But he did n't like to leave his oatmeal outside for fear something would happen to it , because there were always mischievous boys around , so he hoisted the bag on his back and walked into church with it and right to the top of the aisle to Grandfather King 's pew . Grandfather King used to say he would never forget it to his dying day . The minister was preaching and everything was quiet and solemn when he heard a snicker behind him . Grandfather King turned around with a terrible frown -- for you know in those days it was thought a dreadful thing to laugh in church -- to rebuke the offender ; and what did he see but that great , hulking young Isaac stalking up the aisle , bending a little forward under the weight of a big bag of oatmeal ? Grandfather King was so amazed he could n't laugh , but almost everyone else in the church was laughing , and grandfather said he never blamed them , for no funnier sight was ever seen . Young Isaac turned into grandfather 's pew and thumped the bag of oatmeal down on the seat with a thud that cracked it . Then he plumped down beside it , took off his hat , wiped his face , and settled back to listen to the sermon , just as if it was all a matter of course . When the service was over he hoisted his bag up again , marched out of church , and drove home . He could never understand why it made so much talk ; but he was known by the name of Oatmeal Frewen for years . '' Our laughter , as we separated , rang sweetly through the old orchard and across the far , dim meadows . Felicity and Cecily went into the house and Sara Ray and the Story Girl went home , but Peter decoyed me into the granary to ask advice . `` You know Felicity has a birthday next week , '' he said , `` and I want to write her an ode . '' `` A -- a what ? '' I gasped . `` An ode , '' repeated Peter , gravely . `` It 's poetry , you know . I 'll put it in Our Magazine . '' `` But you ca n't write poetry , Peter , '' I protested . `` I 'm going to try , '' said Peter stoutly . `` That is , if you think she wo n't be offended at me . ''
`` She ought XXXXX feel flattered , '' I replied .
across behind by if in into of on to with