Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1889-12-14


one of the poorest families in the par
ish; for generosity and means don't go
together, not by no manner of means.
Mrs. Squire Jones came next-wurth
thirty thousand dollars, as | told you
afore. She brought couple of pies
and dollar for the minister to buy
books with.
How many books do You expect |
can get for dollar, Mrs. Brigham
says the minister in a low voice to me.
Well" said in whisper, Il expect
you might get Primer and Mother
Goose's Melodies, which would be a
great help to you in your studies"
This made the minister laugh. l was
glad to see it, for he didn't feel much
like laughin' the rest of the time.
Mrs. Marigold come next with two
tall girls. She brought peck of Indian
meal and a string of sausages.
They amt ornamental, my dear Mrs
Bates, she whispered with a very self
satisfied expression, but l guess they'll
be useful. My husband perfectly dotes
on sausages. We've just had pig
killed, and says he to me, you can't
make your good minister's wife more
acceptable present than string of
sausages' And the meal, in the present
high price of -four, will come in play.
1t was some we had left over after the
pig was killed"
Next come Ezekiel Tiffany with his
present He's a mason with large
family to support, and amt over rich,
but he gave the minister five-dollar
bill, sayin' he knew money was more
acceptable than anything else in these
hard times. The minister shook his
hand warmly, and looked little
cheered up.
Next came the Wilder Simmons
with a needle-book for Mrs Bates.
The wilder is well off and saved up
two hundred dollars last year off her
income.
THAT needle book will be a great
help to me in supportin' my family,
Mrs Brigham" says the minister to me
slyly.
"How dy do, Mr.. Bates ?" said Abiiah
Atwood, a well-otf farmer. Its your
benefit night, amt it? Expect You'll
feel quite rich when you get through.
I've brought you three or four pump
kins and a peck of potatoes to help ye
along. Guess it's pretty good thing
to be a minister"
yes, very" said Mr.. Bates, drily.
"At this rate | shall be able to retire
soon.'
Next come Mrs. Sweetzer with pain
of stockings for the minister. l guess
yarn was scarce when them stockings
was knit. They were about big enough
! for the minister's second boy.
) Next come Mrs. Lafayette Talbot
with loaf of ginger bread that was Sc
tough and sour | couldn't eat it for one
and an old shop worn copy of the Pill
grim's Progress, that she bought il
t Cornhill for % cents
Don't you wish you was a minister
wife, said Mrs. Bates in a whisper.
4 think it's plaguey shame" says !
chat people are so stingy. They'd bet
1 ter have staid away and not pretended
to give anything"
81 wish they had, said Mrs. Bates.
s Here come up Mrs. Newcome, tn
talior's wife, (they didn't belong to tn
S society and gave the minister ten dol
: lars worth Of cloth to make up for til
e boys.
Its gist those that you don't expect t
$ give, that give the most, says l.
e so it is" said the minister "Bu
}, here comes Mrs. Onthank. What ha
e she got, l wonder?"
o Mrs. Onthank is the wife Of one {
our richest men.
u Mrs. Bates, says she with smile
it I've been knitting you purse. IhoE
It you'll like it..
Mrs. Onthank," says I, as 81
s. handed him a green silk purse 81
/ doubt you have made it more accep
.. able by putin five or ten dollar bi
II in it."
if "Lor, Mrs. Brigham" she said, colo
IS ing a little, "how witty you are.
e "Thank you, says /, my wit is on
equalled by your generosity"
y With that she got mad and went Of
s. Wal, about clock the table WI
IS spread and the people went to eatir
h They was all gifted with an amazi
IS good appetite, / can tell ye, and ate L
j, everything that was brought in. In tt
le midst of it all one Of Mrs. Cutters b
boys let fall an oil lamp on the parl
NJ carpet, and spilled it, The carpet W
d the best they had, aud Mrs. Bat
le looked pretty blue when she saw Il
,r lamu fall