St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-02-16
The Minister'S Donation.

ister," said Mrs. Peter Podgers, the
wife of the richest man in Plainville.
eyes," echoed Mrs. Deacon Weeks,
1--WE must The poor man needs it
very much. 1t is great pity his wife
is so sickly, and then-so many chill
dren They had enough before the
baby came. It's IA great pity he has
such a wife bnt we must try to lift
the burden from his shoulders, the
blessed man What do you say to a
donation, my dear ?"
"Ah you are so quick witted The
very thing that | was going to propose,
you know"
cussing the minister and his family,
we will peep into the parsonage.
Mrs. Carter, the minister's wife, is
rocking the cradle. In it lies Rupert,
sickly, teething baby, the pet OF
the household. Louise, the eldest
daughter, "a noble-looking, high spirit
ed girl of eighteen, is ripping an ante
diluvian pongee dress.
81 declare, mother, it is a sin, IA
shameful sin, to deny papa an increase
in his salary. What do you suppose
Mrs. Weeks said to me the other day ?
that people thought it very strange
that Philip and Ned do not go to
church this fall, and we ought to be
very careful about the example we set
before our people. AS if the boys
wouldn't be glad to go to church il
they had decent clothes l declare
l don't know what we are going to dc
for those boys ~
- In
question burst nOisily into the room
eXclaiming
"Mother, mother, we're going to
have a donation next week ! jim
Weeks said so. Don't you suppose
they'll give us some new jackets
Tom Podgers and the other fellow.
laugh at us, and call us 'Old Patch.
| won't go to school another day." add.
ed Ned, "and wear this ddrned ole
jacket" and the little boy threw of
his much-mended jacket with an all
of disgust.
"My son, what did you say 2" asked
Rev. Adolphus Carter, solemnly
thrusting his head into the dining.
| room.
81 said 'darned,' pa. And if it aim
darned, I'd like to know what it is,
replied the young rebel, pointing t,
numerous darns on the despised gar
ment.
"Pa" groaned mildly, and retreatet
into the study to indulge in unseemlN
mirth at his sons wit.
"If was him I'd give them a piece
of my mind, minister or not" con
tinued Ned, unabashed.
"No, no, Ned" said his mother.
In due time the night appointed 70
the donation party came. 1t was clea
and cloudless, the young Carriers
hearts beat fast with expectation.
Mr.. and Mrs. Podgers came first
They brought a bushel of small-size,
potatoes, and an elaborate dressing
| gown for the minister. Deacon Week
kept grocery he brought tirkin o
crackers, and half of a small cheese
His wife contributed pair of slipper
to the minister's wardrobe her daugh
ter brought him watch case, and
tidy for his study chair.
The house was crowded all Plain
vile was there, and every one wa
blessed with a good appetite.
"There is cake enough in the pantr,
to last them a month";" said Mrs
Weeks cOmplacently to the lates
conner, plain little woman with a ro
of cotton flannel under her waterproof
~ wonder how much there will
left after we are all gone said tn
little woman.
Mrs. Weeks smiled scornfully-".
great deal" Samantha Jordan brOugh
Mr.. Carter a splendid dressing gowI
blue with salmon facings and such
pair of slippers as Arvilla Mason pre-
sented to him with a neat little speecl
f 'Ahem!" said Mr.. Podgers cleal
ing his throat, and speaking in HI
! most weighty manner, 81 don't thin
our minister can complain after this
look at the provisions" pointing a
the table which the ladies were litera
ly loading with cakes and iellie
doughnuts and pies.
y Everybody was in good spirits, no
generous they all werel
Out of their abundance all brougI
something pumpkins, potatoes an
cooking apples-wind- were pleI
ty that year, and Mrs. Carter's ne;
kitchen was stored with these usef
articles. Beef, pork and butter we
!. scdTce- dllhouSh theS were Jnere
small quantities.
II brought you couple o. bushe
O. apples,' said an honest farmt
they're wind-falls, and won't kee
so you'd better set that girl o. you
to dryin' 'um. Idleness is the moth
of vice, marm."
Mrs. Carter bowed to conceal t
smile that would come, for the spec
was addressed to her.
Idleness Louise flushed and i
eyes flashed. 81 counted the bags
the kitchen, mother" she whisper
Is as they passed each other in the n;
row entry, ''if there is one bushel