The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Part 2.

by Mark Twain

but it went lame and halting, allpossibility of impressiveness being at an end; for even the gravestsentiments were constantly being received with a smothered burst ofunholy mirth, under cover of some remote pew-back, as if the poorparson had said a rarely facetious thing. It was a genuine relief tothe whole congregation when the ordeal was over and the benedictionpronounced.

  Tom Sawyer went home quite cheerful, thinking to himself that therewas some satisfaction about divine service when there was a bit ofvariety in it. He had but one marring thought; he was willing that thedog should play with his pinchbug, but he did not think it was uprightin him to carry it off.