New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-16

lived by these men and women ct whose
husks we emile! What Spartan selfcenisl
and labor, what dumb endurance, what
smiling agonies take up their abode with
the solitary. hsrd-workiDg poor What
| blessed thing is the justice Of our King that
is never blind fold. that weighs, in unerring
balance men, not their clothes.
The center of all this crowd was poor old
| ParsOn Wilbur. IN thick warm dressing
gown, and a big armchair by the parlor
stove; his failing mind. that seemed usually
to have withdrawn Itself from the world
| and its affairs, half from conscious lnab!llty
| to grapple with Iiie, halt from want OF in
| terest therein, tonight, under the ipt1uence
| of more light and warmth. the atmosphere
of fresh society. the magnetism OF youth
and gayety about the young meN and
maidens gathered about him afforded,
seemed to rally and brighten wonder
| fully. As the little gifts that one and
another brought him were laid on his knee
or exhibited to him by his 'oldess girl"
as he called the old LAZY of sixty We have
seen before. his face beamed with pleasure,
child's simple delight in the gifts at frat,
ard as gradually he comprehecded the
whole occasion. a deeper expression o. atfec-
ton and gratitude. It was touching and
painful both to see this SLOW T. Cancellation
| of mind and body, SO long alienated from
each other; one could not but wonder It
1.-The souls dark cottage, battered and de-
| cayed." did not cucumber its inhabltant.
instead of letting in
New light through chinks which
| Time hath made"
| But Noppit people were TO. given to
| metaph ysios; they ha l to work; and now O.
| committee OF matrens were arranging gifts
| in the pantry upveiiing heaps OF blscuit,
| piles of dOughnuts more pies than would
kill an ostrich, and pan after pan of frosted
cake, net to speak OF potatoes and apples in
| the cellar; salt pork. s9uashes. meal, LARD,
apple sauce, hanks OF yarn, mittens. tea
| from the grocer, herbs fiOm Aunt Sally
jerks. who looked like dried catnip herself,
| SO wilted and lean and brown; even raw
| hide from Ben Sones, the small tanner Oh
| Sandy Brook, who had nothing else to
| donate" The parlor swarmed with young
| people, who did nothing but giggle ami tlirt
after the manner of young people; one
| happy pair particularly. ensconced il
| corner behind two GeaCons conversing on
| church atfaire, seemed to be having a
''lively season." "a Deacon Graves re-
marked about the last revival; these two
were Ruth May. farmers daughter from
Naupeague, and George Wilbur, a grandson
of the parsons. Ruth was a little thing
| with bright, brown eyes, fair hair, and
cheeks like rOse.red apples; bright, saucy,
CHEEKY and willful enough; but IS her
was handsome young fellow. full of lite
and energy, fond OF pleasure like all young
people, but courageous and tit to turn his
hand to anything. He was twenty-five,
and had already been farm hand. clerk N
country store, chain bearer. surveyor N
railroad and then district schoolmaster:
now he had learned carpentering, and had
lust set up little shop of his own in Hill
side, ten miles from Noppit. He and Ruth
were half quarreling with one another al.
WAYS: now they were in the full tide Of
eaucy repartee, when suddenly stir in the
long kitchen announced suppec-nOt for
them; the old people took their turn first
but the youngsters were to do the waiting,
and these two got to the door just as Par
son Wilbur rose to ask the blessing. Poor
old man! as he stood there holding on to
Aunt Nancy, with Enclosed sightless eyes
and trembling Out-stretched hands, SO pa
thetic was the spectacle that a stranger
might endure the long and rambling prayer
he uttered; then came the real business.
What cups OF tea Gisappsar what piles OF
biscuit, pickles and sliced ham, what cakes
of all species! A hygienic philosopher would
have shuddered and predicted an epidemic
next morning; but where the soil grows
mullen and may weed l have always OBJ
served the people can eat unlimited pork,
pie and cake.
Nor was the feast silent, but seasoned
guests. Mrs. Deacon Peters, IN a loud |
voice, commemorated the death and virtues |
of Mrs. Deacon Graves and the meek relict |
brandished his pocket handkerchief. shifted |
li:tle and said he was obleeged to her. |
Then this fearful and wonderful female !
turned upon the poor old parson:
''Aud here we BE- again, Parson Wilbur; l |
didn't expect last year you'd survive to |
have another party; you've failed some |
since then, its a fact but here you be-
''Yes'm, yes! feebly piped the old man. |
"It's Of the Lords mercies we are no. con- |
sumed: if could only have an assured |
hope of salvation should pray to be taken; |
heart and flesh fail, yea am in straits Oft |
times; longing, If l might, to depart in
peace"
Poor old man! In n:nety.three years he
had only known the Lord through the As
sembly's catechism.
Mrs. Peters aggressive voice having |
broken the silent buzz of eating aud drink
ing, there now began the flow of so1l, and
the young folks returned to their chat.
II don't see why can't have donation
party, too" said George to Ruthy.
"Who d'you epose would give you any
thing" she snapped back.
IL think you would was the confident
answer.
II should like to know WHAT"
'.Sass," replied George, drily.
There was litter from the by ISLANDERS
that fred Ruthy's soul.
.'No need O. that; don't send salt to the
sea-"
Guess you've got it now, George"
sheepish youth chuckled.
'.Sass! Oh yes, told you should
Ruth was little cornered, so she resum
ed the subject seriously, for now the table
needed fresh supplies, and the res: were
swarming toward it.
"What on earth do you want donation |
party for, George Wilbur"
"Oh, want something"
What
IL don't know as shall tell
"Well, amt curious"
"That's lucky" replied the exasperating |
George, knowing very we'll that those |
brown eyes were as curious as sparr0w's
and that he had inflicted a small thorn on
Ruthy'e soul that would fret her till she |
made him take it out. George was ely!
Now it came to be the young peoples
turn for supper. and merry time they had;
in the middle OF which Ruthy May sudden
~ announced:
"George Wilbur says he wants dona
ton psrty-isn't he greedy? 2"
Good for GEORGE" said Sam Hill.
50 Well give him one when his shantys up |
over to Hillside
What do you want George tins, or
wooden ware, or garden sass?" screamed
Hetty Adams, from the other end of the |
table.
..That'a tellin' " answered George