Year: 1876

- 1hh's PANh A'


We were in disgrace, we boys, and the
reason of it was this: We had laughed
out in meeting timel To be sure the
occasion was trying one, even to more
disciplined nerves. Parson Lothrop had
exchanged pulpits with ParsonSummeral
of North Wearem. Now Parson Sum-
neral was man in the very outset
likely to provoke the risibles of unspirit-
ualized juveniles. He was thin, wiry,
frisky little man, in powdered white wig,
black tights, silk stockings, with bright
knee Buckles, and shoe buckles, with
round, dark, swapping eyes, and a Curl
Gus, high, cracked, squeaking voice, the
very first tones of which made all the
children stare and giggle. The news
that Parson Summeral was going to
preach in our village spread abroad
among us as a prelude to 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 be set of i'll laugh on the
slightest provocation.


The occasion was not long wanting.
Parson Lothrop had a favorite dog yclept
Trip, whose behavior in meeting was
notoriously far from that edifying pat
tern which BELTS a minister's dog on
Sundays. Trip was nervous dog, and
a dog that never could be taught to con-
ceal his emotions or respect convention
alities. If anything about the perform
ance 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, he would cape
with such a loud creaqk of his jaws as
would arouse everybody's attention. If
the flies disturbed his afternoons nap
he would give sudden snarls or snaps;
or, if anything troubled his dreams, he
would bark out in his sleep in a manner
not only to dispel his own slumbers, but
those of certain worthy deacons and old
ladies whose sanctuary repose was there
by sorely broken and troubled. For
all these reasons Madam Lothrop had
been forced, as general things, to deny
Trip the usual sanctuary privilege of
good family dogs in that age, and shut
him up on Sundays to private medita-
tion. Trip, of course, was only the
more set on attendance, and would hide
behind the 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 uire
with excitement at seeing Parson Sum-
neral frisk up into the pulpit with al
the vivacity OF black grasshopper. We
looked at each other and giggled very
cautiously with due respect to Aunt
Lois sharp observation.


AT first, there was only mild, quiet
simmering of giggle, compressed decor
ously within the bounds of propriety,
and we pursed our muscles up with
stringent resolution whenever we caught
the apprehensive eye of our elders.


But when, directly after the closing
notes of the tolling of the second bell,
Master Trip walked gravely up the front
aisle, and seating himself squarely in
front of the pulpit, raised his nose with
a critical air toward the scene OF the
forthcoming performance, it was too
much for us-the repression was almost
convulsive. Trip wore an alert, atten-
tive air behtting sound, orthodox dog,
who smells a possible heresy, and deems
it his duty to watch the proceedings
narrowly.


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


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


The parson begun in his high-cracked
voice to intone the hymn


"Sing to the Lord aloud"


when Trip broke into dismal howl


The parson went on to give directions
to the deacon, in the same voice in
which he had been reading, so that the
whole effect of the performance was
somewhat as follows:


"sing to the Lord aloud"


"(Please to turn out that dog)-


"Apd make joyful noise"


The dog ef.ss turned out, and the choir
did their best to make a joyful noise;
but we boys were upset for the day,
delivered over to the temptations of
Satan, and plunged in waves and bill
lows of hysterical giggle, from which
neither winks or frowns from Aunt Lois,
nor the awful fear of the tithing man,
nor the comforting bite of fennel and
orange peel, passed by grandmother,
could recover us.