The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1885-02-04
Selected.
LIFE OF n COUNTR Y
PRISON.
The Rec. Mr.. CraWfOrd's DOnu-
ton Party.

PEPPEkToN, Dec. 20.-The near approach
of Christmas calls to mind the curious ex-
pertnce in this village On Christmas eve,
one year ago, of the late Rev. El.azrr
Crawford. Many of the facts concerning
this experience are public property, while
others, which were told TO the writer by
the Rev. Mr.. Crawford's widow, JUS pre-
vious to her death, Oct. 25ih last, are now
MADE knowu for the first time. The single
church in this village was the first and last
charge Mr.. Crawford ever had. He entered
the ministry VIII, nearly 40 years old, aile
an unsuccessful business career His in, x
perit nee was impressed upon him when
Trustees Lemuel Carter, Johnson Higbee
and Amos Jackson called upon him III his
dlugy home in West Twentieth Street, New
York, and engaged him. 1--WE will give
you $3.50 year and DONATION" said Trus-
lee Higbee, "aud If you make 60 OF
preaching and we like you, why, maybe we
will give you more next year"
The Rev. Mr. Crawford was anxious to
enter upon the work he had chosen and ac-
copied ihe ,trtI He was kindly and 90 d,
and thought that he and his CHEEKY Eng llsh
wife could I've with their three cnildren on
that salary. They knew nothing of c"un-
Try life, and Mr.. Crawloro's idea of 90
nation extended SO far only that he knew
They came here in june 1888, and gradn-
ally grew into the favor and goodwill ri
the 200 people who make this village their
home. They lived, Oh course, in the par
sonase, which is considered u very COM
Portable house. There Is no well and no
clstcrn. Drinking water has to be carried
from well in the yard of 10 Long, the sa-
loon keeper, who lives next door, and rain
water is caught in tubs and barrels set uD-
der the ends OF the wooden caves troughs.
The woodshed is in the rear of the parson-
age some 10 feet, and there Is no barn.
Mr. Crawford kept neither a horse nor cow,
and needed no barn. Accustomed rs they
had been to city convenences, they found
the work inseparable from housekeeping
very hard, but they bore that, as they did
most troubles, patiently and without muir.
muring.
II was at the November meeting of the
trustees that the question came up. and
Christmas eve was selected AS the time.
After the evening service the next Sunday,
Trustee Carter took the pastor one side
aud told him about the donation.
you've done pretty well, considering
said Trustee Carter, as he worked his arms
into his heavy overcoat and drew it up
over his shoulders, land we are going To
give you frsl-class donation party"
EYES," said the pastor, tentatively. Mr..
Crawford liked his trustees, hut they were
fferer from the men he had been accus-
toned to, aid there was never the good fell
lowship 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
Garter, "that you ever saw n donationr
II never did," said Mr. Crawford, with
a little laugh.
"And don't know anything about how
they re run?'
"No, not much" answered the minister,
flushing II little, aud lookin as if he thought
he ought to know just what II donation
party was.
'Oh, well, you'll know all about those
thugs when you've been longer IN the BUSH
Dess," SAID Tru>,ea Carter, good naturtdly
'YOu see, ministers have to live, Ike eN-
erybody else, though the Bible does FAY,
"Take no thought for your meat II n
minister doesn't have things, hr has got To
buy them, like other folks. Now, We usu-
ally raise all sorts OF stuff, you know. aud
once year we give to our minister LOT OF
vegetables aud things of that sort, that he
would have to buy. otherwise. Its just
the same AS so much more salary, only It's
easier for u, and just as good for him"
"Why, l should think that was an excel
lent piau," said Mr.. Crawford, with good
deal of interest ut must"
eyes, it's a tip-top plan." said the trus-
tee. ''You see, we'll all come to your house
In the evening-t will be Christmas eve
this year-and We'll bring this stuff and
leave It, and also some cooked vcuals and
have supper aud q first rate time. The
women folks will drop in, 10 the Afternoon,
and bring things that they make themselves
aud we men folks will get round TO sup
per"
''Ei. aver told me about the donation
when H. came home," said Mrs. Crawford.
.,ne day not long before She did, "and
said IL wss just as they did il Bible times,
when they set apart portion nf the fruit
OF their toll AS n thank off ring, only l
couldn't see how SO many people were goins
to get into our lutte house."
There was capital sleighng the week be.
| fore Christmas, but the minister and his
wife staid indoors, setting their house In
order for the donation. They were . little