The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-08-05
LAUGHING IN NEETIS'.

We were in disgrace, we boys, and the rca.
son Qe.it was thS:-we had laughed out In
leeting time To he sure the occasion Wa
tryilg one, even to more dlScipllnednerves
Par0n Lothrop had exchanged pulpits with
pars0n Summeial, Of North Wearem. Now,
PAson SummerRl wRs man In the very out.
set likely to provoke the riibles Of unspirit.
uallzed juveniles, lie wASa thin, wiry, risky
little man, In a powdered white wig, black
tights and silk stockings, with bright knee.
buckles and shOe.buckles, with round, dark,
swapping eyes, and curious, high, cracked,
squoaklng vcice, the very f st tones Of which
made oil the children stare and giggle. The
news that PaHon SuinmCnl was going 10
preach In our village, sprcn abroad among
US as a prelude to something funny. II hA0
flavor like the charm Of circus acting; and
TN 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
provocatlon.
The occasion wrs not long wanting. Par.
son LOthrop had flyorite dog yclept Trip,
whose behavior In meeting was notOriously
far from that elliying pattern which beilts
ministers dog on Sundays. Trip was n
nervous dog and dog that never could be
taught 10 conceal bis emotions OF TO respect
eonyentionalitles II anything about the per.
Torrance In the singers seat did not please
him lie was apt to express himself In o lugu.
brious howl. II the sermon was longer than
suited him he would gape with such loud
Creak Of bis Jaws as would arouse eyerybody's
attention. II the flies disturbed bis after.
moons nap he would give sudden snarlS or
snaps, or II anything troubled his dreams he
would bark out In bis sleep III manner not
only to dlspel his own slumben, but those Of
certain worthy leacons and old ladies, whose
sanctuary reposc was thereby soIely broken
and troubled. For all these reasons Madam
IOthrop had been forced as general thing to
deny Trip the usual sanctuary privileges Of
good family dogs In that age, and shut him
up nu Sundays to private meditation. Trip,
OF course, was only the more set on attend.
ance, and would hide behind doors, jump out
Of windows, sneak through byways and
alleJs. and lie hid till tho second bell had
done tolling, when suddenly he would appear
10 the broad aisle, innocent and happy, aud
take his scat as conposedly as any member Of
the congregation.
lnhklUN uh WI WV ItN wv "AhaA
excitement at seeing Pason Summeral frlsk
up into the pulpit with all the yivacity Of
black grasshoppcr, We looked at each othe-
and giggled very cautiously, with due respect
10 Aunt Lois slii:p ols'rvatlon.
1t first there was only mild, quiet sim.
Ia ring Of giggle, compressed decOrously
within the bounds Of propriety, aud we pursed
our muscles up with stringent resolution
whenever We caught the npprehenSlve eye Of
our elders.
But when, directly after the closing notes
Of the tolling front hell, Master Trip walked
grayely 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, II was too much
for us-the repression was almost conyulsiye
Trim wore an alert, attentive ear, befitting q
sound, orthodox dog, who smellSa possibility
Of heresy and deems Il his duty 10 watch the
performances narrowly.
Evidently he felt called upon to see who
aud what were TO occupy the pulpit In his
masters absence.
Up rose Panon summenl, and up went
Trips nose vibrating with intense attention.
The patson began In his high cracked voice
to lntono the hymn -
Using TO the lord aloud"
when Trip broke into dismal howl.
The parson went on to give directions "a
the deacon, In the same voice In which he
had been reading, so that the whole effect ol
the performance was rs follows;-
msIng 10 the Lord Lloud.'"
|Pleaso TO turn out that dogl-
"And make Joyful uOlse'" j
The dog was turned out, aud the choir did
their best to make q Joyful nolse,, but We
boys were upset for the day, delivered over "a
the temptations Of Satan, and plunged In
waves and tillows Of hysterieal eiggle, from
which neither winks nor frowns from Aunt
Lois, nor the awful fear OF the tlthing man,
nor the comforting bits Of fennel and orange
peel passed US by grandmother, could feeovei
us.
Everybody felt, to be sure that here wat |,
trial that called for some indulgence. Hard
faces even among the stonlest saints, petray'
al a transient Quiyer Of the ridble muscles
old ladies put up their fans, youths and maid,
ems In the singers seat laughed outright, and
for the moment general gnlckef among the
NliuItu WAA puuuuVds buF w" =. a.
that luckleas kind whose nerves, once set u
vibration, could not be composed. Whel
the reign Of gravity and decorun had te
turned, Harry and sat by each other, shas
lag with suppressed laughter. Everything u
the subsequent exercises took q funny turn
and 10 the long prayer, when everybody els
was still and deeorous, the whole scene cam
over me with such overpowering force that
exploded with laughter and had to bo takel
out Of meeting and marched home by Aun
Lois, As convicted criminal. What especial
ly moved her Indignation was the more sh
rebuked and upbraided the more laughed
tlll the tears rolled down my cheeks Whic
Aunt Lois construed into willful dlsrc5pect
her authority, and resented accordingly,
BySundAy evening, % We gathered aToun
tne IRE, the reaction from undue gayety '
Sohriety bad taken place, aud We were N
pendye and penltent state. GrAndmotht
vas gracious and iotgiying, bnt Aunt 10
wv preserved that frosty air Of reprobatio
shieh she held 70 be a alutaty means
lnlekenlng our consCisncts for The future,
VI therefore, With unusual delight that v
\ ~ our friend Sam come 10 and VI himhe
ltty down on the block 10 The ehlmne
MAJ WIN uaa. - g.fs ~ tHdu