Sharp County record., 1881-02-03


the people from the struggling villages
and the neighboring farms gathered.
80 he is my minister" " said Kip,
stoutly, as he considered the matter.
He would have liked to share the
honor that day, however, with the in
mates of the large comfortable farm
house; for they were really the most
prosperous family in the village, while,
he, only distant relative, was "chore
boy and gener'ly useful" as he phraSed
it. And there was to be a "donation
party" at his minister home that very
evening.
"If they'd just give something hand
somem he said to Nancy, the "hired
girl" who was busy in the kitchen.
"They won't never think of it no
more'n they will of hyin'," replied
Nancy, dextrouSly turning a fapjack,
and the subject also, by requesting Kip
to "run for an armful of wood"
Somebody always wanted wood or
water, or something from the cellar, or
something from the attic, whenever Kip
was in sight. But he scarcely thought
of the constant calls that morning, so
full was he of other thoughts. Nancy
might dispose of the question carelessly
but he could not He was connected
with the house and he felt that the honor
of the house was involved. Besides, he
wanted his minister well treated, and
he knew-few knew better than Kip
how sOrely the " something handsome"
was needed in the shabby little parson-
age. He did not mean they should
" never think of it" as Nancy had said!
he would remind them by bringing up
the subject naturally and innocently in
some way.
So he fingered in the room u few min
utes after breakfast, while Mrs. Mitchell
was gathering up the dishes, and Mr.
Mitchell consulting the almanac. He
coughed once or twice. and then, staring
straight out of the window, observed as
follows:
There goes our big rooster! He's
most as big as turkey, a'in't he, Aunt
Ann? Turkeys always make me think
of Thanksgiving, Christmases, Dona-
tions and such things-oh yes! there is
going to be donation down to the min
ister's to-night!'
Kip considered that very delicately
and neatly done!
"Eh? what9' said Mrs. Mitchell, pay
ing no attention except to the last SEN
tence.
L" Who's going to have donation?"
"Down to the minister's" repeated
Kip. " Everybody'll take.'em things,
you know-hour and potatoes and wood
something handsome, l hope-the
folks that can ford to-"
That was another mastery hint. Kip
chuckled to himself at his success in
managing his self-appointed task, but
his spirits sank with Mr.. Mtchers first
words.
"Well, now, don't know as I ap-
prove of that way. The folks here can
do as they please-its no affair of mine
but seems to me it's better to pay q
man decent salary and let him buy his
own things"
Don't know as 1 prove of that way
either" soliloquized Kip, Indignantly,
when he found himself alone behind
the wood-pile. Don't know as l
prove of folks giving me their old
clothes," looking down at his patched
knees. "Seems to me twould be bet
ter to pay me decent wages and let me
buy my own clothes. But seein' they
don't, these trousers are better'n none; :;
and l guess if Uncle Ralph had a sick
wife and three or four children he'd
think a donation party was q good deal
better'n nothing"
Ideas that found their way into the
brain under Kips's thatch of light hair
were sure to stay and the cows, the
chickens and the wood-pile heard nu-
meroHs orations that morning-all upon
one subject
"Now if l owned all these things, do
you s'pose I'd 90 off to the big city
church every Sunday and wouldn't go
down now and then to see what was
a-doin' for the poor folks round here?
And when | went, don't you s'pose
I'd see how his coat was gettin' SINNER
and SINNER, and her cloak fadeder,
and all the new clothes they have is
their old ones made over? A boy don't
like that kind of dressn' up partic lar
well, and how do you s'pose my minis
ter feels? Don't you b'lieve I'd know
when she got sick, how the bundles
from the grocery-store was smaller and
fewer count of the bottles that had to
be paid for and the doctors bill? And
wouldn't hear the tremble in his voice
when he prays for them that has heavy
burdens to carry?' Just wait till I'm a
man and seen'
Old Brindle looked at him medita-
lively, and onep pert little bantum mount
ed the fence and crowed with enthusi-
asm, but no member of the barn-yard
offered any suggestions; and going to
a little nook behind the manger, Kip
drew forth his own offering for the i'm
portant evening-a little bracket-shelf,
designed and roughly whitfield
out, but nevertheless the work of many
a precious half-hour. He looked at it
rather doubtfully. 1t did not altogether
satisfy even his limited conceptions of
beauty.
But then if you keep it kind of in
the shade and look at it sort o'sideways
.so-it does pretty WELL" he said, scru-
it with one eye closed. -
guess Mis- Clay will, seein' she's had
to look sharp for the best side o'things
go lnnnr y