The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-01-06
The Donation Party.


Amy Cushing refined h er pretty grey
ponies up before the gate of the Girls
void homestead. Mrs. Grswold and
her daughter, Lottie Leonard, came
down the walk to welcome her.
Lottie," said Amy, "get your hat
and cloak, and drive down to the vii
lage with me-" Lottie ran into the
house, and Amy continued: eve have
a guest, Aunt Griswold"
Anybody know?" asked her aunt.
"No, )" returned Amy, " but you are
all to come and see him and get ac-
quainted. Don't you remember, when
j ohm was in Montana, how he had that
fearful illness in a miners cabin, and
they nursed him and saved his lfe?'
Mrs. Griswold assented.
Well, you know John has kept up
correspondence at intervals with one
of those men, Hunter, and to-day he
walked in on us. You can imagine
how delighted John was, and, as for me,
feel as if could never do enough to
show him my gratitude"
What is he here for 2" asked her
aunt.
/" He has sold out all his mining inter-
ests, and has come East to settle down.
He says he is tired of a rough life, and
he is trying to find sister whom he
lost sight of years ago. John says he
is enormously rich"
Lottie now came out, prepared for
her drive, and, after hearing of the
new arrival, took her place by Amy in
the pony-carriage. " wish you would
90 to Grandma Merivale's," said her
mother, " and tell her to send that Mrs.
Hutchinson to me as soon as she likes.
l cannot wait any longer for my fall
sewing"
"Who is Mrs. Hutchinson" asked
Amy.
Somebody Grandma Merivale has
picked up.n answered Lottie " "A
widow, believe"
{" am sorry for Hunter" said she;
she is so DESTROYS of finding his sister,
and there seems but little hope that he
ever will"
" How did he lose sight of her?"
asked Lottie.
ooh, she married and went to live
in some manufacturing town. Her
husband does not seem to have been of
any account, and they were always
moving. What with the irregularity
of western mails and her constant
changes, he lost her completely, some
years ago, and now he can find no
traces of her whatever"
When they drove up before Grandma
Merivale's house they found Mary
Fuller, Lottie's elder sister, visiting
the old lady.
" Hitch your ponies and come in,'
screamed Mrs. Merivale, from the door
steps. We're jest a-talkin' about
you, Charlotte Griswold"
You will never guess what the
church are going to do, Lottie," said
Mary Fuller, when they were all seated
in the cosy sitting-room, before pleas
ant open fire. $50 I'll tell you al
once. They are going to give you a
donation party"
Lottie's face was the picture of dismay
Why, what can we do with it?" she
exclaimed.
Grandma was delighted. " You can't
help yourself, Charlotte Griswold," she
cried, in great glee. They're jest
bound to do it. Crops are good, ant
folks think we've got a pretty nice
young minister, and they want to share
their abundance with him. You may
as well give in fust as last"
" suspect the secret is that they
want to make you visit" said Mary
" and they will feel so much more free
to come if they carry some gifts ant
their own refreshments"
Clancy Aunt Griswold with people
bringing their own supper to he
house' laughed Amy. But Lottie sa
time. At last she said y" 1t is out o
the question that we should accept thei
gifts, but if they really, out of the good
af hair hos to oh 20, f,i,r
of their good things away, why not lie
church? A day can be chosen, and, afte
leaving their presents where they ar,
most needed, they may all come to on
home and have their visit, and brin
their own supper, if they like to-"
"Where will you find your poor?'
said Grandma Merivale, tartly.
"Old Mrs. Cutting is very destitute,
answered Lottie. "She told me tn
other day she was afraid she shoul,
come on the town this winter. Aun
Amy Dorr will need help before spring
That family in the old Dean house
the Browns-are very poor, and pre-
sumo there are others. a committe
should be appointed to ascertain wha
is needed most, and by whom, and rec
uate the gifts. 1t will be easy for tn
people in the church to spare enoug
to make all the poor comfortable a
winter"
But what will you do with mother?
asked Mary.
"Make her one of the committee o
refreshments, ;" returned Lottie.
There was some dissatisfaction in tn
church when Lottie's plan was first pr
posed, but, after little opposition, tn
people fell in with it, and preparation
went on with good will. Mrs. Gri
wold said at first that she must furnis
the supper; but when she understood
that the only way to make the peop
feel perfectly at home was to let the
bring their own food, she yielded IL
point gracefully, but said she shou