Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-03-07
MISCELLANY.
THE MINISTER'S DINNER PARTY.
BY LYDIA JANE PERSON.

AAILl UhlNlh0 LII . bltNlNIh n II l.
BY LYDIA JANE PERSON.
The Reverend Mr.. N WINS n oan of OK
Cellrui temper, generous feelings, and well cult
vei't mind, but he was eccentric even to oddty
He Was powerful preacher, and his minislroo
was blest to the reformation of many in his par
ish. At the age of thirty-four he became enam
ored of beautiful light-hesrted girl of seventeen
daughter 10 one of his richest parshioners anC
who imagined that to refuse the hand of the min
lister would be sin bordering hard upon the un
pardonable. Well the marriage was consumated
the brides fat portion paid and the husband a.
husbands in their first love are apt to do gave il
TO the humor OF his wife, and accompanied he
TO several festive parties given by his wealth,
neghbors, in honor of his marriage.
The happy couple were sitting together in thei,
comfortable parlor, one evening toward spring
the reverend gentleman studying the Venerable
Bede, and his wife equally intent upon plate OF
fashions, when she suddenly looked up with an
expression between hope and fear and thus ad-
dressed her companion
My dear husband, have ono reQues, 10 make.
Well Nancy, any thing consistent
You do not imagine that would make an in
consistent request, surely
mo, not request that yon considered nconsis-
tent. But come, what is il?
why, my dear SIR and her voice trenbled n
little I'VE have been TO several parties among the
SohNyJ ulu uOW MINK ttnt 10 NAM
tain our position in society, we should make n
party too The minister looked blank
What sort ola party, Nancy" he said at
length.
Why she REPLIED such party as those we
have attended. We must make an elegant din
ner and have dancing after it,
Dancing in minister's housed calculated
Why, yes, certainly replied his wife coaxing.
y. You will not dance, the party will be mine :
and then we have been to similar parties all win
ter
True, true, ne muttered with perplexed air
and sat silent for some time as if considering. At
length lie spoke. Yes, Nancy, you may make
party, give dinner, and # the guests desire il,
Thank you, love- she cried, putting her arms
around his neck.
But have come stipulatons TO make about H.
he said; | must select and invite the guests, and
you must allow me to place some of my ravorite
dishes upon the table.
AS you please, love- she answered delighted
ly, but when shall it be?
Next Wednesday, if you please
But our furniture and window draperies are
very old fashioned. 1t is now time we had new.
should think it hardly necessary to refurnish
our rooms, Nancy. All our furniture is excellent
of its kind
But our smooth carpets, white draperes and
c"ne oHnHo nave suCH u COu look, 40 consent TO
have the rooms new fitted, can move these
things to the unfinished chambers
And Of what use will they be in those rooms
which We never occupy? Besides, it is near
spring, and to fit up now for winter, is superfu-
GUS,
We'll, would not care she persisted, only
people will call US parsimonous and ungenteel.' |
'Oh, II that is all, he fad gaily, l will promise
10 expend thousand dollars on the evening of |
The party, not in furniture, but in manner which
VIII be far more grateful 10 our guests and prof.
table TO ourselves, ami which shall exonerate us
from all lmputation of parsimony and you may
expend in dress, eatables and dessert, Just what
sum you please, and do not forget the Wines.
And so the colloquy ended. He resumed his
studies and she gave her mind to the considera-
non OF the dress which would be most becoming,
and the vands that were most expensive. Then
XXI she went buslly about her preparations won.
Isrng all the limo how her husband would expend
his thousand dollars, bat as she had discovered
something OF the eccentrcity of his character,
sne doubted not thai he meant to give an agreea-
pc surprise and her curiosity grew so great that
she could hardly sleep during the interval.
AtNlength the momentous day arrived. The
arrangements were all complete, and Mrs. 8 N
'e'ired 10 perform the all important business of
,rray'ng her hne person in fine attire. She lin.
yered long at the toilet, relying on the fashiona
Die nnpuncluality of fashionable people, and when
ne muir bUuCkj ieIt HeT cnamDer arrayed like Ju-
iith Of old glorously, to allure the eyes of nil
WHO should look upon her, and full of sweet
miles and graces, notwithstanding the uncomfor.
able Pinching OF her shoes and corsels Her
husband met her in the hall
Our guests have all arrived, he said. and omen.
d The door oil the receiving room. Wonderful
What strange assembly, There
we're congregated the cripple, the MANNED and the
lind the palsisd, the extreme aged, and groun
\ children from the almshouse, who regarded ,he
ady, some with wide open mouths, others with
10Th hands in their hair, while some peeped from
ehind the furniture, to the covert of which thew
lad retreated from her dazzling presence. She
vas peri6ed with astenishment, then dispeas.
re crossed her face, ill having ran her eyes over
he grotesque assembly, she met the comically
rave expression of her husbands countenance,
When she burst INFO violent fit OF laughter, dur
ne the paroxysms of which the bursting of her
orset laces could be distinctly heard by the COM
any.
Nancy at length said her husband sterny.
he suppressed her mirlh, stammered an excuse
nd added,
You will forgive me, and believe yourselves
ute welcome
THAT is well done whispered Mr. N. Ghep.
~ irends,' he said, as my wife is no, ACQUAINTED
nth you win now make few presentatiops.'-
hen Leading her towards an emacated creature.
'hose distorted limbs were unable to support his
COY ne said, This gentleman, Nancy, 10 the Rev.
~. MICS, who In his youth travelled and endur-
much IN The cause Of our common Mastsr.-
v'oeht rheumatism, induced by colds, contrao-
~ ~ among The new settlements of the west,
'nere ne was employed in preaching the Rospsl
hs Poor, mas reduced him TO his present conIli- [