Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-08-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
The DeacOn's Dinner Party.

that ever lived. So at least said his friends
and neighbors, who certainly ought to know,
and for enemies, he had probably not one in
the world. 1t is true, however, that the re-
mark above quoted, was generally made as a
sort OF apologetic preface to something like
the following: ''But then he has such queer
notions; he is so unlike ybody else. that we
hardly know what to make of him" Perhaps
these worthy people were oblivious of the fact
that in order to be very good, it is often a
painful necessity to be different from ones
neighbors.
We cannot better illustrate Deacon Good
wins peculiarities than by describing little
entertainment given by him at his country
seat not long ago. For the Deacon, with all
his unworldly goodness, is prosperous mer-
chant in New York. and the owner (by per-
fectly fair means) not only of brown stone
front in the city, but of charming suburban
residence. The Deacon's wife, though very
good woman in her way, was far less pecu-
: liar parsonage than her husband. She fell
quite gracefully into an amiable conformity
! with the ways of the world, and is not to be
| distinguished from the thousands of good wo-
men-of the wealthy class-who throng our
city churches. Their two daughters, Adelaid
aud Miss Ellen, had just left the restraints of
their fashionable school, and enjoyed the pros
/ pect of coming out another winter, as full
| fedged members of society
Husband" said Mrs. Deacon one May
morning, soon after the family migration to
the country, Husband, you know we did not
give that dinner that we were proposing last
wiIter, what do you say to having it here in
stead. We are SO Convenient to the city that
they can easily come in coaches"
You gave large party, did you not,
which included all that should have been
your dinner guests"
Dear me, yes but that was quite differ
ent thing. Now at this little affair L am
speaking Of, should want only our most par
ticular friends"
''Oh! if that is the plan, 1 like it well," re
joined the warm hearted Deacon. But why
not ask them 20 pass week with us?''
''Ask-whomI"
Well, your brother Johns family first,
the children would enjoy it-and then"
"Oh. you don't understand me at ALL l
mean only few of the best families, whose
acquaintance 1t is most desirable to cultivate.
Really, wife, it does not seem quite hon
orable to invite guests for our own selfish pur
poses. | can sell hardware with a clear con-
science, but the hospitalities of my house"
Who wants to sell the hospitalites of your
house. No, no, my dear; that is one of your
odd notions. Everybody in society does just
as am proposing And after all, this invi
ting Is only doing as We would be done by"
True, true" said the Deacon, with mer
ry laugh, but why not do this favor to some
one who will value it; to whom it will be a
real kindness? There are hundreds, now.
whom L could name, to whom day spent
among these green trees, in the fresh, sweet
air of the country, would be an event to re-
member for year.
! ''Oh. if you mean charitable visit, that is
very good in its place, but very different from
the matter [ have in hand. For our child
ren's sake, my dear, it really is duty to hold
our place in good society,"
The Deacon was always accessible to con-
! siderations of duty. He merely said:
Well, name your day, and give me the
| list. / will have the invitations sent from my
! Office
| "A capital thought; your accountant there
Eames, you know the families to whom we are
under the greatest obligations. Iwould have
the company select as possible, and will
try to make the whole affair pass off finely"
said the worthy lady. beamiDg already with
amiable complacency upon her prospective
guests.
The expected day arrived Mrs. Goodwin
and daughters, their elegant toilets at last
perfected, were seated in the drawing ROOM
whose long windows looked across a cool We
randall, and commanded the way of approach
from the city. Though the fingers very oc-
cupied with light fancy work, expectant eyes
were glanc;ng cont annually down the road to
meet the first arrival.
No one will come for an hour yet. you
may be sure" said Mrs G. Your father
has such horror of late hours that he wan
ted US to be dressed and waiting by o'clock
~ never saw an omnibus on this road be-
FORE. said Miss Ellen as one of those plebe-
ian vehicles made its appearance over the
brow of the hill.
Chartered for some special purpose" said
her mother absently, as she unused upon the
dinner
There is another" said Adelaide
And another" added Ellen
There Is quite procession of them,' said
the mother
And the first one is stopping at our gate,'
exclaim ed Ellen.
''What in the world can all these forlorn
looking creatures want herer cried Adelaide
in CONSERVATION.
do go and send them away before our
company comes,'' said Miss Goodwin
Il have seen some of them at the Indus
trial School, said Ellen with a sudden gleam
Of merrlment; 'can this be one of fathers Gu
rious tricks?'
1T certainly is, replied Adelaide, ''for
there he comes himself out of the last omni-
bus"
And in fact the good Deacon was now seen
making his way through the crowd of poor
people, who stood humbly waiting near the
gate and Offering his arm to a Yithered old