitting a sound, orthodox dog, who smells possibility of heresy and deems it his duty to watch the performances narrowly. .s.-. .-
 Evidently he felt called upon to gee who and what were to occupy the pulpit in his master g absence. ..-. ....-..
 Up rose Parson Summeral, and up went Trips nose, vibrating with intense attention.
 The parson began in his high cracked voice, to intone the hymn :-
 "SiDg to the Lord aloud."
 when Trip broke into dismal howl
 The parscn 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 as follows :-
 "sing to the Lord aloud.'''
 Please to turn out that dog)-
 AuO make Joy1uu uO1Ses
 The dog was turned out, and the choir did their best to make 8 joyful noise, but we boys were upset for the day, delivered over to the temptations of Satan, ana plunged in waves and billows of hysterical giggle, from which neither winks nor frowps from Aunt Lois, nor the awful fear of the tithing man, nor the comforting bits of fennel and orange peel passed us by grandmother, could recover us.
 Everybody felt to be sure, that here wac a trial that called for some indulgence. Hard faces, even among the stoniest saints, betray- ed transient quiver of the risible muscles, old ladies put up their fans youths and maid ems in the singers seat laughed outright, and for the moment a general snicker among the children was pardoned. 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 re- turned, Harry and I sat by each other, shak- ing with suppressed laughter. Everything in the subsequent exercises took funny turn, and in the long prayer, when everybody else was still and decorous, the whole scene came over me with such overpowering force that exploded with laughter and had to be taken out of meeting and marched home by Aunt Lois, as convicted criminal. What especial ly moved her indignation was the more she rebuked and upbraided the more laughed til the tears rolled down my cheeks. Which Aunt Lois construed into willful disrespect to her authority, and resented accordingly. By Sunday evening, as we gathered around the fire, the reaction from undue gayety te sobriety had taken place. and we were in g pensive and penitent state. Grandmothe, was gracious and forgiving, but Aunt Lois still preserved that frosty air of reproduction which she held to be salutary means o quickeuing our consciences fDr the future. Il was, therefore, with unusual delight that we saw our friend Sam come in and sit himsel quietly down on the block in the chimney corner. With Sam we felt assured of indul gence and patronage, for though alwayl rigidly moral and instructive in his turn O mind, he had that fellow feeling for trans gressors which is characteristic of the loos, joilted, easy going style of his individuality
 "Lordy massy, boys-yis," said Sam, vir tuously, in view of some of Aunt Lois thrusts Eye ought never to laugh nor cut up in meet in that ares 50, but then there is time ! when tho best on us gets took down. W,