The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-02

v 1
nd help the girls off with their things" Q
But now another laundering rap at the II
oor, and the arrival Of new party Of guests, e
xcited still more wonder in the mind Of the 81
erplexed farmer while Mary, although she b
ndeavored to appear at her ease. cast many b
in anxious glance towards her father. 4
Still more arrivals the old Kitchen was {
apidly filling with guests. Mrs. Brown was Q
by her husba nd's eide and whispered an en-
coura ging W ord in his ear.
"Never mind, husband. 1t must be one
of those parties. We will make the best Of
it. I can warm up the parlor in an instant.'
"You will do no such thing, wife. Twill
manage this affair myself" And the farmer
planted his foot on the floor in that determin.
ed manner, which long experience had taught
her not to oppose.
81 can do nothing with him. she whisper.
ed to her daughter. "But do not be discour'
aged 1; perhaps he will take it quietly !,
enough" ..
And quiet enough the farmer seemed, to be
sure for he hod re.lighted his pipe, re-seat.
ed himself in his arm chair, and was putting
away with an air Of the utmost Indifference.
Meanwhile fresh guests arrived, and the pre-
parations for the evenings entertainment
went on. At length the fiddler, who was
seated in on obscure corner of the room,
commenced 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 en-
sure the attention OF his auditors
"You are heartily welcome, good neigh.
bors. suppose you have been on some
sleigh-riding frolic, and have given US call
on your return. Draw up to the fire as many
of you as can find room, and warm yourselves
before you 60 home. And stop that scra ping
Simon," he continued turning TO the fiddler
"Your services are over for the evening,
} presume"
, "By no means, my good neighbor," re
r piled one Of the boldest OF the guests. "Ol
the contrary, they have just begun. Yol
must know this is no sleigh.riding irolc. bu
simply merry party to be held at your house
0 with your permission"
"But my permission has not been given,
, was the blunt reply, "and to my knowledge
d you are net invited guests. have no objec
y tioDs to party when choose TO give one
4 but every mans house is his own castle.-
= Thut's my motto, neghbors. No offence,
hope"
Y There was general silence. Many
merry party had been held in the villag
;. without the consent of those upon WHOM
d they had ntruded, but none against thei
n openly expressed wishes. In vain Mrs
Brown and Mary uttered their whispered re
:. monstrances. The former was immovable
y and at length, by general consent, anothe
Y place of assembly was decided upon, and III
company vacated the inhospitable mansion
Is The farmers dreams were undsturbed, j
d spite of sundry expressions Of chngrin fror
d his wife, and burst of tears from his morti
fed daughter and for many days no alusio'
was made to the intended surprise party.
}. Christmas had passed with all its hspp
!. and muurnfu memories, and the last day Q
| the year was rapidly approaching, when MI
1t Brown and Mary were startled by sudde
announcement from the farmer, that If the
r. liked to go to surprise party Of his gettin
ID up. they might hold themselves in readnes
the following evening",
e "a surprise party of your getting up +
!. Why, husband !" was the involuntary exclt
D, nation OF the astonisbed wife, while Mar!
t. though silent, looked at him with equ,
4. wonder.
Of "Certainly what is there remarkable j
n. that! Cannot l get up a party as we'll 4
DI any other person ?"
,e "No doubt you can, father but you coll
Iy surprise party. That is what astonishe
8. u.s."
ar II call it by it's right name, Polly, or Mo
a ly, il you like it better. 1t is none Of you
q, new.fangled surprises, where people tax
pc possession OF your house and ell it contain
N but real o'd.fashioned, plea SAINT way Of d.
ut ing kindly turn to a neighbor. 1t ia 80
8. of donation visit (none OF your beggar
p. ones) to poor William Jones ond his fami
ed They have been under cloud for the la
ly few months, and it is time that their neg
ok bors tried to help them to ray OF sunshin
at What, with their loss by the fire, and Joue
M. long sickness and inability to work, th'
must be poorly provided for this winter"
IT. "But the party, husband, tell US abo
u. that" interrupted Mrs. Brown, who. thou
on heartily sympathzing with the sorrows
lin her neishbors, had little womanly curiosi
W. to hear more Of the proposed entertainer
nts "Ay, the party. That is all arranged.
me have seen ell the neighbors, and they
lat enter into it, heart and hand. A cordial I
ception met with wherever I went, in sp
* Of your representations, good wife, concel
his ing the offence which must have given
me other evening. Twelve we'll loaded slee
will start from our door at I o'clock on I
evening of the last day Of the year, ready
toke up their line of march for Wilt
no. Jones'. and it will not be our fault il bis C
Ihy lar is not we'll filed with an ample stock
'fe' fruit and vegetables. his shed with wood, a
en- himself and his family well supplied W
L | .,;nAn- nlnfhinn hafnra thu nam uaap dam,