Rhode Island American And Gazette

A Church Blockaded.—The following occurrence as related to us by a country cousin, took place at a meeting house in a small town not a hundred miles in the interior. During the afternoon sabbath service, and near the close of it, the worshippers were diverted from their devotions by the appearance, in the broad aisle of the house, of a little animal that is distinguished for his dimness of sight and stupidity, as well as for his very offensive effluvia. The eyes of the audience were drawn from the preacher, and followed the unwelcome visitor as he ranged through the different aisles;—the young people giggled, and even the attention of the parson himself was so tempted from his notes, that he more than once lost his place and the thread of his discourse. No one would undertake the task of expelling the intruder. At last the sermon was concluded, and the concluding psalm given out to sing. Not relishing music, or alarmed by the novelty of the thing, our visitant now undertook his egress by the way in which he had entered; but, as fate would have it, the wind, during his stay, had closed the only door to the house. There he sat in his dilemma, unable to make his retreat, and there sat the congregation in a dilemma for some time, till a lad, quicker witted than the rest, made his exit at one of the windows, opened the door on the outside, and thus happily relieved the whole matter.—Salem Observer.