Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-08-01
LAUGHING IL MEEIiN.

We were in disgrace, we boys, and
the reason Of it was this: we had
laughed out in meeting time, To be
sure the occasion was a trying one,
even to more disciplined nerves. Par
son Lotuop had exchanged pulpits with
ParsOn Summcral, OF North Wearem.
Now, Parsou Summeral was man in
the very outset likely to provoke the
risibles OF uuspiritualized juveniles.
He was thin, why, risky lttle man,
in powdered white wig, black tights,
and silk stockings, and bright knee
buckles, and shoe-buckles, with round,
dark, swapping eyes, ana curious,
high, cracked, squeakIng voice, the
very first tones of which made all the
children stare and giggle. The news
that paraOn Summeral was going To
preach i'm our village spread abroad
among Ms rs prelude to something
funny. II 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 90 set of in a laugh on the
slightest proyocation.
The occasion was not long wanting
Pnrson L0tlrop had favorite dog
yclept Trip, whose behavior in meeting
was VIGOROUSLY far from that edifyiug
pattern winch beftsa minister's dog on
Sundays Trip was nervous dog, and
"A dog that never could be taught to
conceal his emotions or to respect con-
ycntl uahres. If anything about the
performance in the singers seat did
not plcnsc him, he was apt to express
himself Ina lugubrious howl. If the
sermon was longer than suited him. he
would cape with such loud creak of
his Jaws as would arouse everybody :
attention. Ii the flies disturbed his
niteruoms 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 dis
pei his siumbers, but those Of certain
worthy deacms and old ladies', whose
sanctuary repose was thereby sorely
broken and troubled. For all these
reasons, Madam Lothrop had been
forced, rs general thing, TO deny Trip
the usual sanctuary privileges Of fami-
ly dogs IN that age, and shut him up
on Sundays to private meditation
Trip, of cuutse, was only the more set
on attendance, and would hide behind
doors, Jump out of windows, sneak
through bywuys and alleys, 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 "a a menu
Der of the congregation.
bm0glue MS Youngsters ON the qui
rirr with excitement at seeing PWson
Summeral irisk mp into the pulpit with
all the yiyacjty ola black grasshopper,
We looked at each other and glggled
vayr cautiously, nth due aspect to
Aunt LOIS sharp observation.
At first there was only mild, quiet
sjmmeung of a gIggle, compressed de-
cor1uslv within the bounds of proprlety,
aps we pursed our muscles up with
,hlugcut resolution whenever we
cuugnt the apprehensye eye of our
elders.
But when, directly after the closing
notes of the tolliug second bell, Mas
ten Trip walk grayely up to the front
aisle ana seated himself squarely in
front of the pulpit, raised his nose with
acritical air toward the scene of the
forthcoming performance, 1t was too
much Tor Us--the repression was almost
ruuyulSlye. Trip wore an alert, atten-
tive air, betting asouud, orthodox dog,
who smells u possible heresy, and
deems II his duty to watch the per-
flrmancos narrowly.
Evidently Inc felt called upon 10 see