Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1876-11-23


complainin' and putting him up to
grumble.
But I'm wanderin' off from my
story-I started to tell you about the
donation party. You see, the first
year We got along splendid with it,
and must say 1 never see better
tea table spread than We set that
night for Mrs. Ormsby.
But that woman never could be
satisfied, and she said afterwards 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, just as IL
we hadn't right to our tea after
scndin' i'm all the victuals for it.
-Bnt don't know as Aunt Betsy
did do exactly right, for she took Mrs.
Ormsby's preserves to put on the ta-
ble and they were all eat that night,
and s'pose that put her out some.
well, asI was sayin' the second
year cam round, and il 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 IL he
had somethin' particular to say, but
after waitin' a moment he changed
his mind and sat down.
Il thought he acted kinder queer,
but was quite taken up with notice
in Mrs. Ormsby. She got as red as
could be, and when meetin' was dis
missed she jest hurried out as il she
didn't want any one to speak to her.
We'll. Friday came, and by three
o'clock We was mostly all at the par
sonage. Mr.. Ormsby looked dreadful
sober, more as il it was a funeral
than a merry maxim, must say; but
his wife was awful. She was just as
sh ort and hufry to every one as she
could be, and she went and locked
the study door and put the key in her
pocket right before us all. as II she
was afraid we'd touch some OF Mr..
Ormsby's papers or books.
"Bimeby We began TO think about
settin' the table: so Aunt Betsey,
Mandy Jones and me went out In the
kitchen to unpack the contributions.
There was some pertaters and tur-
nips Chem we put in the sullerD a
piece OF corned beef, two or three
billed hams, a pot o. butter, some
apple sass, big cheese, and such a
lot OF biscuits it would have taken all
night to cut 'em.
Il began to be Scarf when We took
out painful after painful OF biscuit, and
no cake to speak or At last we came
to Miss Jones basket, and there we
found lection cake and as well as a
great batch OF molasses cookies.
Twas 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 some apples for the
young folks after supper he said.
"There was so many there that we
had to divide 'em into three lots, the
dinin'-room bein' small: and 1t was
most o'clock when they got through
eatin'.
! Aunt Betsey stayed with me to
clear up some; and I thought never
should get all the biscuits put away,
for they most filed the pantry.
"For all there had been so many
eaten. yet there was piles and piles
left, and, as Aunt Betsey said they
wouldn't need to bake for a month to
come.
at happened so that didn't go out
much the week after the donation
party, but, the second Sunday after,
I started Off good and early for church
and as I turned the corner by the
parsonage. I saw something that
most took my breath away. Every
one OF them sharp pointed pickets
round the house and garden had g
good biscuit stuck right atop OF it
Yes, Miss Hardwood. Jest rs sure al
you live, there was Aunt Betsey's nice
raised biscuits-I could tell hern by
the shape-and Miss HulPs rusks, ant
Miss Stiles soda biscuit, nd every
one OF 'em wasted in that way.
We'll, 1 stood and looksd-I hadn't
the strength to move-and pretty
soon some OF the ladies come along
and joined me, and there We all stood
till the last bell began to ring, talkin
the matter over. and feelin' prett,
mad can tell you.
"Mr. Ormsby had good sermon
that day, but I could hardly hear |
word, my mind was so full OF the bis
cults.
"Mrs. Ormsby warn't there, and a
soon as the last hymn was sung, h'
got up and said that he had hid |
call from church in the far West
, and that he had made up his min'
that it was his duty to accept It. HI
went on to say that he would like Z
go that same week, and then. withou
, so much as tellin' us that he wa
sorry to leave US, or offerin' to wal
until we could get some one else, h
gave the benediction and dismisse
y us. ~ E
a Il can tell you there was tai
4 enough when we got out that morniI
h and some OF the folks thought W
a ought to pint committee to as
a Mrs. Ormsby about it, but brothe
d Ralph said, NO; IL they was goin' lie
'em 60 peaceable;' so they all agree
I to say nothin' at all.
!, I'VE heard afterward from littl
Iohnnv Hall who yxna r,lavirs N ear IN