Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-23
THE PASTORS WIFE.
A Sketch OF the Donation Party
at WillOwbrOOk.

From Harper's Magazine fo- Novemberl
So many confused and contradic-
tory rumors have been circulated
about that last donation party that ]
(who have heard the whole story
from my friend and neighbor Miss
Mix would like to give the world a
plain unvarnished account OF the
whole festivity.
Let me, then, introduce my infor-
mant, Miss Melissa Mix. spinster, own,
ing to forty. moderately well endow-
ed with this worlds goods, house,
keeper and care taker for her only
brother Ralph. some years her senior
both OF them prominent members oi
the Willowbrook church-and thus
heralded, she shall tell you the story
she told me.
"Of course we can't give our minis.
ter much OF a salary, you know, Miss
Harwood; but we've always calkila-
ted to get a man whose heart WASH,
set on filthy lucre, as the 'postle says
Il must own we hain't had much
success, for, would you believe it?
out q five candidates that preached
here the year we built the church
not one was willing to stay and dc
the Lords work.
"Why. there's only about sixty fam
lilies In our church, and 1t was settled
that Arst winter that six dollars a
family would be fair tax, maxim
nigh onto four hundred year, yol
see; yet it's wonderful what trouble
we've had to get pastor.
Brother Ralph thought that meb
be IL We had a parsonage it woulC
help US; so he and the other trustees
bought that nice little cottage wher,
Miss Gray used to live, with whole
rod OF land belongin' to it; but law
'twant no use; none OF 'em staid tn,
year out: and j was clean iiscour.
aged.
when Mr.. Ormsby came. nigh OF
three years ago, he seemed mor'
reasonable than the rest, though h'
asked II We couldn't furnish part o
the parsonage for him. as they wcr'
only new beginners, and hadn't mucl
housekeeping stuff.
well, the ladies were so wei
pleased with him that they took righ
hold OF the work, (he was to com'
back in fortnighD and got lots o
things together.
There was handsome pincushiol
made for each OF the bedrooms
there's three on 'em in the house
and half q dozen tides for the pa
lor and a cashe for his Shawn papel
and all sent In the first week.
you've heerd him preach, Mis-
Harwood, and you know how inter
estin' he was, and what q beautifu
reader and singer too. Why, 1 de
clare took real comfort goin' I
church and sittin' under such preach
in; and so we all did I'm sure.
@But Twas tellin' you about wha
we gave him. Well, Deacon Stiles
daughfer-6alIy made a drssTin' OF tn
church, and framed 1t In pine cones
to hang in Mr.. Ormsby's study, an
the deacon he sent us a cookin' stov
out OF his own kitchen. He'd jus
bought q new one for Miss Stiles, an
he come over and put it up himse
which thought was uncommo
kind.
@Then we took up contribution
buy some furniture, but ready none
was skurse just then. 80 we onl
raised enough to git a pair OF chin
vases and an inkstand-
But SiIas Hart, that sold 'en
US, was one Of our members, so f
threw in a chiny dog for the baby an
a match box for the parsons wife.
Miss Jones and Uncle INDIAN sci
In new painted bedstead and kitct
en- table. and so told Ralph I'd gi'
'em a couple OF kitchen chairs an
our cradles. the one we was bot
rocked in. SO I did, and I pieced
real nice little quilt for the cradle,
sunflower pattern. all OF spick al
span new calico, too.
swell, it's most too bad to tell, b'
Mandy Jones. who went to help MI
l-x-- Ill Ii