The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-10-12
Wisfellauenns.
TIE DEAooH's DINNER PARTY.

Deacon Goodman was the very ipest man
il,at ever lived. So at lcust said Ills friends
and dncighl'ors. who certainly ought to know,
and for IN m;rs h." probably had not one 10
tie world. II is true however, that the re.
mark alnve quoted was genearlly made ~
sor of apOlogetic preface 10 something
like the following: - But then le has
such queer notions, he Is 10 unlike anybody
else. that We harIly know what to make
Of HIM" Perhaps tlirsa worthy people
were obliyious of the fact that in onler to
he vey good, it is often painful necessity
To l'e different from one's neiglibon.
We cannot letter illustrate Deacon Good
mans pcc,llinritics iI,an by describing a
litle entertainment given Ivy him at the
country sent not long ago. For the Deacon,
with all his unworthy goodnesS Is q pros
J~ro,,s merchant in New York, and the
owner (ly perfectly fair means) not only
ofa br,wn ~tohe fr'nt 10 the city, hat Of
charming suburban residence. The Dca.
con wife, though \ very good woman IN
her way, wus n lar less Iecliliar parsonage
than her husband. She fell quite gruce.
fully into Nh nn,iahIe conformity with the
ways Of the woril, and Is not to be distin.
guisl,ed from the thousands OF good wo.
men-of the wealthy cla>s who il,rong
our city churches. Their two daughters,
Miss Adelaide mud Miss Ellen. had just lcfl
the restraints Of their fashionable school
and rIlioyc,l the pr,spect Of coming out
another winter. rs full Hedgcd members Of
society. ...
.Hislmn,i,'' said Mrs. Deacon, one May
morning soon after the family migration 10
the co,,nrry, " Husband, you know We did
not give that dinner that We were propos
ing last winter, what 'lo you say to having
il here instead. We arc Nd convenient to
the city iI,ut they can ensly come out in
coaches."
You gave large party, did you not,
which included NIL that should have been
ymir dinner guests" .... ID
aD,ar mc, yes! hut that was quite
different thing. Nav nj this little affair
aim speaking of, ] should want only our
mos, yartic,llar friends"
"Oh IL that Is the plan, I like Il well"
rwioined The warin-l,eartcd Deacon. Bll
why not ask them to pass week with us =
"Ask-whomi" ......-....
,'well, your brotller Johns family first (;
the children would enjoy it-and thtn-
I mean only few m the hest fnmilies.
whose acquaintance is most desirnble to
cultivate"
"Rcully, wife. Il does not seem quite
honoral,le to cnvi,a quests fw or own SCI
fiji, purposes. can sell hard ware with
q good co,,science, but tho inequalities Of
nv ho,,ss-' =
"Wbo wants to sell the inequalities Of
your house? No, no. my dear, that -
one Of your o,ld notions. Everybody in
society dos jus, as am proposing. And
after al dis enviting Is only doing ns we
would 10 dops by"
..Trse, tine, said tho Deacon, with .
merry hugh. But why not do this favor
10 so,,,c one who will value Il, 10 whom Il
will be real kindncss? There arc hun.
,ire,ls now whom could name, TO whom
day spent sn,onE these green trues, in the
fresh, sweet air Of the country, would be
an event to remember for yrsr.' n e.
sOh. if you mean q charitable visit, tl.at
h very good In is place, bait very different
from the mat,rr have in hand. For our
childrcnS sake, my dear. L really u duty
60 hoM our place in good society" 80.
The Deacon WIS always accessible to
considerations of duty. Ne merely aid:
"well ns'ne the dry. snd sivs rnc the
la ] viii have tho invitations sent from
my otice." 'r''s.ta .
"a capital thought; your secOantsn,
tlscrv 10 such q splendid pcnmsn. And -
10 tho names, you know The families 70
whom We arc underline grcatea oh'igssSous'
lwouh have the company a seIeet = poe.
sshlc. sod win ny 10 n,ate ne whole sf'
fair pass OF finely" nd the wostf!y 'sdy,
beaming slseady with snisb'e eomPssosuey
upon her prospective gucSts. u !
Tho expected day arrived. h1 Good.
man and daughters, their elesint toilet,