West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-11-30
The 4" Pet" In Church.

Mr.. and Mrs. Pryden took their little
boy To church Sunday. II was che first
dayn pants and his first time in church
For the first half OF the service he was
fully absorbed IN things about him and
the novelty OF the situation. After that
his mind turned in upon himself, and he
+ began to pay exclusive attention To his
own wants, and Mr. aud Mrs. Pryden.
/ from an exultant feeling of pride, grad
/ uallN slipped down an inclined plane of
anxiety which cmptied into an abyss of
/ despair Tho number Of positions the
/ youth got into and the wants he mani
/ Tested would seem incredible were they
i not actually witnessed by a full score OF
/ respectable people. As soon as he took
! IN realizing sense of his own identity.
| Master Pryden began 10 comprehend and
! respond to the demands of his nature
| He got up on his knees on the seat and
stared at the Chsir He twisted back
again to the front aud was only saved
from falling to the floor by the alertness
of his pa. The floor being thus suggested
TO him he got down on il. Then
he got up on the seat again From
this place he desired TO change to
a position between his pa and ma. lie
was accommodated After resting
quietly there for twenty seconds he
changed TO the other side of his pa.
Thence he moved TO his pas lap. From
there he went to the other side Of his
ma. This was evidently mistake, for
he Immediately expressed a wish To get
back to the other side of his pa. and on
their attempting to lift him there he
kicked and cried, and was only silenccd
by being allowed TO walk the distance.
which he did at once. The motion so
pleased him that he went straightway
back again and tried il over. Also for
the second and third time. Then hc
got up again between his ma and pa.
Then he espicd gilt backed book in the
rack of the next pew, and reaching over
To get il came within an ace OF deposit.
ing his entire carcass sn the other side.
but was clutched in time by both his
parents and hauled safely back, very red
IN the face and very indignant. Disap-
pointed in this venture he turned his at
tcntion TO the rack in his own pew, and
possessed himself of the books therein,
which being taken away from him, made
II necessary that he should get them
again. These he dropped on the floor
one at n time, and smiled the
guileless smile of infancy as they
were picked up by his embarrassed
parents. Pretty we'll exhausted he now
prepared for sleep, and rested his head
upon his mothers breast and closed his
eyes. His parents sighed. Then he
slipped down on the floor, sliding in
such way as 10 leave quite an expansc
OF white goods between his pants and
jacket, and TO roll the collar of the
jacket up on the back of his head. The
clothing was adjusted his ma whispered
In his ear for the fortieth time, and his
pa scOwed so hard M TO nearly dislodpe
his own scalp. He saw the scowl and
sullenly sank down on the floor, from
which he had To be lifted by main force.
Then he took out the hymn books again,
and was going to drop them rs before,
when his pa interfered and rescued
them. He resented this liberty by
throwing back his head which coming
in sharp contact with the back Of the
teat wrenchcd from his lips a shrill cry.
The unhappy mother endeavOred to
stiile in her shawl 80 much Of the wall
she could not whisper away, while hi-
pas face was full Of great drops Of per
splratlOn Of which pa himself was uncOn-
sciOus. The wall not abating, pas
knife containing four blades was brought
INTO service, and then the cry hushed.
For q full moment he was absorbed in
the contemplation Of this object. And
then he let it drop. There was no carpet
IN the pew. TwO-thirds of the congrega-
ton raised from their seats, and Mr.
Pryden himself came almost TO a per
pcndicular Their the hymn was given
out and sung, and the benediction, and
Mr.. and Mrs PrydeD, with their heir
between them, started for home, Mr.
Pryden being so warm that he took of
his overcoat and gave n boy ten cents TO
carry il home for him.