Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-03-05
"Uhat Shall the Harvest Be p"

| ~ fttt ofttttt TIC 10
THAT peculiar form of social outrage,
formerly known as a surprise psrty, but
of late commonly called Bulgarian
sIrocity, is still lamentably frequent. On
cold evening in the FIRST week of the
present month. Mr.. Sawyer ard his fam
lily were seated quietly By their social
hearth enjoying one auother's society.
TIE clergyman was reading aloud the
bishops pastoral letter; his wife was
busily calculating how 10 cut her hus-
bands old oveTco2,, - as TO supply him
with q new waisicost, herself with 3
new overskiTt, aud Master Sawyer With
= new pair OF trousers, while that excel
lent small boy was reading the improv-
in adventures Of an eminent pirate and
wondering whether be would ever be
sole 70 emulate them. Not one Of the
family was prepared TO receive visitors.
NJ Sawyer had on his dressing-gown
and slippers; Mrs. So wyer hsd let down
her back hsir To give freedom to her
mental processes, aud Master Sawyer
had temporarily slipped of his trousers
Ca supply his mother with q pattern, while
ba wrapped the hesrlh rug about him.
Suddenly, and without the least warning,
more than tour dozen people OF all kinds
tv.fplfv.r a.
formers and theological students, bGrs;
into TIE room earring cake snd devssta-
ton with them. The msrauders conduct
ed themselves after the usual custom Of
their kind. They conver,ed with one
another with great hilarity, Ignoring the
suT,yiugs OF the Clergyman aud his vile.
They spread their cake upon The table.
and devouring it withou, plstes, scattered
the crumbs over the new carpet One
young man, having laid large piece Of
jelly cake on the sofa, subsequently sat
down on il. snd Mrs Sawyer felt that she
woul' gladly ioin the Church Of Rome on
condition that The medieval tOrtureS OF
the Inquisit.on should be revived and she
herself delegated 10 apply them 10 that
particular young msn. After having re-
ducod the furniture 10 thsi slate OF grease
that il was no longer safe 10 SIT down the
misCreants gathered around the piano
and sang What Snail the Harves, BE p
until M. Sawyer. mild as be was. re-
GREETED that he could not take sharp
scythe AID reap an immediate and bloody
harvest While these blood-curdling
ouUAges were in progress in the parlor,
the good small boy KEEP, himself carefully
out OF the room. He was not, however.
wasting his time in idle rage. He, too,
heard the melodious Inquiries IS TO the
harvest. and remarked to hi msell that
they would ind out sll about the harvest
if they would only wait few minutes.
Meanwhile he was busily engaged 10
carrying pals of water and emp.ying
ihem on the front step and along The
wax leading from The front door 10 the
gate. The night was cold and the water
lroze rapidly. Under his admirable mar
agement the ice acquired al unusually
smooth and slippery character, and when
the work was thoroughly done the small
Boy retired 10 the secord-story iron; via.
dow aud waited Tor the surprise party TO
break up. The moon was st It's iull, and
shOne brightly when the first pair OF mis-
creants-the young man who sat on the
jelly-cake, and heavy young lady TO
whom he was sflianced-iSsued from the
front door and instantly sat down with
tremendous emphasis. Close behind
them came the rest OF the raiders who
with one accord strewed themselves over
The ground until in some places they
were three or four deep. The shrieks of
the ladies and the stronger remarks OF
the men filed the dir. No sooner would
struggling wretch regain his fee. than
he would SIT down again with renewed
violence. The affrighted clergyman aud
MS wife gazed with wonder al the p
palliug spectacle, and the good boy never
ceased to sing what Shall the Harvest
Be" st the top of his lungs-intsrspersiug
the stirring hymn with wild whOop
whenever a particularly brilliant pair OF
stockings waved in the air. Although
only three persons sustained fatal injuries
there was scarcely member of the party
who escaped without more or less serious
wounds, either of body or clothing. Sew
enteen legs, two ribs. six arms and
nose were broken; five ankles and six
wrists were sprained and one shoulder
disocaied. The icy pavement was
Strewed with fragments OF teeth, specta
cles, coats, trousers and skirts, and Mas
ter Sawyer picked up enough copper and
silver change the next morning to enable
him TO buy twelve tickets in a rattle for
broken shot gun, aud to subscribe hand
somely 10 the missionary fund. /. is
generally believed that there will never be
another surprise party in BrOokfeld. and
II is under contemplation among middle
sgsd householdsrs to present Master
Sawyer with service OF marbles and
lile-membership IN the Foreign Mission |!
AIRY Society as testimony of their esteem /
nd gratitude.