ae SHARON.

[THE FURTHER HISTORY OF DOCTOR GARDE’S LITTLE GIRL. |

 

By Mary HarTwELL CATHERWOOD.

 

CHAPTER VII.
EVENTS.

“UNDAY came.

Dr. Garde’s little girl was richer by one music-
lesson, which Miss Melissa herself gave her ; and by
a blue shirred silk bonnet and muslin-gingham dress,
as well as long black mitts, the like of which she had
never seen before. Sunday was an important day in
Sharon. This old Massachusetts colony retained
many Puritan customs. All day the various church
bells rang; for Sunday-school, for forenoon, afternoon
and evening services. Miss Melissa and Bluebell
moved on crowded sidewalks on their way to church.
The little girl was astonished by the architecture
which she saw around her. The church they entered
seemed a sublime pile. They ascended a flight of
broad steps, and passed through a matted vestibule
into the vastest and whitest place Dr. Garde’s little
girl had ever seen. The aisles were carpeted, many
of the seats were cushioned, the pulpit was a sumpt-
uous small parlor by itself, and music, so full and
mighty that it made the air shudder with delight,
came from some invisible place. She followed god-

mother’s rustling clothes up the central aisle, and was
placed beside her in one of the most comfortably
padded pews, with footstools under foot, and books
in the racks, The tremendous congregation spread
on every hand. There were no men’s side and
women’sside! Families satin theirown seats. The
bald head of a father might be seen beside the danc-
ing, bonneted head of his daughter. Everybody
seemed solemn, but exceedingly comfortable; and
when the music ceased nothing but a whisper of fans
could be heard. Through a door at one side of the
pulpit came a saint-faced man, who ascended and
opened the Bible. He looked very nice, and not a
bit like that Mr. Joel Clark at the Rocky Fork who
cruelly mortified her one Sunday when she ventured
to peep between the leaves of her book while he was
preaching in very loud and long-soun ding words. Her
eye had just caught an old English wood-cut — pos-
sibly one of Berwick’s —when it seemed the world
was tumbling about her ears! She could not believe
her senses. Mr. Clark was pointing his finger at er,
and sinking her in seas of shame.

“That little girl,” said he, “ who is reading there,
had better close her book and listen to the sermon.”