Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-04-08
Why Meeting didn't Break.

Max Auelcr" In Our Continent"
1t may not be known to the reader that
Friends meeting is dismissed when the
worship is over. by two aged briends, who
are known as the Heads of Meeting"
shaking hands with each other. In any
Friends meeting house on First day an
observer may see the worshippers sit in
perfect misunderstanding when there
is sermon or a prayer-until one of the
heads of the meeting extends his hand
to the other, who clasps it and shakes it,
Then everybot: y gets up and goes home
without word Of dismissal. But until
the hand-shaking occurs no Friend would
think of moving from his seat.
A few Sundays ago Elias Warner and
Thomas Brown sat as usual at the head
of the BOnnyberg meeting. The meeting
had been in session about an hour
and nobody had spoken. Elias had
his head bowed forward, resting upon his
cane. Thomas face looked downward SO
that his broad brim hat hid it from view.
People began to wonder why they did
not shake hands and break meeting, and
some, even Of the old Friends who had
been disciplined to patience by half q cen
tury Of meetings, became y little restless
and fdgety.
Suddenly faint snOre came from the
place where the heads of meeting sat. The
worshippers looked up with surprise. The
painful fact then appeared that Elias War
her was asleep. When Thomas Brown
heard the snore he looked calmly around
and then put his head quietly back, with
his forehead on his hands, and his hands
on his care.
Tho Friends saw there was no hope OF
getting away until Elias should wake up,
SO they made up their minds, in their usual
amiable fashion, to endure the wrong in
peace.
So Elias slumDered and snOred calmly
along for about half an hour, when fly
that was promenading about on his nost
happened to buzz into his nostril, where
upon Elias suddenly awoke, sat up with q
jerk, cleared his throat, and tried to look
as if he he had not been asleep at all.
The meeting drew long breath Of re.
liei, and there was little bustling move
ment indicating that the Friends expected
to go home at once.
Elias Warner noticed the fact and III
extended his hand to Thomas Brown
Thomas took no notice of it. The meet
ing looked at the operation with intens,
anxiety. Just then, amidst the breathles
silence another faint snore was heard
1t is painful to have to admit such
thing, but the fact is Thomas had dropped
of into gentle slumber while he wa.
waiting for Elias to wake up.
The meeting began to feel indignant
Some Of the old Friends scowled. Viii
liam Benton leaned over and suggested to
George Watkins to get up and prod th.
sleeper with his umbrella, but George
would rather have died than to do any
thing SO irregular. There were young ant
sinful Friends who thought of going ou
of the meeting without waiting for it tt
break, but they contented themselves by
coughing loudly and shutting their feet.
But Thomas went swimming along il
placid peace through the land Of dreams
and his snOre grew louder and louder unit
it vibrated like q miniature fOg-hol1
through the room.
Tho Friends whose dinners were getting
cold at home were growing excited. Sup
Suppose before he woke Elias Warne
should drop off for another snooze? Th,
situation began to grow serious. Ever
Elias himself felt little perturbation, ani
some observers thought they detected il
him 4 movement to scOurge Thomas will
his elbow. But he didn't. He remained
quiet, trying to appear as if he wert
wrapped in the most solemn meditation.
Thus half an hour or more passed, the
Friends meanwhile getting madder ant
madden.
Suddenly Thomas Brown was heard t.
laugh in his sleep. Then he exclaimed:
Hannah, why don't thee get the pie p
Then his eyes opened, and as the wickei
boys in the meeting laughed he sat up
bluShcd crimson graSpod Elias Warner