Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-04-26
Che family Circle.
PriSsy Deans Donation Party.
BY MISS NJ. F. ATKINSON.


Something which Prissy had heard on
Sunday had Stirred her up to do a deed Of
benevOlence. She wished to be somebody's
bencfactor, and to have a good time doing
it. She had her own proper sphere Of be-
nevolence, as everybody has Hers was
her little brother Tommy, who was two
years old. and needed great deal of pa
ticnce, and Of playing with. Bat Prissy
wanted TO do something fine and praise
worthy. outside of her own little round of
childish duty.
Two things happened on Monday which
gave her an idea. The first was hearing
one Of her schOolmates tell what 4 spleil-
did time they had at Il donation party at
her minister's house-how they all carried
things. and had !, supper and played
games. And it was just like \ party or a
picnic. And it was all in the newspaper
the next day.
The second thing that happenS was
this: When she went home, she found a
stout old woman sitting in the sewing
room. with her mother. 1t was Mrs Kyle
She had on 4 green bingham dress and 4
blue checked apron a small red shawl. and
large pink sunbonnet. There was Il
basket on the floor on one SIDE Of her, and
a bundle on the other. and she was leaning
forward upon the top Of big, baggy.
brown umbrella. which she grasped firmly
with both hands.
I'm sure Miss Deans, for the meat and the
puddin you've give me. What you
haven't no Use for, is 4 great help to me.
Haven't YOU got 4 dress or 4 petticoat you
could >pare?'
gave the last had to spare to a poor wo-
man. with a sick baby. Yesterday
"Ihat's what | tell um." said Mrs kvte,
took care Of ihan Us that's members of the
Haven You got a couple of handkerchers
You could give me, OF an old parasol?
This umbrella 5 20 heavy
NO." said Mrs Dean again. II don't
think | have anything more to give YOU
to-dAv.'
We'll. must be goin', l suppose.
Prissy. YOU haven't been to see me this
long time. | think if Young people and
children was brought up to visit the widow
and the poor. it would be great advan-
tage to them. Good day, Miss Deans.
Good-dav. Prssy."
Now Pri>sy was feeling so good and be-
nevolcnt that her mothers treatment of
Mrs. Kyle seemed to her rather cold and
unkind. "She has three parasols.' she
said to herself" her little one, and her
large one. and her pretty new one; and
should think she mi ght have given one to
that poor Old woman, who is 4 member Of
the church. and has nothing to carry bat
that horrid old cotton umbrella"
Ibr;
that day. which prevented her being really
wise at All That evening, while she
seemed TO be studying her geography, she
was considering plan of beneticence Her
idea was to have donation party 1T Mrs
kyte's. 1t would be very pleasant to man
age such an affair. and to be head of a
movement 50 benevolent and so entertain
ing; and she resolved to find out next da,
4 little about the WAY to conduct it.
PrisSv WAS only eleven wears old, and
Kate Morrow who knew about the dona-
ton party at the minister's was no older.
Yet it did not occur 10 either of them to
consult their parents until they had their
little plan all arranged. and had chosen
five little gillS who were to be asked to
meet with them at Pri>sy'S house on Sat
urdav afternoon, each with 4 basket of
good things for supper. The five NIGH,
have been seen after school by the side of
the road, hud'lIcd together in little
bunch. while Prissv and Kate. with an air
OF great Importance and mystery. disclosed
their benevolent plan. The five said:
= Oh. wont it be fun And then they all
added ut once: IN g, right home AMI
ask mammal. And then Pri>>v and kato
hcthought themselves that they had better
90 and do likewise
Mrs. Dean thought it Il little too late to
raise objections TO PriSSy's plan. when six
other mothers We're conserving to it, think
ing it of her devising; so. like the rest, she
promised to have biscuits, sandwiches, and
cake. ready for her on Saturday afternoon
to take to old Mrs Kyle
1t was Il warm, bright summer after
noon when Kate and the other five. with
three little sisters, appeared at Mrs Dean S
gate, with their bright faces and their bas-
kctS and their clean cambria frocks Pris-
" went out to Join them. in the best of
spirits. Poor lille Tommy was crying to
go too. OF course, he could not walk so
far, and his mother WAS trying to console
him with promise Of a donation party all
to themselves at home.
Meantime the ten little girls trudced
was pretty warm. and they We're glad to
sit down as soon rs they reached il bit of
shade on the other side of the hill.
Then Prlssy encouraged the tired chill
drcn by repeating to then Mrs. kyte's re-
mark abont it being SO good for young
people to 90 and see poor old widows; and
Kate encouraged them still more by.tellng
them how they would all sit in the shade
on the steps of the little piazza, or "stoop,"
rs they called it, and have 4 splendid sup
per with old Mrs. Kyle; land there will
be enough good things left for ever SO
many breakfasts and dinners and sup
pers.
SO the ten trudged on down hill, till
they came TO the little whitewashed house
where the old woman lived all alone. It
had little garden in front Of it. which her
grandsons kept up. On one side of the
wall were cabbages. and on the other side
were potatoes. Near the house were four
hollyhocks and sunf1ower
Mrs. Kyle heard the children's voices at
the gate, and she came out.
We'll, Prissy,' she said, so you've
got round to see me at last. / thought
you'd forgotten me. Children ought to
come and see old folks like me. It's good
for them And You We brought Kate Nor
row and Il lot more. Well, come i'm
The children went timidly in and sat
down, two on each chair, and three on the
box under the window. and one on small
footstool till they were all slowed away.
with their baskets on the floor beside them
Then Prissy began her little speech.
We thought we would come aud see
you. We thought you would like little
donation party
To take our tea with you," she was
going to add; but Mrs. Kyle interrupted
her: