Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-25
LIFE OF A COUNTRY PARSON.
RRy. M. oRA wF0KDs PARTY.

I4yy8 1tv~xss~
A pepperton letter 10 the New YORK
TSmes oS the Goth says The near approach
~ Christuas calls 20 mind the curious ex-
rer,cnce IN thts village on Christmas. I've
cne wear aao al the late Rev. Eleazer Craw-
Sord' MANY Of the facts concerning this
sx,er,eucc are public property. while
oaherx. which were told 10 the writer by the
Rev. Mr.. Crawford's widow, Just previous
20 her death, Vctober s5th last, are now
made known for the first time. The single
church In tins village was the first aud only
charge Mr.. Crawford ever had. lie entered
the ministry when nearly forty year old,
After an unsuccessful business career. HIS
iptxptricuce was impressed upon him
when Trustees Lemuel Carter, johnson
UIrbte, and Amos Jackson called upon him
An bis dingy home In west Twentieth street,
New York, and engaged him. =" We viii
give you ESQ year and Donation" said
trustee fiigbee; "aud II you make 60 OF
preaching and we like you. why maybe
we will give you mole next year."
The Rev. Mr.. Crawford was anxious to
enter upon the work he had chosen, and ac-
cepted the offer. He was kindly and good.
and thought that ne and his CHEEKY English
wife could live with their three children on
that salary. They knew nothing OF coun'
Try life, and Mr.. Crawford's idea OF dona-
ton extended 90 far only that he knew
what the word meant in the abstract:
They came here In June. 1883, ana grad.
ually grew into the favor and goodwin OF
the LOO people who make this village
their home. They lived. 81 course, IN the
parsouage. which Is considered very
comfortable house. There Is no Wen
and no cistern. Drinking.water has
&c. oil
ward of 10, Long, the saloon-keeper.
who lives next door, and raip-water II
caught in tubs aud barrels set under the
ends OF the wooden eaves-troughs. The
woodshed Ia in the rear Of the parsonage
some ten feet. and there Is no barn. Mr.:
Crawford kept neither horse nor cow,and
needed no barn. Accustomed rs they had
b,en 10 city conveniences, they found the
work ins, parable from housekeeping very
hard. but they bore that, a. they did most
troubles, patiently and without murmur-
ing. A..
n was at the November meeting OF the
trustees that the question OF the donation
came up, and Christmas-Eve was selected
as The lime. After the evening service tue
next sunday Trustee Carter took the pas
tor one side and told him about the d0ni-
ton. .,
you've done pretty web, considering"
sa,d Trustee Carter. as he worked his arms
into his heavy ovcrcoat aud drew II up
over his shoulders. "and we ARE going 20
give YOU first-class donation-party,"
ayes" said the pastor, tentatively. MI.
Crawford liked his trustees, but they were
different from the men be had been accus-
toned 70. aud there was never the good
fellowship between them and the minister
that existed between the trustees them
selves and their fellow-members In the
church.
81 don't suppose" continued Trustee
Carter, "that you ever saw donnti0ny
"Inever did," said Mr.. Crawford, with
a little laugh.
"And don't know anything about how
they're ruDt"
No. not much" answered the minister,
flushing little, and looking as IL he thought
he ought 10 knew just what donation
party was.
"Oh, well. you'll know all about those
things when you've been longer in the
business" said Trustee Carter, g0od.na.
furedly, "You see. ministers have 10 live
like everybody else, though the Bible does
say Take no thought for your meat III
minister doesn't have things he has got 70
buy them like other folks. Now, we mostly
raise all sorts 81 stud, you know, and once
a year we give TO our minister a lot OF
vegetables and things OF that sort that he'd
have 10 buy otherwise. It's just the same
as 80 much more salary. only it's easier for
Us and lust as good for him."
"Wby, | should think that was an excel
lent plan." said Mr.. Crawford, with good
deal OF interest. at must"
"Ycs. it's atip-top PLAN" said the Trus-
tee. You see, we'll all come to your
house in the eyening-it will be Christmas.
Eve this year-and we'll bring this stutI
and leave il and also some cooked yictuils,
and have a supper and a first-ra'e time.
The women folks will drop in in the alter
noon and bring things that they make
themselves. and we men folks will get
abound to supper"
"Eleazer told me about the donation
when he came home" said Mrs. Crawford
one dry not long before she died. " and
said Il was just IS they did III Bible times.
" ben they set apart portion OF The 1ruit
OF their toll as thank.ofiering, only
couldn't see how so many people were going
10 get into our little house"
: There was capital sleig hing the week be-
fore Christians, but the minister and his
wife stayed indoors, setting their house in
order for the donation. They were little
nsrvous when the day came and wished 1t
was over. II was nearly 3 o'clock when
big sleigh drew up in front OF the parson-
age ana Widow Selma Arcblbald climbed
out Her hired man dropped the reinS and
followed her up TO the door, staggering
under the weight OF a great earthen jar.
The minister opened the door and vel
coined Mrs. Archibald. while the hired
man stepped inside and put the big jar on
the floor.
"Pye brought you some ounce pre-
Serves" said Mrs. Archibaldto Mrs. CrIw-
ford. "Tbey've Just begun to turn, but
II YOU heat them over they'll re all right
again."
Thank YOU" said the minister's wife,
with rs much warmth As she could muster
under the reflection that neither she nor
any member Of her family could tolerate
.quinces.
The two ladies went through into the
parlor and the minister tugged and pulled
the great jar through into the pantry and
down the cellar stairs. just then Trustee
jackson drove up with his wife and six
great pumpkins. "Then's awful good
pumpkins" said the trustee as he set the
golden globes on the steps and drove
away, saving be had got TO go down
10 the mill and would be back by aud
by. The minister carried the pumpkins
down into the cellar and got back in
time 10 meet Mr.. Higgins, the blacksmith,
who brought his wife aud a set OF very
heavy tongs, shovel. and poker, which he
assured the minister he had hammered out
himself. Mrs. Higgins had tin pan full
OF caraway-seed cookies, paper bag full
Of pickles, aud frosted cake. She also
had her two children, one Of whom she
told Mrs. Crawford was probably CON-
ing down with the measles. The other
child narrowly escaped falling down the
celar-steps, a disaster which Mrs. Crawford
judged from Mrs. Higglns's manner she
would have been held responsible for.
Mrs. simmons, the grocer's wife. arrived
next, carrying u ten-pound package OF
brown sugar, the sweetenihg power OF
which her husband had SAID was unusually
great. She had also worked atldyfor Mrs.
Crawford's rocking-chair and was quite
surprised TO find out that Mrs. Crawford
bad some tides already. Mr.. Winter, the
hardware merchant, walked over with his
wife, who had brought some loaves OF fresh
bread and another frosted cake. Mr.. Win.
ter hiosclf had a large package Of ten.
penny nails and q iack.knlfe with u
rimlet and butlon-hook attached. Trus-
tee Higbee unloaded five more pump
kins. which the minister carried down TO
the ctliSrs One Of them rolled against q
dry. goods box upon which the Jar OF
quince.preserves was standing. The Jar