Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-06-19
The Surprise Party.


Characteristic. Hope, an ;nralid !;
Mrs. Hope, his wife Deacon Bigot !;
Mrs. Grim Mrs. Bright; Jimmy and
Caroline Bright, and Others.
ScENE-A poor kitchen. Mr.. Hope en-
reloped in blankets IN an easy chair. Mrs.
Hope sewing.
Mr.. Hopc-Well, Mary, we have been
through all sorts of hardships and trials,
but we have never had anything like this
You are toiling day and night to earn our
daily bread, and l can only sit and look on.
Mrs. Hope.-Don't fret, John. There's
nothing half so bad for the typhus as wor-
riment of the mind. Law sakes, it don't
hurt me to work. I'm used to it.
MIR. H.-But know that is the last
stick of wood, and there is nothing to cat
in the house. We've served the Lord in
our poor way good many years, and it's
hard work to trust in Him when starva-
ton starcs us in the face.
Mrs. H.-Now don't talk so John. It's
wicked to doubt the promises. Take q sip
of this nice broth, and you won't be SO
gloomy. Trust in the Lord and do good,
aud verify thou shall be fed. When you
get well you will feel better.
Mr.. H.-What woman you are, Mary !!
You would make ME laugh if were dying,
mixing up broth and religion in the same
breath.
Mrs. H.-Wcll, l don't believe in any
religion that's too good to use common.
Cheer up now. There's no medicine half
so good as cheerful temper. A knock
at the door.] There's some one coming to
get your spirits up. Come in.
| deacon Bgot ensers.]
[Aside.] ., dear. he won't cheer him
up much.
Deacon Bigot.-On grave and solemn
tone.) How de do, brother Hope? I
thought l would call round and inquire
into your spiritual state this afternoon.
Mrs. H.-[Asidc] wish he would in
quirc into the state of our Aour-barrel.
Mr.. H.-You are very kind, brother.
Deacon B.-Do you feel resigned to the
will of the Lord, and consider that this
ickncss is a just punishment for your sins,
and it is mercy you are not cut off entire
ly?
Mr.. III try to be resigned to my lot.
Dcacon.-You must be. It's your duty,
and if you don't do your duty you can'tex- :
pect blessing.
Mr.. H.-But when one is sick he cant
help sometimes getting low spirited, you
know.
Deacon.-I'm sorry to hear it. Tn
afraid you're backslidin', brother.
| ENTERS Charlie and Jimmy with axes.l
Mrs. H.-lIallo, Jimmy; take chair.
Jnmy.-Can't stop. There amt any
school this afternoon, and father sent Char
lie and me down to chop you some wood.
Where is the wood pile?
| Mrs. H.-We'rc allout Of wood, Jimmy !;
so there isn't any to cut. Thank you all
the same.
Jimmy.-You don't mean you han't got
any to burn, do you?
Mrs. H.-There's all we have. Perhaps
Deacon Bigot will let me pick up some
sticks in his pasture.
Jimmy.-We'll 60 and get them for you.
Deacon.-Ya.as, you can pick up some
pieces Of stumps but don't touch any of
them logs, if you do, I'll set the dog onter
yc.
| tExeunt boys.]
Them boys father is an awful stumbling
block. It'sa deadful thing to live with
out religion in the world.
Mrs. H.-Now think Mr.. Bright is
about as good aman as there is in the vii
lage. AS soon as he heard John was sick
he called to see him, and he did cheer him
up amazingly, and Mrs. Bright sent him
down some beautiful chicken broth as ever
I saw in my life.
Dcacon-That's Just it. He thinks his
works is goin' to save him; but he'll find,
too late, that they won't.
Mrs. H.-Well, you know, Deacon Big
OF, there's only one church in the village
and if Mr.. Bright isn't Of our persuasion, !,
l hain't goin' to set up that nobody will be
saved but our church.
Deacon.-(Shaking his head and signing
deeply.) Well, l think you need the
prayers ofthe church, sister must bid
you good evening.
Mrs. HI declare, John, don't know
but am backsliding; for you know We
are commended to love the brethren, and
rather see Mr.. Mr.. Bright than Deacon
Bigot any day.
Mr.. H.-Who is our brother! ran.
other knock.] Walk in.
Mrs. Grim enterA1
Mrs. Grim-(Very grimly.) How dc
feel to-day, brother Hope?
| Mr. IA little better, l thank you.
| Mrs. G.-Glad to hear it. l brought
you some tracts. Here is a beautiful ono
on Angel whispers" and another very
profitable one about justification of faith. i
l havn't seen you to our prayer meeting
lately, sister Hope.
| Mrs. H.-No, indeed; I could no,
leave my husband,
Mrs. G.-I make it point never to lei
anything keep me away from prayer.meet
ing. l believe the Lord has stronre,
claims upon US than our nearest friends
Isn't he our best friend?