An Odd Incident In Church

One of the f unniest iucidents whicH have recently happened in Michigan is thus related in last week's Lapeer Clarion: Rev. J. W. Fenn was jast in the middle of his sermón at the M. E. church Sunday morning and was coming to the place where he would clench his point with the wrought nail of good argument, when an incident occurred which broke him off for the moment and set the large congregation into very audible merriment. Caleb llicks sat on the front seat and his head. together with the big bass viol leaned against the wall close to the open window. Suddenly there was a loud report very much like that of a pistol, but it wasn't. The strings on the "big fiddle" had become hot from being too near the stove and one of them broke, the end oí' it hitting Mr. Hicks on the ear with great forcé, which instantly numbed that usef ul member, completely. Caleb grabbed the ear in his hañd and springing up excitedly,asked in a loud voice; "who did that?" He thought some street Arab had disturbed the sanctity of the Sabbath by shooting it off through the window, and he imagined he could feel the blood trickling from the wound. It was too funny to be cndured calmly, and the congregation roared. After a little Mr. Fenn resumed his sermón, but the gravity of his audience had evaporated and a broad smile was continuous. Even when the choir sang the closing number they could scarcely refrain í'rom casting shy glances atthe bass viol, and had to be careful not to get the "twang7' of the broken string and the "oh" of Mr. Hicks mixed with the song.