The church was a square wooden edifice, of medium size, and contained
three stoves all burning brightly. Against this, and the drowsy effect of
their long drive in the sun and wind, my two companions proved powerless
to struggle.
Grandpa looked furtively up at Grandma, then endeavored to put on as a
sort of apology for what he felt was inevitably coming, a sanctimonious
expression which was most unnatural to him, and which soon faded away as
the sweet unconsciousness of slumber overspread his features. His head
fell back helplessly, his mouth opened wide. He snored, but not very
loudly. I looked at Grandma, wondering why her vigilance had failed on
this occasion, and lo! her head was falling peacefully from side to side.
She was fast asleep, too. She woke up first, however, and then Grandpa
was speedily and adroitly aroused by some means, I think it was a pin;
and Grandma fed him with bits of unsweetened flag-root which he munched
penitently, though evidently without relish, until he dropped off to
sleep again, and she dropped off to sleep again, and so they continued.
But it always happened that Grandma woke up first. And whereas Grandpa,
when the avenging pin pierced his shins, recovered himself with a start
and an air of guilty confusion, Grandma opened her eyes at regular
intervals, with the utmost calm and placidity, as though she had merely
been closing them to engage in a few moments of silent prayer.
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