The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1855-06-06
The Minister'S Partv.

we'll cultivated mind, but he was eccentric even
to oddity. He was powerful speaker, and his
ministration was blessed to the conversion of
many souls. At the age of thirty -four be be-
came convinced that it was not good for ssman
to be alone" and for the purpose of bettering
his condition he made proposalsto Mary B,
a beautiful light hearted girl of seventeen,
daughter Of one of his wealthiest parishioners,
and who imagined that to refuse the hand of
the minister would be a sin bordering hard upon
the objectionable In due time the marriage
was consummated, the brides snug portion
paid and the happy husband, as husbands in
their first love are apt to do, gave up to the HUI
NOR of his wife, and accompanied her to several
festive parties given by his wealthy neighbors
inAonor of his marriage.
One evening toward spring the happy couple
were sitting togetherin their comfortable parlor,
the reverend gentleman deeply buried in the
study of the venerable Bede, and his wife
equally intent upon the plate of fashion, when
she suddenly looked up with mingled ex-
preston of hope and fear, and thus addressed
her companion: IS. - .... .---
my dear husband, 1 have one request to
make ..--.
''Well, Mary, anything consistent"
You do not imagine that would make an
inconsistent request, surely"'
"No, not a request that YOU would consider
inconsistent. But come, what is it?'' .
"Why, my DEAR" and her voice trembled
little, 'we have been to several parties among
the neighboring gentry this winter, and now, l
think, to maintain our position in society, we
should give party also" A.. .....
The minister looked blank. t7 .0 -
What sort of party, Mary?" he at length
said
"Why," she replied, sssuch a party as those
we have attended. We must have an elegant
dinner and dancing after it,
"Dancing in minister's house!" exclaimed
Mr.. W in surprise
"Why, yes, certainly,' replied his wife,
coaxngly. "1ou will not dance, the party will
be mine, and then we have been to similar par
ties all wnter'
"True, true" he muttered with perplexed
air, and sat silent for some time. At length he
said, Eyes, Mary, you may have party, give
a dinner, and if the guests desire it, you may
dance.'
"Thank you, love, thank you," cried his de-
lighted wife, throwing her arms around his neck
and imprintng kiss upon his cheek.
it," said Mr.. W, Il must select and invite
the guests, and you must allow me to place
some of my favorite dishes on the table,
GAS you please, love-" she answered, delight
edlv. "but when shall it be!'
Next Wednesday, if you please"
"Butour furpiture and window draperies are
very old fashioned. 1t is now time we had
new.
II should think it hardly necessary to refur-
nish our rooms, Mary. All our furniture is ex-
celent Of its kind.''
"But our smooth carpets, white draperies,
and cane chairs, have such cold look. Dc
consent to have the rooms newly fitted we can
move these things to the unfurnished cham
| bers.'
'*And of what use will they be in those
rooms which we never occupy? Besides, it is
now nearly spring, and to fit up for winter
seems superhuous." q
"Wel, | would not care" she persisted,
"were it not that people would call us pars
monious and ungenteel'
"Oh if that is all" he said, gaily, Il will
promise to spend one thousand dollars on the
evening of the party, not in furniture, however,
but in a manner far more gratifying to our
guests, and profitable to ourselves, and which
shall exonerate US from all imputation of parsi-
mony, and you may expend in dress, eatables
and desert just what sum you please, and do
not forget the wines''
"And so the colloquy ended. The minister
resumed his studies and his wife gave her mind
to the consideration of the dress which would
be most becoming, and the vivands that were
the most expensive. The next she went busi]y
about her preparations, wondering all the time
how her husband would expend the thousand
dollars, but as she had learned something Of
the eccentricity Of bis character she doubted
notthat he meant to give an agreeable surprise,
and her curiosity grew so great that she could
hardly sleep during the interval.
Atength the momentous day arrived. The
arrangements were all complete, and Mrs.
W retired to perform the a]l-lmportant
business of arraying her fine person in fine
attire. She fingered long at the toilet, relying
on the fashionable unpunctuality of fashionable
complete she left the room arrayed like judith
Of old, gloriously, to allure the eyes of all who
should look upon her, and full of sweet smiles
and graces, Notwithstanding the uncomfortable
pinching of her shoes and corses. Her hus-
band met her in the hall.
"Well, my dear our guests have all arrived,' p
he said, and opened the door Of the receiving
room. Wonderful! wonderful! What an as
sembly! There were congregated the crippled,
the MANNED, and the blind, the palsied and the
extreme aged. A group of children from the
aims house were also there, who regarded the
lady, some with mouths wide open, others with
both hands thrust into their hair, while others
peeped out from behind the furniture, to the
covert of which they retreated from her daz-
zling presence. At first she was petrified with
astonlshment, then displeasure crossed her
face, till having run her eyes over the grotesque
she met the comically grave express
sion Of her husbands countenance, when she
burst into a fit of laughter, during the parox-
7sms of which the bursting of her corset laces
could be distinctly heard by the company.
"Mary!' said her husband, sternly. She
her mirth, stammered an excuse,
ind added,
you will forgive me, and believe yourselves
Iuite welcome .. ..
"That is well DONE" whispered Mr.. W
hen turning to the company, he said: