The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1849-12-05
From Godey's Lady's Book for March.
Aunt magwire's Description of the
Donation Party.

1T TIE AUTHOR OF arHE WIDOW BEDoTr pa
PERs."
SEE-.ifs ahouta year since you was here,
ainiii, Nancy! Twas long afore you was
married, know. Well, TIERS been some
changes here since then. We've lost our
old minister, Parson Sciantum, and got a
new one. lie seems 70 be very good
man, Parson futile does--quile young yet
--jesl begun TO preach. haint ben married
bn, lille while. And his wife appear
ed like nice woman, iew. But | feel
sorry for 'em. This is trying place for
minister, and minister's vile. iew.
Though don't know bur what all places
are Jest so. All goes on slick enough vet
hut I'm aleard 'iwoni last long. They
hainl ben here bat three monlhs-and the
folks are maxim terrible fuss over 'em.
You know its The way they always dew
when they git new minister. They're
ready 10 eat him up for spell. And his
wile-lawiul sakes theirs nothing equil
tew her. They make an awful parade
about her. Such treatment splles the
minister's wives. Aloie long they begin
10 think themselves the most important
characters in crealloR--and really expect
the hull community TO lie a flying round
all the Time TO attend lew 'em. And tain,
al all surprisin i, should be soils accor.
din 10 nalur. But after spell, the min
Ter gifts to be an old story, and the people
begin 10 find fault with him. Some think
he's gi,lin' wonderful irjus; some think he
aint gifted in prayer. and he AIM sperrilu
minded enough 10 suit some others. But
the most gineral complaints, that he don't
visit enough. As ifa minister could write
tew sermons week-someiimes three
and go visi,in' every day besides. And
then his Mife-'tis astonishin' low pub
lie opinion changes consarnin' her. The
upper crust begin TO think she'sa trouble
some, helpless ctitter. Say size depends
on the congregation 10 take care Of her.
and all that. They pick flaws in every.
thing she says and does. And the under
crust call her proud-say she visits Miss
Ihisiand,d on',visit Miss Thai. lfshe in,
siies some Of her neighbors 10 drink lea
with her-some O. the rest II be mad,
cause she left them out, and say, she feels
above EN-. And so il goes on giltin'
woss and woss-she can't please nobody.
Alter spell, the deacons begin to hint 10
I've minister that It's glfin' rather hard
TO raise his salary, and wonder whether
orno he couldn't Ire on less. If he thinks
he couldn't, they wonder whether or no
he couldn't deU more good in some other
place. So al last they drive him 10 AK a
dlsmlssion, and the poor man takes his IA
mlly and goes oil somewhere else, TO @
through with The same trials and troubles
over again. And after they've been set
lied about dezen times, the minister be-
gins 10 find out that all amt gold that gilt
iers; ind his wile--lf she's a woman -
sense discovers that she aint superna-
larai being, and must take care Of herself,
like. other folks.
That's the experience o. ministers in
glneral. Know il BY my own observation
and Pm sure it had been the with The
scrantums. They'd ben settled in mum.
Der O. places afore they come here: and
Miss Scrsntum, herself, told me that j,