Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-02-05

upon every one OF his fathers parishion-
ers, and first pledging them TO secrecy.
explained, with tears in his eyes, that his
dear father was passionately fond OF cab
bages, and il any one desired to gladden.
the parental heart they would bring q
lew cabbages to the donation party. The
small boy further asserted that bis fathers
sense OF delicacy forbade him to make
the most distant allusion TO cabbages,
but that as an affectionate son, he-the
small boy-telt it to be his duty to men,
lion the matter to some noble and gen.
erous man. Each parishioner was de-
lighted by this display OF tilial affection
and the recollection that cabbages were
extremely cheap, and unhestatingly pro-
missed that he would bring whole load
OF cabbages.
The night of the donation party ar.
rived. and the small boy went to bed,
but not TO sleep. With much forethought
he had stolen the key OF his bedroom,
and thus rendered it impossible for his
father 10 keep him close prisoner.-
Each parishioner arrived in large farm
wagon. which. after having discharged
its human freight at the front door, WAS
driven into the yard. The minister aud
bis wife did not, Of course, know the con-
tents OF the wagon. but supposing that
the popular feeling was expressing itself
to an Unprecedented extent in wood,
flour barrels. and winter apples, were
greatly delighted. At $3.50 sixty.three
wagons had entered the yard and only
three pecks OF beans and eleven pen-wip-
ers had been deposited on the parlor
table. The happy Minister was begin.
ming to think that at least twenty cords
of wood, together with say dozen bar
rels OF -four, must have been delivered
in the back yard, when suddenly his
small boy. confident that he would not
be punished in public, entered the par.
lor and exclaimed 10 an e1ulting tone:
Father, there's morenamillion loads OF
cabbage outdoors At this moment the
sixty-iourth wagon arrived, aud the own
er, Deacon Lyman. put his head in the
front door and remarked that he had
brought few cabbages, but seen as the
yard was chock full, he calculated he
might as well dump them under the front
windows"
The alarmed minister went out hastily,
and beheld a mountain OF cabbages.-
There was not stick OF wood. nor =
barrel Of -four, nor bushel OF apples in
sight. Sixty-ihree iull loads Of cabbages
were piled up nearly to the second-story
windows Of the parsonage, and Deacon
Lyman was just about to add his contin-
gent to the pile. With stern and angry
countenance Mr.. Wilcox went back 10
the parlor and coldly informing his guests
that TO make jest OF sacred things 10
his own back yard was an insult which
he could not pardon, bade them good
night and withdrew to the recesses OF
back bedroom. The guests, in their turn
filed with indignation at his apparent in
gratitude and rudeness. went to their
homes and determined to change their
r,;,;s,ar at tho esrliest onnortunitv and
the depraved small boy. after gorging
himself with cake, went chuckling to his
room and stood on his head in ecstatic
bliss. The cabbages have since been
sold at three cents per dozen. the minis
ter has resigned his charge, and the small
boy, having too late perceived the ruin
he had wrought. is now earnestly hoping
that the doctrine of Universalism may
be true-N. T. Tribune.