[figure description] Page 147.[end figure description]

“A nave in our church!” screamed Mrs. Partington,
as her eye rested on a description of the new edifice, and
the offensive word struck terror to her soul; “a nave in
our church! who can it be? Dear me, and they have
been so careful, too, who they took in, — exercising 'em
aforehand, and putting 'em through the catechis and the
lethargy, and pounding 'em into a state of grace! Who
can it be?” And the spectacles expressed anxiety. “I
believe it must be slander, arter all. O, what a terrible
thing it is to pizen the peace of a neighborhood deterotating
and backbiting, and lying about people, when the
blessed truth is full bad enough about the best of
us!”

What a lesson is here for the mischief-maker to ponder
upon! Truth lent dignity to her words, and gave a
beam to her countenance, reminding one somewhat of a
sunset in the fall on a used-up landscape.

Mrs. Partington, one Fourth of July, was much
incommoded by the crowd that rushed to see the procession.
She said she “did n't see the least need of scrowging
so, for she dared say the procession was full long
enough to go round.'

p677-165

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