Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-02-06
CHOICE LITERATURE.
The Minister'S Dinner Party.

AShSt uHte u NeUT
The Rev. Mr.. W was an officiating
clergyman, who had charge Of little flock |
in the State Of Massachusetts, lie was pos
sessed Uf an excellent temper, generous feel
ings, and a well cultivated mind but he was
eccentric, even to od1ity. lie was power
ful speaker, and his ministration was blessed
TO the conversion OF many souls. AT the age
OF thirty-tour he became convinced that IT
Was Not good Tor man to be aly.1c :; and for
the purpose Of betterng his condition, he
maie proposals ~ Mary B-lt beautiful,
ight-hearted girl Of seventeen, daughter of
one ot his wenthiest parishioners, and who
Imagined that To refuse the hand Of the min
lister 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 humor Of his wife, and accompanied her
TO several festive parties givenby his wealthy
neighbOrs, in honor of his marriage.
One evening towards spring, the happy
couple were sitting together in their C lmfor
table parlur, the reverend gentleman deeply
buried in the study Of the venerable Bede,
and his wife equally intent upon plate of
fashion, when She suddenly looked up with
mingled expression of hope and fear, and
thus addressed her companion
My dear husband, have one request to
make
Well, Mary, anything consistent
You do not imagine that | would make
IN inconsistent request, surely?
No, not q request that you would consid-
er inconsistent. But come, what is it p
Why my dear and her voice trembed n
little, we have been to several parties a.
mong the ncighboring gentry this winter,
and now, | think that to maintain our po-
sition in society, we should give party
also.'
The minister looked blank.
What sort ofa party, Mary? he at length
said.
Why she replied. such a party as those
we have attended. We emust have an elegant
dinner and dancing after it.
Dancing in a ministers house! ezclaim-
ed Mr.. W., in surprise.
Why, yes, certainly replied his wife,
coaxingly. Tou will not dance, the party
will lie mine and Their we have been to
similar parties al the winter
True, true he muttered, with perplex-
ed mir, and sat silent for some time. At
length he said, Yes, Mary, you may make a
party, give dinner and, if the guests desire
it, you may dance
Thank you, love thank you' cried his de-
lighted wife. throwing her arms arc und his
neck and imprinttns ki~- upnn his uhoo h..
But have some stipulations to make a
bout IT,, said Mr.. W; must select and
invite the guests, and you must allow me TO
plnce some Of my fayurite dishes on the ia
BILE
As you please, love-, she answered, de-
lirhtediy, hut when shall it heF
Next "Wednesday, if you please
But our furniture and window draperie
ore very old fashioned. 1t is now time W.
had new
L should think it hardly necessary to re
furnish our rooms, Mary. All our iurnltur
is excellent nf its kind
But our smooth carpets, white draperles
and cane chairs, have such cold look:
consent to have tue rooms newly fitted W
can move these things to the unturnlshe
chambers
And of what use will they be in thos
rooms which we never occupy! Besides
is now nearly spring, md to fit up for vii
ter seems srperluous.
Well I would not care, she persisted
'werc it not that people will call us pars
mouious, and ungrntcel.'
on, ir that is all, he said, gaily, | Wi
promise to spend one thousand dollars on tt
evening or the party, not in furniture, hoy
ever. but in a manner far more gratifying
our guests. and profitable to ourselves, ar
which shall exoncrate US from all imputatiC
Of psrsmony and you may expend ndres
eatablcs aud desert Just what sum pleas
and du not forget the wines
And So the colluquy ended. The minist
resumed his studies. and his wife gave h
mind To the consideration Of the dress whi
would be most becoming and the vlands I'll
were the most expensive. Then next S
went husily about her preparations, wond'
l.. Il 4
pend the Thousand dollars; but as she h
iearne. something of the eccentricity of
character, she doubted not that he meant
give an agreeable surprise and her curic
ty grew 80 great that she could hardly sic
durin, the interval At length the nome
tonS dav arrived. The arrangements W
all complete, and Mrs. W retired
perform the all important business Of arr
ing her Guc person in fine attire. She
gcred long mt the toilet, relying on the ia
ionubl, uupunctuality of fashionable peop
and ~ lcUgth, when everything was compl
she left the room arrayel like Judith Of {
glnriously. 10 allure the eyes of all v
should look upon her, and full Of sweet sm
and graccs, notwithstanding the uncomfo
bic pncuug uf her shoes and corsets.
husband met her in the hall.
Well, NV dear. our guests have all
rived. he slil, and opened the door Of
receiving room. Wonderful! wond"rl
what m assembly There were congr
ted the crippled, the mtmed, and the bl
the ptsied, and the extreme aged. \ ~
orchldren from the almshouse were
there, who regarded the lady, some
mouths wide open, Others with both b;
thrust into their hair. while others peepeC
from behind the furniture, to the cover
which they hal retreated from her daz1
presence At first she was petrifed
nstonishmcut. then dspIeasure crossed
fac,. till, having run her eyes over the
tesuue assembly, shemet the comically .
expressiun Of her husbands coun5en,
when she burst into violent fit Of laug
during the paroxysms Of which the bur
of her corset laces could be distinctly
by the company.
Mary = said her husband, sternly.
suppressed her mirth, stammered an ex
and added,
You will forgive me. and believe
selves quite welcome
That il well done whispered Mr..
then turning to the company, he said,
NV friends AS my wife is not acqu'
" ith you, will now make a few pres
tons
Then leading her towards an ema