Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-09-24

look vd ut each other and gigglcd very
cautiously, with due lespecI 10 Aunt
Lois sharp observation.
At first, there was only mild, quiet
sinmering oi giggle, compressed de
corously within the bounds ot proprle'y.
sud we pursed our muscles up with
stringent resolution. whsneycr wc caught
the apprehsnsiyo eye ol ouT elders.
But when. directly after the closing
notes of the tolling second bell. Master
Trip walked gravely uP the front ai''s.
and. seating himself squsreIy IN front "i
the pulpit. raised hi, no,s with critical
All toward the scene nt the torthcnmies
performance. Ii was too much Tor US
the repression was almost conNuisi'e.
Trip wore an alert, attentive Air, be.
fitting u sound. orthodox dog, who smells
y possible hcresy aud desms IL his duty To
watch The proceedings narrowly. E'i
drnlly. he isli called upon 10 sec Ahu
amt what wsrs 10 occupy that pulpit IN
hi, masters absence.
Up rose Parson Summersl, and up
Ncu, Trips nose. vibrating with inten.c
attention.
The parssu began in his high. cracked
rolco to iutone the hymn
Sing to the Lord aloud"
hun Trip broke out into II dismal h"- /.
Thv pArson went Oh to give directions
iu thV deacon, IN The same voice Ia which
he had boon readmg, 81 thsI the uhOlc
effect "i tho performance WAS aonIewhal
- lulluws:
stag IL the Lori aloud
(Pe.,e turn Out that dOg.)
And make joyful noise,'"
The dog was turned ont, and the cl"I,
did their beat TO make joyful noise; but
sc boys were upset for the day, and d"
lirerud over to the temptations ul Satan.
and plunged in waves and bi!Ious OF
hy,tsrcal giggle. from which neither
vinks NOT irowns from Aunt Lois. nOi
tho s~iul fear oil the tithing man. nor
the comfortable bits of iennel and orange
peel. passed 10y grandmother, could IL
cover US.
Everybody felt, to be sure, that here
WAS Il trial that called tor some indulg-
encc Hard tsces, even among the stern
est saints, betrayed transient quiver oi
the lisible muscles, cid ladie. put up
their fans, youths and maidons in the
singers seals laughed outright, and for
the moment u general snicker among
the children WAS psrdoned. But | was
one oil that lucklcss kind whose nerves,
once set in vibration, could not be CON-
posed When the reign OF gravity and
decorum had returned, Harry and | sat
by each other, shaking with suppressed
laughter Everything in she subsequent
exercises took funny turn, and in the
long prayer. when every body else WAS
still and dccorous, the whole scene came
over me with such overpowering fore.
that exploded with laughter, and h'd
To be taken out ul meeting and marched
home by Aunt Lois rs II convicted Grim
ina. What especially moved her NJ
dipnaiion wa. that the more she robukcd
and upbraided. the more l laughed I'll
the tear. rolled down my checks. When
Aunt Lois construed into williuI dis
respect to her authority, and resented
accordingly.
By Sunday evening, ~ we gathered
around the lire, The reaction from undue
gt, ETY. To sobriety had taken place, "nd
We we've in pensive and pcnitent state.
Grandmother WAS gracious and torgiv-
ing, hul Aunt Lois still preserved that
frosty air OF reproGation which she held
to be e salutRry means OF quickoning ON
consciences Tor the future. 1t was,
therefore, with unusual delight that we
SAW our old friend Sam come in aud si'
himself quietly down on the ock in the
chimney corner With sam wo ielt MS
sured OF indulgence and patronage, Tor
though always rigidly moral and IN
struelive in his turn Vi mind, he had tha
| eilow-leeling for transgressors which Il
characteristic Of the loose .iointcd easy
going style OF his individuality.
"Lordy massy, boys-yis, ,, said Sam
yirtuously. in view of sone pf Aun
Lois thrusts, ",s ought never to lauGl
nor Gu. up in meetin', that ares so. bu
then there is times when the best on u
gets took down. We gets took unawarcs
We see-e,en ministers does. Yis, nstur
will git the upper hand atore they kno"
| it,"
"Why Sam, ministers don't ever lansi
in mectin' do they !"
We put the question with wide eyes
Such suppositiop bordercd on profanity
we thought; it was approaching the siT
of Uzzah, who unwarily touched the mi
I Of the Lord.
Laws, yes, Why, haven't you never
hoard how there was council held to Try
Parson Morrel for laughing on; in praye
time ?"
Laughing in prayer time" VIC botl
repeated. with upliited hands and eyes
NY grandiather's mild face became
luminous with suppressed smile which
frightened it as the moon does a cloud
but he said nothing
"Yes. yes" said MY grandmother
-"that affair did made Dreaded scanda
In fhe ,ime ont But Parson Morrsl wa!