The Shasta courier., 1867-01-12
SHASTA COURIER.
THE DEACoN,s DINNER.

Deacon Goodman was the very best nan
that ever lived. So at least said bis friends
and neighbors, who certainly ought to know (;
and for enemies, he probably had not one IN
the world. It is true however, that the re-
mark above was generally made as a sers Of
apologetic preface to something like the fol-
lowing:
= But then he has such queer notios ,he
is SO unlike an-hady else, tlla. We -. = =
know what to make of him."
Perhaps these worthy people were obliv.
ious of the fact that in order to be very good,
it is often painful necessity to be different
from our neighburs.
We cannot better Illustrate Deacon Good
mans peculiarites than by describing lit
tie entertainment given by him at his coun-
try seat not long ago. For the Deacon,
with all his unworldly goodness, is a pros
porous merchant in New York. and the
owner (by perfectly fair means) not only OF
a brown stone front in the city, but subur
ban residence. The Deacon's WIFE though
a very good woman IN her way, was tai
less peculiar parsonage than her hush nd. =
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 women, of the wealthy class, whc
throng our city churches.
Their two daughters, Miss Adelaide and
Miss Ellen, bad just eft the restraints Of
their fashionable boarding school, and en-.
joyed the prospect Of coming ort" the
next winter, as full fedged members OF
society.
" Husband" said Mrs. Goodman, one
May morning, soon after the family mi
grated to the country, Husband, you know
we did not give that dinner that we were
proposing last winter; what do you say to
having it here instead. We are so con
venlent to the city that they can come out in
coaches"
8 You gave large party, did you not,
which included all the guests that should
have been at your dinner"
Dear me, yes But that was quite a
different thing. Now, at this little affair
am speaking Of, should want only our par
ticular friends'
oh if that is the plan, ike it well, y
said the warm hearted Deacon. But why
not ask them to pass & week with rs?
: Ask-whom ~
Well, your brother Johns family first
the children would enjoy it-and then
"Oh, you don't understand me at all :
| mean only a few of the best families,
whose acquaintance is most desirable to cul
tivate.N
Really, wife, it does not seem quite hon
orable to invite quests Eer- o,St.-se'4's,l b
purposes. l can sell hardware with good
conscience, but the hospitaities of my
house,
"WLo wants TO sell the hospitalities of
your house? No, no, my dear-that is one
of your odd notions. Everybody in society
does just as am proposing. And, after ali,
this inviting is only doing as we would be
done by"
True, true" said the Deacon, with a
merry laugh. " But why not do this favor
to some one who will value it, to whom it
would be a real kindness? There are hun
dreds l could now name, to whom a day
spent among these green trees. in the sweet.
fresh air Of the country, would be an event
to be remembered for years"
''Oh, if you mean charitable visit, that
is very good in its place, but different from
the matter | have in hand For our chill
drens sake, my dear, ii is really duty to
hold our place in good society"
The Deacon was always accessible to con-
siderations Of duty. lie merely remarked:
Well, name the day, and give me the
list, l will have the invitations sent from nv
office"
$ A capital thought; your accountant is
such a splendid penman! And as to the
names, you know the families 20 whom we
are under tae greatest obligations. would
have the company as select as possible. and
| will endeavor to make the affair pass off
pleasantly" said the worthy lady, smiling
with amiable complacency upon her pro
spective guests.
The expected day arrived and Mrs.
Goodman and daughters, their elegant tot
lets at last perfected, were seated in the
drawing room, whose long windows looked
across a cool verandah, and commanded the
way of approach from the city. Though
their fingers were occupied with light fancy
work, expectant eyes were glancing contin-
uously down the road to meet the first arri-
val.
g No one will come for an hour vet. vou
may be sure," said Mrs. G. I" Your father
has such a horror of late hours, that he
wanted us to be dressed and waiting hy four
O'clock
'' never saw an omnibus on this road be-
FORE" said Miss Ellen. as one of those
plebian vehicles made its appearance over
the brow Of the hill.
"Chartered for some special purpose. 3"
said her mother, absentiy, as she mused upon
her dinner.
There is another" said Adelaide.
And another" said Ellen.
" There is quite procession of them, .
said the mother.
"And the first one is stopping at our
gate. y exclaimed Ellen.
= What in the world can all those forlorn
looking creatures want here?' cried Ade-
laide in CONSERVATION.
Do 60 and send them away. before our
company comes,o said Mrs Goodman.
u have seen some of them at the Indus
trial School," said Ellen, with sudden
CLEAN of merriment Can this be one Of
fathers curious tricks y
at certainly is, for there he comes out
of the last omnibus ~ exclaimed Adelaide.
And. in fact the good Deacon was now
seen making his way through the crowd, who
stood hurriedly waiting near the gate, anC
offered his arm to an old lady in rusty bonn
bazine. who had been among the first arr
walls. He presented her and the foremost o
his guests to his lady, who stood all in rus