New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-19
A NIGHT-CAP PARTY.
BY ONE WHO WAS THERE.


Robert he s mzzible."
Mrs. Nancy Holland pansed an instant In her
breathless hurry of speech and before either OF us
could make a remark, she began again.
"Oysters! IN cake N pe and the slightest OF
ice-cream Oh | jos wish cd leave Robertp
eff nv health is spared. and the weather is
good. and We don't have company, mean to go to
that NIght-cap Party this evening" said when we
two were left alone
Perhaps such parties are customary entertain
ments in the outer world from which we are shut
off but they have never come under my obserya-
ton. The announcement Of one sets this little
settlement into hutter of interest We have
inquired rs to their origin aud purpose. Their
germ their embryo we have been entirely unable
10 discover but we have found out for what pur
pose a night-cap party Is held 1t Is to help pay
the minister; and tho minister himself and his
family are expected to be present aud each contrib
ute Their fifteen or twenty-five cents to 60 into
the general fund for their benefit
Before nghtfall, while | was in tho barnyard
feeding the Plymouth Rock hens, | saw the top OF
a head tightly tied about with white cloud enter
at the front gate. / fastened forward aud met
Mira EweIl our ncighbor whose husband aad died
a few months before and at whose funeral we had
officiated in new capacity.
NO can't come IN. we're gon ter hev festival
up ter the yestry ter night N we're gon' ter hey
time u ] thought you n yer sister might squeeze
| inter the team with us.
She was very kind and told her 50. She knew
of greater treat that could possibly DO offered 10
At precisely haf-past that night, Gertrude
and | squeezed into the team aud we're taken
up to the village and deposited at the yestry door
| In the rear of the vestry a small apartment
| called the "ante-room," into which all tho women
| Immediately crowded, and which smelled strongly
of citronella hair-o and cologne OF the kind sold
| in small trial bottles by peders. There was rod
| hot cylinder stove and iooking-giass. This was
all tho furniture, and vas all that was needed,
| save two settees against the wall We watched,
| aud did exactly what the rest did: The aim OF
each newcomer was. first To get OIL her CLOAK and
| cloud and rubber overshoes and roll them up In a
| tight bundle. pinned toget er with large pin.
| Tins bundle was then deposited on settee. H.
this way. when you found any of your "things'
You found them all Also. when you lost any of
| them you lost them all. Every system has Its
drawbacks. Nv sister an1 ! had packed our
iects and saw that cur next move was TO push and
strug Gle toward the mirror, and there give last
attention to hair and collar. Mrs. Ewell was
evidently intending TO be our chaPerone, for she
Kept near and whispered: 80
"When yon're ready vs. cay the word. and we'll
20 in. want to be in time for the s1ngin' for its
| eoin' ter be extry. They We been aud got Mrindy
| Bou fro IN the oross-road." .
Evidently neary every one had the sam wish
10 be early for when passed into the ysstry the
TO o.e not very large one, was nearly fu. soon
hush fell upon the place, and saw tho minister
conducting to tho platform tall girl IN plald
dress and large nscktie.
4" Amt she dressed beautiful"
"Nuw guess you'll hear somethin"
"Did sue cut N make that basque herself II she
did. she's regular born dress-naker't all heV
! ter say!' ~,
Mrndy Biou began Mira. Ewol whispered to me
shes nv own cousin. always did set a sight
Then the prima-donna from the cross. road sang.
OF course II was simply dreadful But these people
| were charmed; they thumped and clapped and
chartered when it was over, and W. feared M'rindy
| wonld have to sing again; but the people were
really too eager for the festival TO 60 on Tho
! astonishing aspect Of everything 10 me was. not
| that they did not do better but That they were
perfectly satisfied with their achievements and
! thoroughly convinced that nowhere IN tho world
| could SIN sing or acting be superior.
At the end of this there was an cNpect3Dt huah.
At one corner of the Toem carefully raied of, was
| large mound Of sonnet hing covered with striped
| calico spread. had asked Mrs. Ewell what that
| pile was. and been answered by nudge and
| significant smile. Now Deacon Ezra Hawkins
advanced with pompous air, and carefully re-
moved the spread, revealing collection of white
caps with coiored flarlng borders The sight
| created universal litter. Deacon Hawkins flung
the spread gracefully over his arm, ana cleared his
" Dear friends assembled here tonight" he said.
I'VE have come together for q worthy purpose, "A
most worthy purpose 10 is 10 help pay the Selery Oi
our beloved pasture H. is one Of the wOrthest pnr-
poses that we anyways spend our money for,
! aud hoge thefell be no STINT Put your hands
| right into your pockets gentlemen. aud walk mp
aud seick your caps. rememberlu /; Is for worthy
purpose"
|
| w the younger ones, began pushing up toward the
deacon and his goods. while the women insensibly
were soon on the other side OF the room.
81 spose you amt got no cap" said Mrs. Ewen
| 10 Iny sister and me.
Wonderingly we answered that we had not.
81 thought 'twoud be so, an I've brought one
fur each Of ye. wanted ye to enjoy yerseIyesSi.
night-caps; one bad blue frll round tho face,
one a pink and one a red and black check. she
put the red and black on her own head, aud said
q beQinnin' tu.p
AssuredIy they were "a beginnin' tu.n Nearly
| all the women now wore these huge Tapping caps.
no two alike, aud the sight so grOtesquo that
We all began TO laugh. We donned ours, and in
moment a big. red-headed fellow came up 70 my
81 don't see bat what you'll have to go out to
supper with me. ! sec your cap matches nine
| II was true. All the caps were made In pairs.
and the man who bought one must find his match
and take hsr out TO oysters and PIE and cake and
the Slightest Of iCe-crsam" Gersrude's gallant
| himself with rather dandlied air. The two
walked of together, their caps Tapping. Every time
and took her to the supper IN the next ROOM there
| was a roar Of good-natnred laughter. Soon the
tables wore filled and there was great CHATTER OF
cups and saucers. and q Cabling of many voices;
| Deacon Hawkins had my match, and he and
were the last at the table, when the oysters were
cold and the Ice-cream getting warm. The deacon
was shrewd and said some cute things"
during the meal. of which no partook with immense
gusto. A woman next me. after eating two bowls
| Of oyster stew, and | don't know how many seg-
ments of pie and cake, informed me. apparently by
| way of explanation OF her gastronemicaI feats
that "tt want often she had chance to eat other
| folks victuals, but when abe did. they tasted
mighty good 70 her, and she meant to make ths
| most Of um."
~ guess wen clear fifteen or twenty dollars"
said Deacon Hawkins at his third cup OF coffee
"Ye sec this suppers twenty-five cents o head.
and was mostly furnished by the soiety i!seiij
bout all profit There goes tho minister with his
| selsry. atnt itfn
At nine O'Clock we had all had our suppers, and
We women were IN tbs aate roona, Struggling 20