Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-10-25
5fiseellanu.
Laughing in Meeting.
BY MRS. H. b. STOW.

We were in disgrace, we boys, and The
reason of it was this: We had laughed
out in meeting time! To be sure the oc
casion was trying one, even TO NOR,
disciplined nerves. Parson Lathrop haG
exchanged pulpits with Parson Summer
al who was man in theoutset likely to pro
woke the rlseables of unspiritualized ju
veniles. He was thin, wiry, friskey
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 d
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 tc
preach in our village spread abroad
among us as prelude to something fun
ny. 1t had flavor like the charm o.
circus acting; and on Sunday morning
of our story we went to the house Of
God in a very hilarious state, all ready
to set off in laugh on the slightest prov
ocation.
The occasion was not long wanting
Parson Lathrop had a vavorite dog
yclept Trip, whose behavior in meeting
was notoriously far from that editying
pattern which BELTS a minister's dog OF
Sundays. Trip was nervous dog, and
a dog that never could be taught to con
ceal his emotions or to respect conven
tionalties. If anything about the per
formance in the singers seat did no
please him, he was apt to express himsel
in lugubrious howl. If the sermon
was longer than suited him, he woulc
cape with such loud creak OF his jaw
as would arouse everybody's attention.
IF the flies disturbed his afternoons maj
he would give sudden snarls or snaps Of
if anything troubled his dreams, b,
would bark out in his sleep in manner
not only to dispel his own slumbers bu
those of certain worthy deacons and ole
ladies, whose sanctuary repose was ther'
by sorely broken and troubled For all
these reasons, Madam Lothop had beer
forced, as a general thing, to deny TriI
the usual sanctuary privileges of good
family dogs in that age, and shut hin
up on Sundays to prevent meditation
Trip, of course, was only the more Sc
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, whs
suddenly he would appear in the broad
aisle, innocent and happy, and take hi
seat as composedly as any member of the
congregation.
Imagine our youngsters on the qui
vive with excitement at seeing Parsor
Snmmeral frisk up into the pulpit witt
all the vivacity of black grasshopper
We looked at each other and giggled
very cautiously, with due respect to Aunt
Lois's sharp obser vation.
At first, there was only mild, quiet
simmering of giggle, compressed decor
ously within the bounds of propriety
and we pursed our muscles up with strin,
gent resolution whenever we caught the
apprehensive eye of our elders.
But when directly after the closing
notes of the tolling second bell, Master
Trip walked up the front aisle, and seat.
ing himself squarely in front of the pull
pit raised his nose with critical air to.
ward the scene of the forthcoming per.
formance, it was too mnch for us-the
repression was almost convulsive. Trip
wore an alert, attentive air, beftting q
sound, orthodox dog, who smells posi-.
BILE heresy, and deems it his duty to watch
the performances narrowly.
Evidently he felt called upon to see
who and what were to occupy the pulpit
in his masters absence.
Up rose Parson Summeral, and up
went Trips nose vibrating with intense
attention.