Year: 1874

N n were III ulsBIaCej VIC Ooysj anu oh0
w reason of it was this: we had
laughed out in meeting time To be sure
the occasion was trying one, even to more
disciplined nerves. Parson Lothrop had
exchanged pulpits with Parson Summeral
of North Warren. Now Parson Summeral
was man in the very outset likely to pro-
woke the risibles of unspiritualized juven-
lies. He was a thin, wiry, frisky little
man, in a powdered white wig, black
tights, and silk stockings, with bright
knee buckles and shoe buckles, with round,
dark, swapping eyes, and curious, high,
cracked, squeaking voice, the very first
tones of which made all the children stare
and giggle. The news that Parson Sum-
neral was going to preach in our village
spread abroad as a preludeAto something
funny. 1t had flavor like the charm Of
circus acting, and on the Sunday morning
of our story we went to the house of God
in very hilarious state, all ready to set off
in a laugh on the slightest provocation.


The occasion was not long wanting.
Parson Lothrop had favorite dog yclept
Trip, whose behavior in meeting was no
toriously far from that edifying pattern
which BELTS a minister's dog on Sundays
Trip was nervous dog, and dog that
could never be taught to conceal his emo
tions or to respect conventionalities If
anything about the performance in the
singers seat did not please him, he was
apt to express himself in lugubrious
howl. If the sermon was longer than
suited him, ho would cape with such
loud creak of his jaws as would attract
everybodys attention. If the flies dis
turbed his afternoons nap, he would give
sudden snarls or snaps or, If anything
troubled his dreams, he would bark out in
his sleep in manner not only to dispel his
own slumbers, but those of certain worthy
deacons and old ladies, whose sanctuary
repose was thereby sorely troubled and
broken. For all these reasons, Madam
Lothrop had been forced, as general
thing, to deny Trip the usual sanctuary
privileges of good family dogs in that age,
and shut him up on Sundays to private
meditation. Trip, Of course, was only the
more set on attendance, and would hide
behind doors, jump out of windows, sneak
through by-ways and alleys, and lie hid till
the second bell had done tolling, when
suddenly he would appear in the broad
aisle, innocent and happy, and take his
seat as composedly as any member of the
congregation.


Imagine us youngsters ON the Qui Ui0e
with excitement at seeing Parson Summer
al frisk up to the pulpit with all the vi
vacity of a black grasshopper. We looked
at each other and giggled very cautiously
with due respect to Aunt Lois sharp OBJ
scrvation.


At first there was only quiet, mild SIM
mering Of giggle, compressed decorously
within the bounds Of propriety, and we
pursed our muscles up with stringent reso-
luton whenever we caught the apprehen-
sive eyes of our elders.


But when, directly after tine closing notes
of the tolling second bell, Master Trip
walked gravely up the centre aisle, and
seating himself squarely in front Of the
pulpit, raised his nose with critical air
toward the scene of the forthcoming per-
formance, it was too much for us--the re-
preston was almost convulsive. Trip
wore an alert, attentive air, bedtting a
sound, orthodox dog, who smells possible
heresy, and deems it his duty to watch the
performances narrowly


Evidently he felt called upon to see who
and what were to occupy that pulpit in his
masters absence.


Up went Parson summeral, and up
went Trips nose, vibrating with intense
attention.