The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-08-27
Laughing in Meeting.
ny MRS. II. n. STOWE.

reason Of it was this; we had laughed
out in meeting time To be sure the oc-
casion was a trying one, even to more
disciplined nerves. Parson Lothrop had
exchanged pulpits with Parson Summer
al, Of North Wearem. Now, Parson
Summeral was man in the very outset
likely to provoke the riseables of unspir-
itualized Juveniles. He was thin, wiry,
friskey little man, in powdered white
wig, black tights, and silk stockings, with
bright knee buckles, and buckles,
with round, dark, swapping eyes, and a
curious, high, cracked, squcaking voice,
the very first tones of which made all the
children stare and giggle. The news
that Parson Summeral wos going to
preach in our village spread abroad among
us as a prelude to something funny. 1t
had flavor like the charm of circus act
ing and on Sunday morning Of our story
we went to the house of God in very
hilarious state, all ready to set off in a
laugh on the slightest provocation
The occasion was not long wanting.
Parson Lothrop had favorite dog yclept
Trip, whose behavior in meeting was
VIGOROUSLY far from that editying pattern
which BELTS a minister's dog on Sundays
Trip was nervous dog, and dog that
never could be taught to conceal his emo.
tions or to respect conventionalities. IL
anything about the performance in the
singers seat did not please him, he was
apt to express himself in lugubrious
howl. If the sermon was longer than
suited him, he would cape with such a
loud creak Of his jaws as would arouse
everybody's attention. If the flies dis
turbed his afternoons nap he would give
sudden snarls or snaps; or if anything
troubled his dreams, he would bark out
in his sleep in manner not only to dispel
his own sumbers, out those Of certain
worthy deacons and old ladies, whose
sanctuary reposc was thereby sorely
broken and troubled. For all these rea-
sons, Madam Lothrop had been forced, as
general thing, to deny Trip the usual
sanctuary privileges of good family dogs
in that age, and shut him up on Sundays
to prevent meditation. Trip, of course,
was only the more set on attendance, and
would hide behind doors, jump out OF
windows sneak through by-ways and al
leys, and lie hid till the second bell had
done toiling, 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 riue
with excitement at seeing Parson Sum.
neral frisk up into the pulpit with all
the vivacity of a black grasshopper. We
looked at each other and gigglcd very
cautiously, with due respect to Aun,
Lois's sharp observation.
At first, there was only a mild, quiet
simmering of giggle, compressed decor.
ously within the bounds OF propriety, and
we pursed our muscles up with stringent
resolution whenever we caught tho ap.
prehensive eye of our elders.
But when directly after the closing
notes of the tollipg second bell, Master
Trip walked up the front aisle, and seat
ing himself squarely in front Of tho pull
pit raised his nose with critical air to-
ward the scene of the forthcoming per,
formance, it was too much for us-tht
repression was almost convulsive. TriT
wore an alert, attentive air, befitting q
sound, orthodox dog, who smells posi-
ble heresy, and deems it his duty tc
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 uT
went Trips nose vibrating with intense
attention.
The Parson began in his high-crackei
voice to intone the hymn:
Sing to the Lord aloud
please turn out that dog)-
And make a joyful noise.
The dog was turned out, and the choil
did their best to make joyful noise, bu,
we boys we're upset for the day, delivered
over to the temptations Of Satan, anc
plunged in waves and pillows Of hysteri
cal gigele, from which neither winks mol
frowns from Aunt Lois, nor the awfu
fear of the tithing.man, nor the comfort
ing bits Of fennel and orange peel, passed
US by grandmother, could recover us.
Every felt, to be sure, that her,
was trial that called for some indul
gence. Hard faces, even among tn,
best saints, betrayed transient quivor o
the risible muscles, old ladies put up thei
fans, youths and maidens in the singers
seat laughed outright, and for the mo
ment general snicker among children
was pardoped But | was one of tha
luck less kind whose nerves once set il
vibration, could not be composed. Whcl
the reign of gravity and decorum had re
turned, Harry and l sat by each other
shaking with suppressed laughter. Every
thing in the subsequent exercises took
funny turn, and in the long prayer, whel
everybody else was still and decorous
the whole scene came over me with sucl
overpowering force that | exploded witt
laughter and had to be taken out of meet
ing and marched home by Aunt Lois, a
convicted criminal, What especiall
moved her indignation was, the more sh
rebuked and upbraided, the more | laugh
ed, till the tears rolled down my cheek,
Which Aunt Lois construed into wilfu
disrcspect to her authority, and resente
accordingly
BY Sunday evening, as We gathere
around the fire, the reaction from undu
gaiety to sobriety had taken place and W
we're in pensive and penitent STATE
grandmother was gracious and forgiving
but Aunt Lois still preserved that frost
air of reprobation which she held to be
salutary means Of quickening our cor
sciences for the future. ltwas therefor
with unusual delight that we saw our ol
friend Sam come in and sit himself qu
etly down on the block in the chime
cnrnar With S.n, mo falt aesu.al - G i,