Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-12-30

one OF thOse surprise parties. re Will
make the best of it. / can warm up the
parlor in an instant
:" You will do no such thing, wife. II
will manage this affair myself And the
farmer planted his foot on the floor in
that determined manner, which long ex
perience had taught his good wife not to
oppose.
9 ] can do nothing with him. But do
not be discouraged perhaps he will
take it quietly enough she whispered to
her daughter.
And quiet enough the farmer seemed;
to be sure for he had relighted his pipe,
reseated himself in his arm chair, and
was putting away with an air OF the ut.
most Indifference. Meanwhile fresh.
guests arrived. and the preparations for
for the evening S entertainment went on.
At length the fiddler, who was seated in.
an obscure corner Of the room, commenc-
ed tuning his instrument for the occasion.
The sound seemed to rouse the farmer to
action. Taking the pipe from his mouth,
he said, in voice loud enough to ensure
the attention Of his auditors :
You are heartily welcome, good
3 Il
lneighbors. I suppose you have been on
some sleigh riding frolic, and have given
us a call on your return And stop that
scraping Simon, lie continued, turning
to the fiddler. our services are over
for the evening, I presume. =
~, no means, my good neighbours
fepiied ons-af the boldest of the guests.
On the contrasy they have just begun.
On must know this - no sleigh riding
frollc, but simply a merry party to be held
at your house, with your permission
But my permission has not been Civ
EN-" was the blunt reply, and to my
knowledge you aresno invited guests
| l have no objection to party when
choose to give. one, but every mans house
lis his own castle. That is my motto,
neighbors. No offence, hope.S
There was a general silence. In vain
Mrs. Brown and Mary uttered their
whispered remonstrances. The farmer
was lmmoYable, and at length by general
consent another place Of assembly was
decided upon, and the company vacated
the inhospitable mansion.
The farmers dreams were undisturbed,
in spite Of sundry expressions of chagrin
from his wife, and burst of tears from
the mortified daughter; and for many
days no illusion was made to the intended
surprise party.
Christmas had passed, with all its hap
Ipy and its mournful memories, and the
Hast day of the year was rapidly ap
preaching, when Mrs. Brown and Mary
were startled by sudden announcement
from the farmer, thatAif they liked to go
to surprise party Of his getting up, they
might hold themselves in readiness. the
following evening.
" A surprise party Of your getting up !!
Why husband =! was the involuntary ex-
clamatiop Of the astonshed wife, while
Mary, though silent looked at him in
equal wonder.
: Certainly what is there remarkable
in this? Cannot | get up party as
well as any other person."
No-doubt you can, father; but YOU
call it a surprise party. That is what as
tonishes u.s." 81
" 1t IS none of your new tangled sur
prises, where people take possession of
your house and all it contains, but real
old fashioned, pleasant way Of doing
a kindly turnsto neighbour 1t is sort
of donation visit (none of your beggarly
ones) to poor William Jones and his fam
lily. They have been under a cloud for
the last few months, and it is high time
that their neighbors tried to help them
to ray of sunshine. What with their
loss by the fire, and Jones long sickness
and inability to work, they must be poor-
ly provided for this winter.
! But the party, husband, tell us about
the party" interrupted Mrs. Brown. who
though heartily sympathising with the
sorrows of her neighbors, had a little
womanly curiosity to hear more of the
.proposed'party. 4
Ay, the party. That is all arranged.
| have seen all the neighbors, and they
all enter into it heart and hand. A cor.
dial reception | met with wherever
went, IN spite Of your representations
good wife, concerning the dire offence
which | must have given the other even.
ing. Twelve well loaded sleighs will
start.trom our door atseyen O'clock onl
the evening Of the last day Of the year
ready to take up their line OF march for
William Jones, and it will not be our
fault ii his cellar is not filled with annie
stock oftrqit and vegetables his she'd with
wood, and himself and family well provi-
.ded with winter clothing before the new
year dawns. But on second tbonoht
wife, continued the farmer, q belieyG
you cannot join in our frolic. Molly may
go, but you,-a word in your ear. And
the farmer drew the good dame aside and
communicated some hing in a whisper.
which called fromsher several hearty ex.
pressions OF eradication and applause.
"a dark cloud had indeed hung for
many months over the household Of Viii /
lam Jones. One misfortune had brought
another in its train, untilth despond1ng
husband and father had almost ceased To-
hope for a ray Of sanshine,s and on the
FAST evening OF the unhappy year, feeble
IN body, and dispirited IN mind, he satl
gazing upon his helpless family, while
The heavy signs which burst occasionally
IRON his oppressed heart plainly told Of
the anguish within. With afectionate
sympathy his wife bent over him.
= Do you suffer more pain than usual.
this evening, dear William? II had re.
ally hoped that you were really better
.sfFs'' And So am HAITIAN ,,4:iz-