Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-09-17
THE DONATION PARTY
By EBEN E. REXFORD.

BY EBEN E. RExFoRD.
"We're great on donations, elder. We
jest go in heavy on them things"
deacon Spears made the announce
ment to the new minister with an air of
stating the possession of a great moral
virtue peculiar 70 the people of Scragsby
Corners.
81 have never found donation parties
very satisfactory" said the minister. 81
would greatly prefer havinga stated sal
airy and having it paid in cash."
sWall, yes, s'pose we would said
the deacon. ''That's what all the minis
ters- say. But, We see, 'twon't hardly do,
here In Scragsby Corners"
"Why MOP" asked the minister.
go, they've gotin the habit o. havin'
donations, an they expect 'em, We see, :"
replied the deacon, "an' they d feel sor-
ter offended eff preacher sot his foot
down an said he wouldn't have 'em.
Some folks give suthin' in that way that
wouldn't give nuthin' in cash, an we
bound to git all out o. the c'mmunity that
we can, We see.
"My experience has been that great
deal of what people bring to donation
parry ID WOTtHlcoS VI uSt1eoS, Sdlu tIle
minister.
sWall, yes, s'pose SO, assented the
deacon But 'twouldn't do to kick
ag'in' donations on that account here.
Ye'd have the folks down on We in no
time"
.sWeH, then" said the poor minister,
with sigh of resignation to the newt
able, 81 suppose it will have to be-"
He thought Of his last donation party,
with its dozen loads of dozy, half-rotten
stove wood; wood which was worthless
to the donors because it had been cut
so long that it was unstable, and which
they would never have thought of using
at home. More than once his wife's
temper had been sorely tried with the
miserable stuff, and she had threatened
making bonfire of the whole lot, and
probably would have attempted carry
ing the threat into execution if she had
had any idea that it could have been
coaxed to burn itself up.
"Dear me - exclaimed Mrs. Spooner
in dismay, when her husband told her
that donation party was being talked
up. II did hope we might escape the
1nfilctlon when we came here. L don't
think I was ever more yexed than I was
the morning after the last one. There
wasn't room IN the house fit to use
half a chocolate cake between the pill
lows on the parlor bed, pie in the bu-
reau, and someone had emptied plate
of baked beans behind the sofa. It
took me all of two weeks to get straight
ened around. And now that we've Just
got settled there's to be another. It's
too bad, but | don't know that we can
help ourselves, since minister and his
family are considered objects of chart
ty, and, therefore, obliged to take up
with whatever the people see fit to give
them, without the chance TO say word
for themselves"
IA donation party will be held at FL
der Spooner's next Thurday evening,
the Lord willin', an its hoped ev'ry-
body I'll turn out, an bring suthin' for
the sport O. the gospil," Deacon Spears
announced one Sabbath, after service.
1.-THE Lord loves cheerful giver," he
added, in sort Of postscript, after
which he blew his nose vigorously on
great red and white bandanna, in a
manner that suggested applause over
the neat way in which the announce
ment had been made, and then sat
down.
Immediately there was buzz among
the female portion of the congregation,
and little groups of women put their
what to carry in the shape of eatables;
while the men got together in the vesti-
bule of the church and consulted with
each other on what they were to "do-
nate"
"I reckon I'll take beans this year, !"
said Mr.. Wade. "It's been a great year
for beans. I hain't raised so big crop
emmy year since IS. s can recollect. [
can give beans 'thout feelin' it much. :"
$50 can T. said Mr.: Pettigrew. II
got jofred big crop of'n the side-hill
lot. | guess I'll take beans, too, l car
spare 'em better'n enything else, an
they amt a-goin' to sell fer much this
year, cause they're so plenty"
Several others who listened to their
conversation concluded to take beans
also, fur it had "been great year fur
beans" in Scragsby Corners, as Mr.
Wade had said.
ave a good notion to take some o.
nv Almiry's clo'es," said Mrs. Deacon
Spears to Mrs. Pettigrew. "She's out
crowd 'em, but they'd jest about fit the
elders oldest girl, | sh'd jedge, an
they're most as good as new, some on
sem. You don't s'pose Mis- Spooner ID
feel put out about it, do you now, Mis-
PettgreW."
81 can't see why she should" re-
sponded Mrs. Pettigrew. "Clo'es is
clos an minister's folks hadn't ought to
git mad at what's give 'em SO long as
they hev to depend on us fur livin'.
'Tain't as If they could afford to be in
dependent, " know. [ s'pose / might
take some Jackets and trowss that air
gettin' putty snug for the boys. [ will,
If you conclude to take some o. Almiry's
dresses, Mis- Spears"
"Wali, then s'pose We do, responded
Mrs. Spears.
The evening Of the donation party
came.
The first arrival at the parsonage was
Mr. Wade. He met the minister, who
came to the door in answer to his knock,
With atwo-bushel bag full Of something
. How. iEi3 do, elder: Beautiful night
for the donation, amt il ?" was his
greeting, as he shook hands with the
minister 'I'ye brought some beans
fer We. Fustrate beans, too, yen find.
Beans is healthy Twin, elder, [ was
Il