Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-11-03
AsHTABUIA, OHIO, FRIDAY NOVEMBER 3, 1916.
THE DONATION PARTY Al WILLOW
BROOK.

THE DONATION PARTY Al WILLOW
BROOK.
So many confused and contradictory ru-
mors have been circulated about that last
donation party that I-whO have heard the
whole story from my friend and neighbor,
Miss Mix-would ike to give the world
plain, unvarnished account of the whole
feStivity.
Let me, then, introduce my informant,
Miss Melissa Mix, spinster, owning to for
| ty, moderately well endowed with this
worlds goods, houSekeeper and care-taker
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
lie.
.-Of course We can't give our minister
much of salary, you know, Miss HarwoOd;
but we've always calkilated to get man
\ whose heart wasn't set on filthy luere, as
the 'Posile says.
must own that we hain't had much
success, for, would you believe il? out OF
five candidates that preached here the
year We built the church, not one WAS will
/ lin to stay and do the Lords work.
Why, there's only about sixty families IN
our church, and it was settled that hrst
winter that six dollars family would
be fair tax, making nigh onto 1our nun
dred dollars year, you see; yet II Won
derfuI what trouble we've had to git pas
tor.
Brother Ralph thought that mebbe if we
had a parsonage it would help us: so he
and the other trustees bought that nice lit
| tie cottage where Miss Gray used to live,
with a whole rod of ground belonging to it;
but, law! 'twa'n't of no use; none Of em
staid the year out; and was clean diseOur-
aged.
When Mr.. Ormsby came, nigh on to
lree years ago, he seemed more reasonable
than the rest, though he asked if we could
not furnish part of the parsonage for him,
rs they was only new beginners and hadn't
much housekeeping staff.
Well, the ladies were so well pleased with
him THAI they took right hold of the work
he was to come back in fortnight-and
got lots of things together.
There was handsome pincushion made
for each of the bed rUOms-there'S three or
four of EN- in the house-and half dozen
tides for the parlor, and case for his
shaving paper-and all sent in the first
week.
You've heard him preach, Miss Har-
wood, and you know how interesting he
was, and what beautiful reader and sing
er. too. Why, declare, l took real COM
fort going to church and sitting under such
preaching: and so we all did, I'm sure.
But was tellingyou about what we gave
him. Well, Deacon Styles daughter Sally
made drawing of the church and framed
it in pine cones, to hang in Mr.. Ormsby's
L., h.,
stove out of his own kitchen. He'd just
bought new one for Miss Stiles, and he
come over and put it up himself, which l
thought was uncommon kind.
Then we took up contribution to buy
some furniture, but ready money was
skurse Just then, and we only raised enough
to get a pair of china vases and an ink
stand.
But Silas Hart, that sold EN- to us, was
one of our members, so he threw in chi
nv dog for he baby, and a matchbox for
the parsons wife.
Miss Jones and Uncle indian sent in
new painted bedstead and kitchen table,
and told Ralph I'd give EN- a couple of
kitchen chairs and our cradle, the one we
was both rocked in. So did; and pieced
real handsome little quilt for the cradle
"a sunhower pattern, all out Of spick and
span new calico, too.
Well, it's most too bad to TIL. bat Man
dy Jones, who went TO help Mrs. OrmsbY
git to rights, told me that she did act
dreadful, and not bit becoming minis
ter's wife.
She went all round the house looking as
if she was ready to ery,, and at last she sot
down in the parloF on her trunk, and be-
gan to laugh at the vases and the inkstand,
and then wound up by finding fault with
the stove, which she said looked as if it had
came out Of the ark.
I've always thought she made her hus-
band discontented, for Mr.. Ormsby was
such meek, quiet, unselfish man that he
never would have made any trouble if she
hadn't been always cOmplainin' and putin
him up to grumble.
But I'm wanderin' off from my story-1
started to tell you about the donation par
ty. You see, the first year we got along
splendid with it; and must say never
saw better tea-table spread than we set
that night for Miss Orlnsby.
But that woman never could be satisfied,
and she said afterward that it wouldn't
take more than two such parties to ruin
any family.
1t seems she found fault because we all
staid to tea with em, jest as if we hadn't a
right to our tea after Sendin' in all the
victuals for it.
But don't know as Aunt Betsey did do
exacly right, for she took Miss Ormsbys
preserves to put on the table, and they was
all eat that night, and 'spose that put her
ous some.
Well, as was saying, the second year
come round, and it was read out in meetin'
that the donation party would be given the
next Friday.
Mr.. Ormsby read the notice, and then he
looked all around and cleared his throat
two or three times, as if he had something
particular to say, but after waitin' mint,
he changed his mind and set down.
thought he acted kinder queer, but
was quite taken up with noticin' Miss
Ormsby. She got as red as could be, and
when meetin' was dismissed she. jest hur-
ried out as if she did not want any one to
speak to her.
Well, Friday came, and by three o'clock
we were mostly all at the parsonage. Mr..
Ormsby looked dreadful sober, more as if it
was funeral than merry-making; Imust
say; but his wife was awful. She was jest
as huffy and short as she could be with ey-
cry one, and she went and locked the study
door and put the key in her pocket, right
before US all, as if she was afraid we'd
touch some of Mr.. Ormsby's books or pa
pers.
Bimeby we began to think about settin'
the table; so Aunt Betsy, Mandy Jones
and me went out in the kitchen to unpack
the contributions. There was some perta-
ters and turnips-them we put in the suller
"A piece of corned beef, two or three billed
hams, pot of butter, some apple sass, a
big cheese, and such lot of biscuits it
would have taken all night to count EN-.
| I began to be scarf when we took out
painful after painful of biscuits and no cake
to speak Of. At last we came to Miss
Jones basket, and there we found lection
cake, as well as great batch Of molasses
cookies.
was glad enough I'd sent pound cake
and crullers; but somehow when the table
was ready. there was more biscuits on it
than anything else, though We did the best
We could.
Mr.. johnson sent tea and coffee from his
store, besides sugar and crackers; and
Amos Hull he, brought bag Of nuts and