The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-09
PRYDEN,S BOY AT CHURCH.

PRYDEN'S BOY AT CHURCH.
Mr.. and Mrs. Pryden took their lit
tie boy to church last Sunday. 1t was
his first day in 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 sit
uation. After that his mind turned
in upon himself, and he began to pay
exclusive attention to- his own wants,
and Mr.. and Mrs. Pryden, from an ex-
ultant feeling of pride, gradually slip
ped down an inclined plane of anxiety
which emptied into an, abyss of des-
pair. The number of positions the
youth got into, and the wants he man
ifested would seem incredible were
they not actually witnessed by full
score of respectable people. AS soon.
as he took in realizing sense of hfs
own identity, Master Pryden began to
comprehend and respond to the de-
maniss of his nature. He got on his
knees in the. seat aud stared at the
choir. He twisted back again to the
front, and 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 it. Then he got up
on the seat again. From this place he
desired to change to position be-
tween his pa and ma. He was acco m
modated. After resting quietly there
for twenty seconds, he changed to the
other side Of his pa. Thence he moved
to his pas lap. From thence he went
to the other side of his ma.
This was evidently mistake, fer he
Immediately expressed wish to go
back to the other side of his pa, and
on their attempting to lift him there,
he kicked and cried, and was only 81
fenced 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 it
over. Also for the second aud third
time. Then he got up again between
his ma and pa. Then he espied gilt
back book in the rack of the next pew,
and, reaching over to get it came with
in an ace of depositing his entire car
cass on the other side, but was CLUTCH
ed in time by both his parents and
hauled safely back, very red in the
face and very indignant. Disappoin-
ted in this venture, he turned his at
tention to the rack in his own pew
and possessed himself of the books
therein, which, being taken away
from him, made it nece ssary that he
should get them again. These he
dropped on the floor one at a time,
and smiled the guileless smile of in
fancy as they were picked up by his
embarrassed parents. Pretty we'll ex-
hausted, he now prepared for sleep,
and rested his head upon his mothers
breast and closed his eyes. His par
ents sighed. Then he slipped down
on the floor, sliding in such way as
to leave quite an expanse 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
scowled so hard as to nearly dislodge
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 as before, when his pa iDterfered
and rescued them. He resented this
liberty by throwing back his head
which, coming in sharp contact with
the back of the seat, hwrenched from
his lips shrill cry. The unhappy
mother endeavored to stifie in he,
shawl so much of the wall as she
could not whisper away, while his pa's
face was full of great drops of perspir.
alton, of which pa himself was uncon.
scious. This wall not abating, pas
knife, containing four blades, was
brought into service, and then the CRY
hushed. For 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-thirdi
of the congregation raised from the
seats, and Mr.. Pryden himself cam,
almost to a perpendicular. Then thu
hymn was given out and sung, and
the benediction pronounced, and Mr.
and Mrs. Pryden, with their heir be
tween them, started for home, Mr.
Pryden being SO warm that he tool
off his overcoat and gave q boy II
cents to carry it home for him.
THE SORT OF A GIRL TO 6 EFT.