The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-02-19
THE DONATION PARTY.
BY MRS. SARAH NJ. HAYES.

1t was eveDing--onc Of those chilly
bleak November nights, when We insensi
bly, draw closer towards the fire; and q!
the wind howls without, its mournful ton,
seems TO produce corresponding emotion.
in the mind. Mr.. and Mrs. Lindsay, IT,,
young minister Of country parish ant
his wife, were seated in their little parlor
pursuing their evening avocations by the
feeble light Of solitary tallow candle
Mr.. Lindsay was evidently bestowing con
siderable care upon the sermon he was IL
the act Of composing, and, judging from
the chronological development of his fine
head, his intellectual capacity was Of nc
common order. His wife, with whom We
have at present more to do, was a fair,
gentle looking creature, who had been &c.
lected By her husband Gas ministers gen
orally select their wives) more for her
pretty face and winning manners, than
for any knowledge she possessed Of the art
and mysteries of hcusckeeping--an ac-
mplshment-by the by, which should
be considered absolutely essential in the
education Of an American female. In our
country, where fortunes are % precarious
and help so uncertain, a wife and mother,
should be fully acquainted with the minu-
tis of department upon which the com.
fort OF her family may sometimes entirely
depend. Helen Lindsay was the daugh-
ter of broken merchant; but having
been educated while her family were in
atliuent circumstances, il was no fault Of
hers that this necessary branch Of her edu-
cation had been neglected. She now did
her utmost to remedy the evil, and as the
wife of poor minister, receiving q mea-
gre support, economy of the most rigid
description was not matter Of choice, but
Of absolute necessity. But that the strug-
gles, both physical and mental, which she
was daily obliged to undergo, were gradu-
ally undermining her health, might be
easily discovered from the wan, attenua-
ted countenance and enfeebed looking
frame, as she sat, her foot employed in
rocking the cradle, while her hands were
engaged in placing patch upon gar
men: whose dilapidrted appearance seemed
to render il only fit tor the ragnan's wal
let. But even while thus occupied, she
found time ever and anon to bestow q
ss;~s.< -vf-p.:ie &nd affection upon Ler
husband. According to the beautiful
Irish proverb, his love was the silver IL
ming to the dark cloud by which she was
envelopcd, and she felt tina. hoyel shar-
cd with him was preferable to . palace,
where he was not. Wha, singular ano-
maly is woman! In prosperity almost
invariably coy, and hard to please. 1t is
in adversely alone that her love and power
are visible; even when degraded 70 the
most menisl employment, the sacrifices she
is obliged TO make are dignihed and emo
bled By the spirit with which they are
performed. Mrs. Lindsay at length broke
the silence, which had been uninterrupted
for some time, by eIclaiming-
My dear AIN fearful you will take
cold this chill evening, sitting 80 long
without your coat. Will you not move
nearer 10 the FIRE 7" at the same time stir
ring a fire, the fuel of which had evident.
ly been disposed with view to cconomize
its consumption.
81 do feel somewhat chilled" returned
her husband, rising TO obey her request.
Mr.. Bennett promised to return my coat
in two hours; but as it needed good
deal Of mending, he has probably been
detained with it longer than he expect.
ed" Catching view of hrs wife's coun.
tenance as he arose, he continued" You
look pale and tired, my love, and it is no
wonder; the household labor you are OBJ
ligcd to perform, is too much for you,
without the care of three troublesome
children. Do you go TO bed and try to
obtain some rest; | can rock the cradle
just as well as not, while am not engaged
In writing"
Mrs. Lindsay did not, as is usual with
some wives, when she discovered her hus-
bands sympathy, recapitulate all she had
gone through with, throughout the day
she did not tell him how much it had
hurt her delicate hands TO wash, or how
sadly her bones ached, being upon her
feet all day and bending over tub. She
knew that he was acquainted with it all,
and, deeply as he felt for her situation,
that it was not in his power TO improve it.
So assuming as cheerful look as possible,
she replied
The weather Is getting 80 cold that l
want 10 have some warmer clothing ready
to put Oh little Mary in the morning; and
as flannel is 50 expensive, / thought /
would mend up this, although it is good
deal the worse for wear" But seeing her
husband about 10 resume hi. pen, she
continued" dislike to interrupt you,
Charles, especially as you have so little
leisure to make your preparations for the
Sabbath, but Mr.. and Mr.. Wiley, with
their daughter, have sent me word they
are coming TO take tea with us tomorrow,
and the truth is, there is but little in the
house TO set before them"
Mr.. Lindsay pushed the paper on
which he was writing, from him, as his
wife concluded, and . crimson Hush noun.
ted 10 his forehead, ss he arose TO his feet,
and for few moments paced the Aoor
Al