Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-08
MIS- c Ell l. A N Y.
THE SURPRISE PARTY.
ny ANNA RAYMOND.


whi.,ling in ftful blasts around the rarson-
age nesting 80 pleasantly among the bills
Of New Jersey. From the library windows
looking toward the eastern sky. hrish,
light streams ou, in the dense darkness ;
within cheerful FIRE Is cracking and burn
Ing In the CRATE, and the minister laying
aside his pen turns from the de.k, s,rewn
with manuscript. and with his head resting
against the cushions OF an easy chair, looks
,houchtfully into the glowing crate. The
clock in the adjoining room chimes tho hour
Of nInc-it is the hour he usually joins his
wlic in her room. for social converse, bu, he
forcc,s this now, forcets tha, two hours
earlier. hi- two little ones, the .jcvcls OF the
household. had come in for their good nigh,
kiss. and ,ha, their soft. musical voices fcll
pleasantly upon hi. ear as they sad. i" good
night. father" and tha, the mother had
been sitting alone all ,ha, time. and wa.
now listening for his footsteps. her eye,
ever and anon wan Iering TO the door lead.
Ing to tic library.
Halt an hour-,he library door open.
noiselcs'ly, and pale. sweet face on which
purity Of though, is written. looks in (; -" II
he il writing will not disturb him, ,hc
thinks. bu; he is not, and gliding to his
eide. she puts gently hack the dark hair
that had fallen over hi- brow, and looks
down In tho up,urncd face as though she
would read the thoughts that - absorbed
hi. mind. 4 A.milc steals over the ministers
face a. hls eye. NEE, the loving ehnca, aud
drawing chair for hsr, BY his eide. 10
says:
=" seem to have forgotten yon have becn
sitting alone this evening, ba, have been
thinking o, our soldiers their tents are
poor protection from this driving storm,
and the picket. are drcnched aud chilled,
while W. az, sheltered within oUr pleasant,
home. And 1t j. TO secure TO Us and our
children the blessings OF the noblcst govern.
men, on which the sun ever shone, and 10
p,rpe,ua,e our free institutions, that they
suffer the rrivation' Of camp lie. AMI Of
fer their lives sacrifice
81. too. have been thinkin: Of our sol.
di,rs. AMI have come to make suggestion"
his vile said. and her fingers were busy
kni,,n: u mit,en for some soldier. tor though
shc kept bu, one servant, and employed no
sram.,rc.s. set .hc found time To DO much
Tor the comfort Of the brave defenders OF
our country. She he.itatei. and i. was
NJ, until her husband questioned her ,ha,
enc said
Every winter since you have been pas.
tor OF this people, they have given u- DO.
nation visit; It has always been very acccr-
table and gratefully received, for often the
money and article. were very much needed.
Now when they ak when 1t will suit II. TO
opcn our house Tor their reception. villa, II
We should cay we'll have no donation witt
this year? The money which i pa, aside
Tor u. would purchase many comforts Tor
the soldiers. some Of whom have families
with u.. who mis-, the laSurcs to which
they have been accustomed"
But how about that new cloak, and
the blankets you were to buy with that
money to replace the two you s'nt u the
army" he said smilin: fonily, Tor he IA
vorei the proposition; bu, remembering
she had said go, We will DO without the
blankets, and after the visit will get one
new one" hc pa, tie question for the pleas.
ure ot hearing an answer.
"is shall wear my old cloak until the war
/, over; wha, II it is old fashioned and
We do very well wi,hOu, the blankets. !
should not consent 20 the yisl, a, all, this
wear. were It no, you are wanting some new
books. and ouch; to have ,hcn. Mrs. Will
liz. whose husband was shot while on pick.
e, duty, is lci, poor, her eldes, child is III.
and I've been thinking, perhaps word from
tho parsonage would Oil her pantry with
provision. and her wood.house with fuel"
Z" Some good arcel has been with us, put
ting it into our hearts TO forge, self. and re-
member those who are ia silliciiOn or ex.
posed to danger;" and very gently hi' arm
stole around her. and as Ter hand rested
agains, his shoulder 10 told her the same
thoughts had been ,lronsine his mind
there were others who needed the gifts Of
the people more than themselves. II not.
they wo1ld no, permit IL this year for all
had given literally for the benedt OF the
volunteers. lie should do without the new
books. True. it required grci, self denial,
but should hc preach what be Is unwilling
to practice?
So when the committee called a, the par
sonago TO make arrangements for the Z" an.
nual visit" they were surprised to hear
that none was desired.
Just like our good dominic and his wife,
always thinking Of Others. but never Of
themselves" said farmer Von Doren. who
believed in keeping up the good old customs
his forefa,hers had brought with them from
the " Fader.land." Z" Well, they'll loose
nothing-wo'll eco IL our parsonage '.n't to
ring with merry yoices once in the year
though it'll be sad enough 10 miss the
younger ones-but well see and bidding
the neghbors who repeated the news 'good
morning." he hurried home to consult with
his vile. whose bushsl Of doughnuts al.
ways won tho admiration oi the juveniles
who attended these annual visits.
III l.aaliau ,isil M Tia m x.,pa a. a.u q. q.