The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-07-15
Additional Locals.
A Pleasant Surprise.

n Pleasant Surprise.
Rev. Ill. w. Harvey, pastor of the Presby-
terrain Church III this village, having secured
a leave of absence for the purpose of taking
a trip TO Europe for the benefit of his health
and 10 visit old friends on the other side of
the water, the members and attendants of
his church determined to surprise him by
getting up purse and presenting the same
10 him on the eve of his departure. They
succeeded IN getting together the sum of
eighty dollars-sixteen five dollar gold
peices-and, on Saturday evening last, they
marched eH mdSse to his residence of which
they took forcible possession. Mr.. j. w.
Free was deputed to present the purse to the
elder which he did in the following language
Friend Harvey: Having had desire for
long time to get rid of you, ii was with great
! JOY that we recently learned of your inten-
ton to 60 abroad about the middle of July,
and, fearing lest you might, at the last mo-
ment, repent and conclude to stay at home
we thought best to clinch the matter, and so
have dubbed together and made up a purse
of sufficient amount to purchase ticket
| from here to New York and from New York
to Glasgow, and enough beside, possibly to
last you until you can find something to do.
We have made no provision for return
ticket. which you will, of course. understand
10 be very significant as tending TO show a
desire ON our part that you remain pey-
manently on the other side.
And now, having earned the privilege. we
would like 10 offer bit of advice and first
of all, don't wear light colored plug hat,
or, If you must do SO to be in style. we insist
that you also wear goggles, 50 that you may
be able to distinguish between the hat and II
spittoon when you are compelled by force of
circumstances, or some other force. to use
one. 1t would also be we'll to provide your
self with good supply of collar buttons, as
the roll of the ship often causes those useful
articles to disappear.
As soon as you reach New York and can
lind your brother, you had better hand him
your purse, as We are informed by him that
you are inclined to great extravaganza, if
left to yourself, and that you have been
known to spend as much as twenty-five or
thirty cents in one day, foolishly, riding
about. for crackers and cheese, gingerbread
and other like eXtravagances. He SAYS. too,
that you are far too confiding with strangers
and are liable to be taken in on the slightest
provocation.
Seriously. my friend, it affords me great
pleasure to present to you, OH behalf of your
friends, this small purse of gold "a fitting
type of what you have proven yourself to be
pure gold as slight token of our regard
for you and OF our appreciation of your long
and successful labors among us. If it af-
fords you as much satisfaction TO receive il
as II does us TO give it, then we shall be well
repaid indeed
We most sincerely hope that your leave of
absence will benefit you permanently, that
you will be permitted TO return to us with
renewed strength and vigor, and be spared
to labor with rs for many years to come
May the blessed Master, whom you have so
faithfully and earnestly followed and preach |
ed, shield you and your dear ones from the |
storms and tempests of this life and bring
rs all together again in health and safety: |
here If it be His will. if otherwise, then in |
the sweet bye and bye NAV We all be |
gathered in the home eternal"
The whole affair was complete surprise |
to MIR. Harvey and he was so overcome that |
1t was with difficulty that be mastered his |
emotion So as to make a fitting response
Hardly had he got through with his re-
ply to Mr.. Free before he was hustled out |
OF doors to meet delegation of his grand |
army comrades and their wives-his resi-
dence was SO full they could not get inside.
Forming a circle around him. Comrade
Rowland, on behalf of soldier friends, in a
few brief remarks rendered to him and asked
him to accept as a slight token of their
friendship and regard purse containing the
sum of sl6,75. This completely foored the
elder, and. following Immediately upon the
heels of the donation of his other friends he
was, as he said, utterly at a loss for language
in which to express his feelings He recov-
cred himself however, before leaving on
Monday morning, sufficiently to write the
following note to his comrades which, at his
request, was read before the Post at its
meeting on Monday evening:
"Comrades: You took me in the flank
evening. l was put to rout and
couldn't return the fire you gave me. 1
have just come ont of the woods and am in
the field again. 1 am double shotted and
loaded to the muzzle with gratitude. ii
would have given you a round Saturday
evening, had not Comrade Rowland's grape
and canister remarks mown me down as they
did. There was not enough of me left to
man gun. Comrades, accept the heartfelt
thanks of your surprised and gratifed chap
ain
During Mr.. Harvey's ministrations in this
he has, 10y bis genial manners,
ais upright character and his christian N an
iness. won host of friends who will all
wish him pleasant journey and safe re-
urn. I