The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1904-04-22
some ANIMAL STORIES
How they Doport Themselves In
Church.

Considerable excitement was caused
in the Presbyterian church in Sparta,
Ca, recently, while the Rev. Mr.. Dix
was preaching. A pet coon entered
the sacred edifce, deliberately surveyed
the congregation, then made its way 20
the pulpit, mounted the stand, drank
water from the pitcher, thrust one foot,
then another, into it, iaved his face,
and then ambled to one of the pulpit
windows and planted, himself with d
satisfied look on his countenance, ap-
parently eager to hear the rest OF thu
sermon. The clergyman, of course, had
not counted upon such an auditor, and
the presence of the animal SO disturbed
the gravity of the speaker that the coon
had to be banished ere he could pro-
ceed.
Not long ago goat trotted up the
center aisle of church in Birming-
ham, Conn, one Sunday morning, in
course of the opening services, and
placing his fore-feet upon the chancel
ratings began to eat the greens with
which it was trimmed. The incident
did not fail to make sensation, and
even provoked smile from the rector.
After some little trouble the animal
was put out of doors.
AT another church, this one located
in New York City, a flight of steps
in the building led up from the pave
ment to large, open vestibule, through
which the church-goers entered. A
venerable "billy-goat' frequented the
sidewalk in front of the building. AS
Dr. Edwards relates it, this animal was
an old habitue, and because of his ordi-
nary good behavior was generally re-
spected by the church-goers and by the
community living adjacent to the sane
tuary He had stout horns, very firm
legs, shaggy hair, and a long, gray
beard. Sometimes he made decided
stand against anyone who contested the
right with him or who attempted to
push him from the sidewalk. He was
not vicious, but firmly asserted his
rights, which for obviously prudent
reasons were generally conceded by
men, women and children without con-
| troversy. He chewed his cud, nodded
his head, maintained his accustomed
gravity, and frequently saluted his old
acquaintances with his characteristic
| ''B-b- bah!"
Not infrequently on Sunday morn
ings he entered the open gate to the
church, assembled the granite steps, and
took his stand on one of the abutments,
and in a very dignified way his goat
ship welcomed all who came to the
house of worship.
On this particular occasion, "Billy'
had taken his position in an out-of-the-
way space, obsructing no one entering
the church. The congregation, which
was very large, had assembled. Rev.
William A. Smith, young man OF
magnificent physique and commanding
presence, was then pastor of the church.
He had risen and was reading the open
ing hymn. He had proceeded through
two or three stanzas, when BILLY" en-
tered the front door, and started deliber-
ately up the center aisle, chewing his
cud ,nodding his head, swaying his gray
beard and looking this way and that,
until just as the Doctor was reading the
last stanza when he reached the front
of the chancel, where he paused and
looked up at the preacher; and just as
the last line of the hymn fell from the
Doctors lips, which reads: Behold,
behold the lamb" "Billy" responded
"B- b-bahm
An awkard pause ensued. A sup
pressed litter ran through the congre-
cation, whereupon one OF stewards ol
the church, with more valor than dis
cretion, took it upon himself to eject
the intruder. The steward took him
by his strong, annulated horns to lead
him out. "Billy" was insulted, and in
violation of the proprieties of religious
worship made vigorous push and toss
of his horns and lifted che steward over
the pew, to the CONSERVATION of the
ladies. Reinforcements were called in
to requisition, and after ridiculou;
scufile the goat was put out and the ser
vices proceeded
A more pleasing incident happened
not long since in the Methodist church
at London. Ontario. AS the pastor
Rev. w. Robinson, began the morning
service, robin flew into the church
took up its position on the railing oppo