The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-28

! BEFORE" said Miss Ellen, as one of these
plebeian vehicles made its appearance
over the brow of the hill.
"Chartered for some special pur-
pose," said her mother, presently, as
she mused upon the dinner.
"There is another" said Adelaide.
"And another" said Ellen.
"There is quite procession of them, "
said her mother.
-'And the first one is stopping at our
| gate,n exclaimed Helen. =
"What in the world can all those
! forlorn-looking creatures want here,n
cried Adelaide, in CONSERVATION.
ado 90 and send them away before
our company comes" said Mrs. Good
man.
al have seen some of them at the
Industrial School" said Ellen, with q
sudden CLEAN of merriment; "can this
be one of fathers curious tricks?"
at certainly is" said Adelaide, s'for
there he comes himself out of the om-
nibus."
And in fact, the good deacon was now
seen making his way through a crowd
of poor people, who stood humbly wait
ing near the gate, and offering his arm
TO a withered old lady in rusty bomba-
zine, who had been among the first ar
rivals. He presented her and the fore
most of his guests to his lady, who
stood in a rustic of astonishment and
stiff brocade, on the veranda steps, and
to his elegant daughters, who were half
way between laughing and crying at the
novelty of the scene before them. Mrs.
Goodman fortunately had good sense of
philosophy to perceive that state Of
things which was not to be cured, had
better be endured with the best grace
possible; and her, innocent guests,
though somewhat awe-struck at such
undreamed of magnificence of apparel,
were all unconscious of the struggle
and triumph, too-of grace that was
going on beneath the studied hospitality
with which she received them.
There was the old lady in black, who
proved to be a widow, and utterly alone
in the world; about the supply of whose
wants the deacon probably knew more
than any man living.
And there was an old man with one
wooden leg, and q blind man, who was
! strongly suspected to have been seen at
the way-side begging, until some be-
nevolent individual-name unknown
had supplied him with basket of sala-
BILE articles, by means of which he was
now able to support himself and family.
! There were women, too, with wan faces,
who seemed to have never enjoyed the
4 freedom of Gods blessed air; and puny
4 children in their arms, whose heavy
eyes frightened at the sight of green
grass and waving trees. The older peO-
! pie were soon seated in the house on
the piazzas, while the children, under
convoy of Miss Ellen, who entered
heartily into the spirit of the occasion,
scattered about in merry games on the
green lawn. Never was such play be-
! fore; and to Ellen herself it seemed that
/ the little birds never sang so sweetly,
nor the fresh summer air breathed so
delightful to have a home in the coun-
| try as on this very day.
The company once disposed of, q
sober second thought occurred to the
lady hostess, more distressing, doubt
less, than the first. An appealing look
! brought her husband to the corner.
"What in the world am to do?" she
said. "I have not half enough for
them to eat"
"That is all right" replied the dea-
con, pointing to market wagon which
was Just unloading at the kitchen gate.
g There is abundance for them all, and
l have given the directions to the
cook"
Anxiety was needless; every arrange
ment had been completely made, and
the entertainers devoted themselves
again to their guests. Happily passed
the hour of the golden afternoon. The
ladies of the family recovered speedily
from the shock of disappointment, and
could not help admitting that they had
never so thoroughly enjoyed a COM
pany before. 1t was only because the
real delight of social life, that of con-
ferring happiness on others, had never
been so fully within their reach. 1t
was q lesson worth the learning.
At six, the company were assembled
around the long table, which, by the
deacon's direction, had been spread
upon the shady lawn; and never prob
ably did guests more heartily unite in
thanksgiving for the bounties of Provi-
dence. Before they rose from the ban
quet, there was gorgeous sunset, all in
full view, to be enjoyed by many who,
within the narrow walls, were almost as
effectually excluded. from Gods free
picture-gallery in the heavens, as from
mans aristocratic ones on earth. Al
the same time the moon was rising in
the east, and there was 3 delightful
evening, with the glancing fire-tlies
among the grass, and the cool breeZeS
that never dreamed of brick walls and
heated pavements-and by nine of the
clock the whole company had departed
in their train of conveyances for home
The lady hostess was too tired or toe
thoughtful to demand explanations now
When children and servants had quietly
, assembled in the sitting-room at the
hour of prayer, the worthy father of the
family read from the great Bible the
, story of feast given of old at the hOus,
of chief Pharisee; and his voice lin
l gered with special emphasis on the fol
) lowing words:
"When thou makest a dinner or
? supper, call not thy friends nor tn,
[ brethren, neither thy kinsmen nor tn,
, rich neighbors; lest they also bid the
r again, and a recompense be made thee
= But when thou makest feast, call tn
poor, the manned, the lame, the blind
aud thou shalt be blessed, for they ca
: not recompense thee; for thou shall b
recompensed at the resurrection OF tn
) just"
He was certainly strange man, tha
n fg,1sf mn fol
very different from the rest of tn
? world.