The Press., 1883-05-31
THEM LEMON-PIEs,

LlSu, WHO llau Do0u lOlt0f1uS dDOub tIlO barn waiting for his own particular hen to lay an egg, drawled out nasal affirmative, pe4red once more into the manager, and then slowly made his way toward the vii lage store in questsof the golden fruit re- quired for the pies which his mother wish ed to bake for Parson Elderkin's donation party.
 The good people of the First Baptist church of Goshen had determined. to visit upon the innocent head of Parson Elderkin the inhiction commonly known as a dona- tion party, and Mrs. Higgins-she that was Almira Martin-saw in the event g chance to distinguish herself above her neighbors and fellow church people.
 q guess them Larrabees 'ull feel mean CT n skinned milk when they see the pies I'll hev at the donation, "said Mrs -Hig- gins, scornfully, as she "shooed" the cat out of the kitchen and began her prepara- | tions. E. rs.r, | sParson Elderkin had been settled in Go- shen about three months. He had been 'scalled" to the local pulpit only after the most careful scrutiny of his antecedents, prospects and ability by the deacons of the church, aided by their wives and daugh- ters. That he had successfully run the gauntlet of Goshen's canonical inquiry was fact very much to his credit.
 Now, in regard to the propriety of "call ing" young unmarried man to the pull pit of the First Baptist church, the peo- pie of Goshen had been sadly divided. Parson Elderkin was young and unmar- ried in fact, he had just graduated from l the Haskins Theological Seminary, and, as the down of youth was still fresh on his cheek, it was taken for granted by his sharp. featured inquisitors that his heart was free from incumbrances. Small won der, then, that Mrs. Higgins and other mothers of marriageable daughters warm ly espoused his cause, while 8 second party, composed chiefly of certain maiden ladies who lived only to prevent others from se- curing what Heaven had denied them, de- clared with uncalled-for warmth that 1t was shame to intrust their spiritual wei fare to mere boy, when MT. Henry Law renee, an agile and elderly revivalist, might have been secured for the same 'sellery." '"
 And it was on account of this rivalry 1 that the supporters Of the young preacher had arranged donation party in June an unheard-of thing in Goshen, for at that time all the ''men folks" were busy with their having, while the "women folks" were equally busy with the household du- | ties incidental to the maintenance of the | orous efforts were necessary to retain their ascendency, and, as it was decided that 8 donation party would tend to make the new parson "kinder poplar" !" it was push ed through with the expedition and vigor for which the good wives of Goshen have l always been famous.
 Lish strolled slowly d0oaUn- street and entered old Genl Whitcomb's store. His 1 mouth was aj jar he kept his hands in his pockets as he walked his face was freckled | and his feet bare.
 s'Mother wants them lemons she order- ed this mornin'," said Lish to the aged ''Gen1," who was dozing at his desk.
 ''There they be, behind them there bresh brooms,' replied the store-keeper, barely unclosing his eyes.
 It happened that at this moment tall !, angular lady, with black cork-screw curls, mouth like the seed end of tomato, and an expression of countenance suggestive of d prolonged diet of quinces, was shifting at huge sheet of codfish and haggling over pound of dried entrants with the Gen1's son. It was Miss Larrabee, the leader of the anti -Elderkin party.
 ''Why, Lishy, I swan I didn't know ye, . she said, tempering the acidity of her face as she spoke: "Goin' ter hev some lem onade over ter yer house ter-day ?;'
 "No," said the boy; ''them lemons $ fur the pies mothers a-bakin' fur the par sons d'nation party" .t~
 ''Oh they be, be they? Wall, your mother allers sot great store by her lem on-pies. They's 'nough of the fruit there fur dozen, seems ter me"
 ''She ain't a-goin' ter make but six. l seen the plates a-settin on the dresser fore come away" drawled Lish.
 'Eh Jesso, said Miss Larrabee, refec- lively, as the boy took the paper bag in one had and sauntered out
 ''Six lemon-pies, p said thesselderly ves- tai to herself, as she left the store: "I'1 make him think there ain't nuthin' but lemon-pies in the caounty.''
 Although the parson affected transports of surprise and joy when the, members o1 his flock entered his house and deposited their burdens in the hal, l,.it was evident that he had not been taken wholly una- wares, for the ''settin' room was found to be freshly aired, and the pantry door care. fully locked and bolted.
 The parson had been to donation parties himself in his younger days, and meant to profit by his experience. From his study window he watched the procession of hun gry looking: worshippers; then his lips moved in prayer, and he emerged to greet his friends with well-feigned joy.
 !. "Wall, parson, we thought we'd kinder come raound n make ye feel more t'hum. l Tde wimmen folks hes made ye some cake 'u' pie n biscuit 'u one thing n nuther, just ter show yer that the Goshen people hes some purity good ideas abaout eatin' I says to my gals, says I, 'Yez oughter gin the new parson an idea of what ye kin do in the cookin' ine,' hey!'' and old Silas Pulsifer, the spokesman of the party ,leered so suggestively at his daughters that they turned their heads away with coy and petulant ''Law, pa haow you do go onIp'
 Then the ladies advanced with their of ferings. Mrs. Higgins remained modestly in the background, intending to take the company by surprise with her six magnif- cent lemon pies. She was slightly annoy ed when her neighbor, Jerushy Spriggins, advanced and placed on the table no less than eight beautiful lemon-pies. She was still more annoyed when Belinda Perkins followed with nine more, and she turned pale with apprehension as she saw each and every member of the opposition depos- it from eight to twelva of the golden and white circles of pastry on the parsons ta- ble.
 ''Naow, then, sister Higgins les see hot 1os.