The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1858-02-19

ciucf was before tne nrc ana the dish OF
, apples upon the stand. The farmer HIM
self sat in his easy chair, apparently occu-
pied with his pipe, and Mrs. Wiley, with
, her feet upon footstool, seemed DOING
over her knitting.
4" am not, said she, at length, looking
J up from her work-"I am not dreaming.
as you suppose; but the fact is, cannot
!. get our young minister and his family out
of my mind ever since the afternoon we
were there TO tea, and thu. is three days
ago" Seeing her husband had laid down
his pipe, that her daughter had laid down
the book she was reading, and that they
were both giving her their attention, Mrs
Wiley continued" Ii is true, / am but
aplain woman, but have eyes as well as
others, and do not think we, who have
plenty of every thing the world can give
US to make US comfortable, think as much
rs We ought to do Of how those get along
who have but dollar or two at . time,
and place to put even that before it
comes TO hand. | do not like to speak Of
these things, but did you notice how very
plain their tea was, and yet little Harry
said, Mother, how good this butter does
taste !" plainly showing that they had
gone TO some extra preparations to enter
tain us And then Mrs. Lindsay, poor,
little soul what would be but a few
hours work for NE is days labor for
her; but she cannot help it, poor thing,
and II is hard to do when one has nothing
to do on.
"Since you speak Of it," said the farm
er, seriously, q think, too, that our min
isters countenance, notwithstanding his
good looks, does not appear as it used to
do. He seems all the time trying to be
cheerful when he does not feel SO. But
if it is because he is not paid, why don't
he say SO! for one pay my subscription
regularly.
"Why, father" said Emma Wiley, 81
am sure he did say from the pulpit tha
the winter was about here, and if his sup
porters felt able, he would feel grateful
for the amount of their subscriptions
The fact is, | do pity ministers in little
country places; they have nothing bu.
their salaries to depend upon, and they
are afraid to leave a situation, let them be
i. <.-r-,~ = kaI ~. F~- s0~~ abey- ~sss-f
another. | have heard some Of the con-
gregation blame Mrs. Lindsay; but if she
was ever so good manager, ! do not be-
leve they could get along with comfort on
what he is paid. She is busy from morn
ing until night; and last week when l
called, she was doing her ironing with her
baby lying upon the table on which she
was at work. Z"
1t is too hard" said the farmer, whose
sympathies were strongly aroused, sending
forth column Of smoke that his mind wa.
good deal agitated But what is to be
done? cannot support the family, and
unless DO, as money i. SO scarce, | fear
nothing that will do much good can be
accomplished.
"Why," said Mrs. Wiley" Why can
not things that will answer the same pur-
pose as money be given? If some of us
were to Join, and make what is called a
Donation Party, we might give what would
at least supply his table for some time and
never feel il"
Il have heard of such things, wife"
said the farmer, earnestly, and | think
it would be capital idea. Many then
could present little matter that they
would not know how to send at an ordina-
ry time
Mother" said little John Wiley, get
ting up and coming 70 his mothers knee,
al know what Donation Parties are, and
/ will give my new dollar to put in the
basket"
And l." said Emma, "will knit
purse and put in it Johns dollar and my
five dollar gold piece that have been
keeping 10 buy pencil"
4" Hurrah % said the farmer, "here is q
good beginning, wife-six dollars raised
already !"
"God bless you, my children" said
Mrs. Wiley" you will never be any the
poorer; and if live until tomorrow, l
will call on some Of the neigbors and be-
stir myself to see what can do"
And Mrs Wiley did bestir herself she
was indefatigable in her exertions for sew
eral days, and was delighted to find so
many of the congregation enter warmly
into her scheme. All that had been want
ing was one active Christian 10 move first
in tho matter. The Donation Party was
given, and it would have done your heart
good to have seen the gifts come pouring
in. Farmer Wiley drove up in his wagon
with a barrel Of -four and couple Of hams;
several others followed his example while
many brought butter, lard, eggs, poultry,
&C., in the greatest profusion. Mr.. Ben
net, the tailor, was a good man and
Christian, but he was not able to present
Mr.. Lindsay with coat; he, however,
volunteered TO make it, and young jour-
neyman, whose organ Of bcnevolence was
pretty largely developed, undertook to raise
s subscription to buy it. The coat was
got, and proud man was Mr.. Bennett as
he carried the handsome new coat to the
Donation Party. The millincr had long
lamented that Mrs. Lindsay was Obliged
10 wear such n shabby bonnet. She would