A hearty laugh she seemed to regard as almost a crime. A
cheerful laugh upon any occasion would cause her to shake her head in a
rueful manner, and denounce it as untimely mirth. Upon one occasion she
went to hear a preacher that had lately arrived in the neighboring
village. This same preacher was remarkable for drawing dismal pictures,
and was very severe in his denunciations, while he quite forgot to offer
a word of encouragement to the humble seeker after good. Upon the
Sabbath in question Mrs. Talbot returned from church, and seated herself
at the dinner table with a countenance of most woeful solemnity. Her
husband at length enquired, how she had enjoyed the sermon. "Oh!"
replied she, "he is a preacher after my own heart, and his sermon
explained all my views clearly." "Indeed," replied Mr. Talbot, "he must
have a wonderful flow of language to have handled so extensive a
subject, in the usual time allotted to a sermon." His answer displeased
her very much. Among her other gloomy forebodings she always seemed sure
of the fact that Mr. Talbot would survive her; and she replied: "That is
always the way. You make light of every thing I say; and I only hope you
wont have all these things to repent of when I shall be no more.
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