Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-10-27
The Donation Party a. wiIlo~brook.

The DOnauOn 1'arty at "ihoNDrooh'
So many confused and contradictory ru-
mors have been circulated about that last
donation party that 1 (who have heard the
whole story from my friend and neighbor
Miss Mix would like 10 give the world
plain, unvarnlshed account OF the whole
festivity.
Let me, then, introduce my informant,
Miss Melissa Mix, spinstor, owning TO for
ty, moderately we'll endowed with this
worlds goods, housek eeper and care-tak ker
for her only brother Ralph, some years her
senior, both of them prominent members
of the Willowbrook church-and thus her.
aided, she shall tell you the story she told
me.
"Of course we can't give our minister
much of salary, you know, Miss Har-
wood; but we've always calkllated to get
man whose heart wasn't set on filthy lucre,
as the 'Postle says.
az must own we hadn't had much sue
cess, for, would you believe itH out Of FIVE
candidates that preached here the year we
built the church, not one was willing TO
stay aud do the Lords work.
"Why, there's only about sixty families
in our church, and it was settled that first
winter that six dollars family would be a
fair tax, maxim nigh onto four hundred a
year, you sec yet it's wonderful what
trouble we've had 10 git q pastor.
"Brother Ralph thought that mebbe II
we had parsonage 1t would help us; so he
and the other trustees bought that nice lit
lie cottage where Miss Gray used TO live,
with whole rod of land belOngin' to iti
| but, law ! 'twan't of no use; none of 'em
staid the year out and 1 was clean dis
couraged.
"When Mr.. Ormsby came, nigh on three
| year ago, he seemed more reasonable than
| the rest, though he asked if we couldn't
furnish part of the parsonage for him, as
they was only new beginners, and hadn't
much housekeepin' stuff.
swell, the ladies was so we'll pleased with
him that they took right hold of the work
/ (he was to come back in fortnighO aud
got lots of things together.
"There was a handsome pincushion made
| for each of tho bedrooms-there's three on
'em in the house-and half dozen tides
| for tho parlor, and a case for his sbavin' pa
per, all sent in the first week.
"You've hoerd him preach, Miss Har-
wood, and you know how interestin' he was
aud what beautiful reader and singer too,
Why, 1 declare, took real comfort goin'
TO church and sittin' under such preachin'
and so we all did, I'm sure.
"But 1 was tellin' you about what we
gave him. Well, Deacon Stiles's daughter
Sally made drawin' of the church, and
framed 1t in pine cones, to hang in Mr.
Ormsby's study, and the deacon he sent vi
cookin' stove out of his own kitchen
He'd just bought new one for Miss Stiles
and he come over and put 1t up himself
which thought was uncommon kiud.
"Then we took up contribution to buy
some furniture, but ready money wa
skurse just then, so we only raised enough
to git pair of chlny vases and an ink
stand.
"But Silas Hart, that sold 'em to US, wa
one of our members, so he threw In chi
ny dog for the baby and matchbox TO
the parsons wife.
"Miss Jones and Uncle Mldian sent In |
new palnted bedstead aud kitchen table
aud so 1 told Ralph I'd give 'em cOupl
of kitchen chairs aud our cradle, the on
we was both rocked in. So 1 did, and
pieced real handsome little quilt for tn
cradle, a sunhOwer pattern. all out OF spiel
aud span new calico too.