Sugar planter. [volume] (West Baton Rouge [i.e. Port Allen, West Baton Rouge Parish, La.]) 1856-1925, 1859-09-10
AUNT HANNAH AND THE CHURCH.

" Did | ever tell you what
time | had at our church last win
ter 2" said she to me one evening
" No! what Of it?'
" Now aint that strange?
thought had told everybody abou
it, to be sure. La wcll 1t will b.
news to you then You know
Nora TLorndale, Judge Thorndale
darter- She came over to our house
and said our congregation wer.
goin' to have a fair in the village
neetin' house,
"Do tcll," sez I. "Who's a 90
ing to preach -
son ~ said she, mighty smiling
''we aint goin' to have any preach
ing: few young persons of the
congregation, who seem to take &
deeDer interest in the church's wei
fare than the members themselves.
desire to purchase a few indispen-
sible articles for the meetin' house:
and we thought if all the church
would present us cakes and pics,
and meats and such things, we
would appoint night to sell them
in the vestry of the church, and
take the proceeds to buy the neccs-
sary articles. The plan is we'll re-
ceived especially by the young
You know the money is to be spent
for charitable purposes, and on that
account everything given US, will
sell for double its value"
:. swell, | wouldn't have believed
their Was so much wisdom left in
the world, as to have conjured up
that" sez |.
"'Tis even so," said Nora. "And
what will you give? You live on a
farm and farmers produce lots OF
things that would be acceptable"
Well, | will give two roast tur
keys and six roast chickens," sez [,
thinking that would be as mucl as
anybody could expect these hard
times. %
Umph! Well, what else }? IT'S
for the church you give it, you
know. Church members should
not be less anxious for their inter-
ests than the world.'
/" Well, III give you a jar Of
peach jam," sez I.
81 hat will help along some. A
few bushels Of apples, or a roast
pig, would be acceptable"
"She was SO ravenous, [ began
to be sorry | offered her anything.
Howsomever, l thought I'D go the
whole hog or none, so | promised
the pig and apples."
"Of course you will give us
cheese, and pies, and cakes, and
milk and cream, and then | think
you will have done your part Of
the givin'. BY the way, we arc to
have historical tableaux, and Mr.
Amos Bruce wanted you to take
the part of the Witch of End r.
All you have to do will be to dress
to represent that lady, and stand
perfectly still beh:nd'' a curtain
and people will pay something to
see you~''
"Well, rs old and ignorant, and
didn't know what | was about, I
| sent them the pig,
and the turkeys, and the chickens,
and apples, and the rest Of the
things wanted, up to the meetin'
,ouse the day before the.fair.
The next day my husband tack
ed up his old horse and chaise, to
larry me to the fair. Our old
;haise, somehow or other, don't
ook very well. There's a hole in
he top and sides, and some OF the
'pokes of the wheels ale gone. The
wheels squeak powerfully, too.-*:E
Well, we hadn't but just got into
own when it seemed as if all the
Joys out Of jail come hollerin' and
'ootin' arter us as if they were pos
essed.
"Hurrah for the Witch of En-
|or! Her chariot approached -
Make way for her majesty p
"Do ask them uns1ghtly critters
o be CIVIL" sez to my husband
my patience is gone entirely"
"At that he c]amered out of the
;haise, and after 'em l,ck-erte spit,
light as he could leg it. And, oh 4