Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-03-01

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me in my frightening process, so had it
all my own way, and sang it as q solo.
| When | came to verse number two
thought for long time, ana then, feeling
sure that was right this time, pitched
| the time, but it was SO high that / could
not pretend to follow 1t, and left it for two
or three volunteer ladies to carry on as
best they could. But, to my dismay,
| found that even this would not do; it was
long meter tune to common meter
hymn, ana it came To an ignOmini0us
close at the end Of the second line. The
words were solemn, the occasion was sol
emn, felt for the mourners, / felt for
myself, but, wanting to be brave and pre-
vail over the difficulty. stood moment
and then struck up again. This time |
was down in the very depths in my effort
not to pitch it too high, and again i was
on long meter which could not make
short enough for the hymn. Do what
would could not tuck 1t in, and the
hymn
! Hear what the voice from heaven declares
is forever ruined for me- No wonder
that family never wanted to have DR.. -
at the funeral of any OF their friends.''
Case No. was that of a very solemn
ClcI Ky man anu HIS dSSlsldut, VINO Wcfc
/ disturbed in their chancel by miserable
looking street cat, which had come in by
some unknown way and was rubbing up
against their legs, me-owing piteously
The Rector beckoned to the assistant to
/ put the cat out, which he did, but in a few
moments she was back again Upon this
the very solemn Rector placed the poor
creature under. one of the heavy box stools
in the chancel, and, placing his foot on
this improvised kennel, gave out the
hymn beginning
A charge TO keep have. "a itiH
The fourth case mentioned was that of u
Western missionary who was holding
service for the first time in frontier town.
A large congregation had gathered in the
primitive courtroom, and the young itin-
Grant was just about to announce hls text,
when tail man, who had been playing
the melodeon for the cXtemporized choir,
| pitched back his chair on its hind legs on
the clerks staGa, Immediately in front of
ale Judges bench, and, putting his hands
in his pockets, fell backward and went
completely over. As he was directly in
front of the preacher, his long legs, in GO
ing over. Knocked down the cushion
which had beer placed on the preachers
stand, and scattered the loose notes in
every direction, The congregation broke
Out in one roar Of laughter, mingled with
whistles and cat-cals, and cries of: $50
it, WillamW +" Heigh -ho, tumble bug'
"Tumber'pigeon!' Set 'em up again"
Double score!" and other such terms
never before heard in house of worship.
The house got into one of those convulsive
spasms OF laughter which are remittent IN
! inir Of
cessive Intervals. Every few moments the
thought of the performance would come
back again, and there would be new out
burst
All this time the disconnected young
minister stood with his back 10 the au-
dience, looking out OF a window, and,
like the dying dolphin, turning all shades
of color, and going through an assert
ment OF experiences-ashamcd, provoked,
amused and Disguised each in turn FL
nally, he said Now we have all had our
laugh out, let Us sing hymn, and then go
on with the sermon" and the crowd, like
tired child, sleepy and ready for lula
by, was at last quiet once more.
A venerable Professor who was present
at this experience meeting related his
ordeal OF humor as follows: The Rev.
DIR. ------ was invited To preach before
the young in the central meeting house of
the town. Two of the young latlies'
boarding schools and the boys OF TIE
academy were present II was an au-
dience ready for anything to amusc
them.
Just a. the preacher announced his text
iutering was heard in the window, and
in walked a large black hen With that
peculiar hen-like walk, in which the
stretched out head and neck keep time to
the movement of the feet, she advanced TO
the side of the minister and, unmindtul
of the audience, pecred over the open pull
pit. platform down on To the pews below,
unabashed by that sea of faces, she
seemed 10 be looking about for some place
in which TO lay an egg. The preacher
looked AT her; the boys and girls dying to
seize the opportunity and make a scene in
church, cast their eyes upon her longing
". The entire church was still when the
Rev. DR.. said To me, as | was sit
ting in the front pew, Prof. ---------, will
you remove that birds'
"lf he had asked me to storm a bat
terry, would have been as willing MS
was then 20 risk the failure of catching
that hen. But, with solemn face and
stately step, a. If was about 10 give out
the slms-boNes, walked up To the bird,
anG in an instant OF silence, the like OF
which never experienced before, |
caught the hen and disappeared into the
vestry- But TO this day ask my
self The question Of the other side of the
issue suppose YOU had failed 10 catch
that hen, what would YOU have done y
The last experience mentioned was
that OF Il clergyman at his first baptism OF
infants. He was then very young IN