Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-05-09
THE DEACON'S DINNER
PARTY.

man that ever lived. So at least sale
his friends and neighbOrs, who GER
tainly ought to know; and for enemies
he probably had not one in the world
1t is true, however, lat the remark
above quoted was generally made sor
Of apologetical preface to something
like the following: "But then he ha!
such queer notions; he is so unlike any
body else that We hardly know what t.
make of him." Perhaps these worthy
people we're oblivious to the fact that in
order to be very good, it is often pain
full necessity to be different from ones
neighbors.
We cannot better illustrate Deacon
Goodman's peculiarities than by de.
scribinS little entertainment given BY
him at his country seat, not long ago
For the Deacon, with all his unworldly
goodness, is prosperous merchant in
New York, and the owner (by per.
fectly fair means) not only OF brown
stone front in the city, but of charm
ing suburban residence. The Deacon's
wife, though very good person in heI
way, was far less peculiar parsonage
than her husband. She fell quite grace
fully into an amiable conformity with
the ways of the world, and is not to be
distinguished from the thousands OF
other good women-of the wealthy
class-who throng our city churches.
Their two daughters, Miss Adelaide
and Miss Ellen, had just left the re-
straints of fashionable school, and en-
joyed the prospects of coming out,
in another winter as full dedged men,
bers of society.
| Husband" said Mrs. Deacon, one
May morning soon after the family mi
grafton to the country, Husband, you
know we did not give the dinner that
We were proposing last winter; what
do you say to having it here instead
We are so convenient TO the city that
they can easily come out in coaches"
You gave large party, did you not,
which included all that should have
been your dinner guests?"
.'Dear me yes! but that was quite a
different thing. Now at this little affair
| am speaking of, | should want only
our most particular friends"
"Oh! if that is the plan. like it well,
rejoined the warm hearted Deacon.
''But why not ask them to spend week
with us?"
"Ask-whom
"Well, your brother Johns family
first; the children would enjoy it-and
then"
"Oh, you don't understand me at all {!
1 mean only few of the best families,
whose acquaintance it is most desirable
to cultivate"
''Really, wife, it does not seem honor
able to invite guests for our own selfish
purposes. L can sell hardware with a
good conscience, but the hospitality of
my house"
"Who wants to sell the hospitality of
your house. No, no, my dear, that is
one of your odd notions. Everybody
in society does just as i am proposing.
And, after all, this inviting is doing as
We would be done BY"
"True, true," said the Deacon with a
merry laugh. 'But why not do this
favor to some one who will value it, to
whom it will be a real kindness. There
are hundreds now whom could name,
to whom day spent among these green
trees, i'm the fresh, sweet air of the coun-
try, would be an event to be remembered
for year"
"Oh, if you mean charitable visit,
that is very good in its place, but very
different idea have i'm hand. For our
children's sake, my dear, it is really
our duty TO hold our place in good soci-
ety." at
The Deacon was always accessible to
considerations of duty. He merely
said
"Well, name your day, and give me
the list. l will have the invitations
sent from my Office"
"a capital thought; your accountant
there is such a splendid penman. And,
as for the names, you know the families
to whom we are under the greatest OBJ
legations. l would have the company
as select as possible, and 1 will try TO
make the affair pass off finely" said the
worthy lady,. beaming already with
amiable complacency upon her prospec-
tive guests.
The expected day arrived. Mrs. Good
man and daughters, their elegant toilets
at last perfected, were seated in the
drawing room, whose long wind ows
looked across cool veranda, and com :
manded the way of approach from the
city. Though the fingers were occu-
pied with light fancy work, the eyes
were glancing continuously down the
road to meet the first arrival.
"No one will come for an hour yet,
you may be sure" said Mrs. G. "Your
father has such a horror for late hours,
that he wanted us to be dressed and
waiting by four o'clock"
81 never saw an omnibus on this road
BEFORE" said Miss Ellen, as one of these
plebeian vehicles made its appearance
ever the brow of the hill.
chartered for some special purpose, u
said the mother, presently, as she unused
upon the dinner.
''There is another" said Adelaide.
"And another" said Ellen.
"There is quite procession of fthem,''
said the mother.
"And the first one is stopping at our
gate" said Ellen.