The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1890-01-17

| STANDING, TOO Tne Lords prayer--in
tho church---aloud --before all tho people
standing This Is q pretty beginning.
fugleman, for sixteen years
II the Lords prayer IN itself were some
thing TO be ashamed OF he could not have
spoken with greater contempt The boy.
however, looked straight up into tho roof
of the porch. made no answer nor seemed
TO hear
The speaker held up both hands. shook
his head, sighed and slowly Withdrew into
the church
Then thero came down the street an old
! lady In white cap, a white apron. shawl
and black mittens, an old lady with face
lined al over. with kind soft eyes and
white hair. but her face was troubled
Beside her walked girl OF l2 or there.
abouts, dressed In white frock and straw
hat trimmed with white riL Don. and white
cotton mttens. and she was crying and
sobbing
"Thou mayest stand up In the church.
said the old lady, "when ho repeats the
Lords Prayer. but not beside him In tho
porch.
"But helped him. she cried "0h. |
am as bad ns hol am worse. because
laughed at him and encouraged him"
"But thou hast not been sentenced"
said tho old lady 1T Is thy punish
ment, chlld--and heavy one--to feel
that Ralph bears thy shame and his own.
too"
Il was on one side OF the hedge when
Dame Ridley dropped her basket" the
child went on. crying moro bitterly Il
was on one side and he ON the other Obi
OIL OIL She said there were two ghosts
was ono
When they reached the porch the girl.
at sight OF the boy In the sheet. ran and
threw her arms about his neck and kissed
him. and cried aloud enough for all within
to hear
"oh. Ralph. Ralph, IT Is wicked of
theml"
These words were heard all over the
church. and Mathew Humble sprang TO
his feet, as II demanding that the speaker
should DO carried oil TO instant execution
for contempt OF court All eyes were
turned upon his worship's pew and |
know not what would have happened. be
cause his periwig was seen 70 DO agitated
and the gold head OF his stick appeared
above the pew: but luckily, just then the
bells clashed all together. frightening the
swallows about the tower so that they
flew straight TO the castle and stayed
there. and the vicar came out of the
vestry aud sat down In the reading desk.
and, as was his custom. surveyed his
church and congregation for few minutes
before the service began
It is an old church Of Norman work In
parts. patched up and rebuilt from time
To time by the Percles. but there are no
monuments Of them The Wears eyes fell
upon plain whitewashed building pro
vided with rows Of ancient and worm
eaten benches. worn black by many gen
eratons OF worshipers The choir and the
music sat at the west end In front OF
the chancel was square space In which
was set long stool While the vicar
waited the iugleman marched up the
aisle, followed by the boy in the sheet.
aud both sat on this stool OF repentance
Then the vicar rose--he was benignant
old man. with white hair--and began to
read in full and musical voice how sin
ners may repent and find forgiveness Bat
the people thought he Teant his words to
apply this morning especially and only
TO the boy In the sheet This made
them feel surprisingly virtuous and in
clined TO sing praises with glad heart
So too. with the lessons one OF which
dealt with the fate OF wicked king ALI
the people looked at the boy In the sheet.
and felt that. under another name, II was
his own story told beforehand prophet
lcally and when they stood up TO sing In
thanksgiving their gratitude took the
form OF being glad that they we're not
upon tho stool When the psalms were
read the people paid unusual attention.
letting the boy have the benefit OF all the
penitential utteances, but taking the Joy
Gus verses to themselves And the ltany
they regarded as composed. as well as
read. exclusively for this convicted sinner
Among the elder ladies' there was hope
that the offended ghosts might--some at
least--be present in the church and see
this humiliation. which would not fail to
dispose their ghostlinesses to a benevolent
attitude. and even influence the weather
II seemed TO the boy as II that service
never would end To the congregation II
seemed, on account OF this unusual cpl
sode. as II there never had been service
so short and so exciting
When the commandments had been re
cited Ralph almost expected to hear an
additional one, Thou shalt not pretend
= -. q. ,.hsat o.d a., 10 noIIad 80, A., ,.a.