Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1890-09-20
The evening of the donation party

Mr.. Wade. He met the minister, who
came to the door in answer to his knock,
with two bushel bag full of something
on his shoulder
:'How'd do, elder. Beautiful night
for the donation, amt 1t q was his
greeting, as he shook hands with the
minister give brought some beans
fer We Fust-rate beans, too, yell find.
Beans is healthy Twin. elder. | was
CROWN children"
"You can put them in the woodshed,"
said Mr. Spooner. Just then Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettigrew drove up.
''Hello, elder, good eyenin'," called
out Mr.. PettigreW. GIVE got some
beans here for We. Wher'll ye hev 'em
"In the woodshed," said the minister,
with smile at his wife. "It's going to
be beans this year, my DEAR" in whis-
per.
Then other arrivals followed in rapid
succession and at least three out OF ev-
cry four brought beans.
"Ive counted fourteen bushels al
ready" whispered the minister to his
wife about o'clock, "and still there's
more to follow"
cts old clothes in my part of the
house," said Mrs. Spooner. 81 do be-
lieve there's enough to last the children
till they are all grown up, if they'd tit
till that time. L can imagine the ap-
pearance they make in them. No two
alike, and probably not one that would
fit one of the children. It's too pro-
voking for anything. If it wasn't for
making the people mad, I'd sell the
whole lot for rags to the first rag ped
dler that comes along"
brothers m sisters, n frien's m
neighbors," announced Deacon Spears,
after supper, when the party was about
to break up, "the proceeds of this ERE
donation amounts to twenty-seven
bushels O. potatoes, an large amount
b'half O. the elder an his folks, | thank
We fer y'r libral'ty. Y'r kindness is
appreciated by him m his'n, [ feel
sartin, an Pm shure his heart n hams
is strengthened by this evidence O. fell
lowship on your part. Truly as the
psalmist says, 1T is more blessed to
give than to receive. ,"
II cordially endorse the sentiment
from the receivers standpoint" said
Mrs. Spooner, as they looked over the
"proceeds" of the donation party when
they were alone. "Just look at the col
lection of old clothes, Henry. | suggest
that you give up preaching and move to
the city, and start in business as bean
broker, and I'll run an old-clothes store.
We'd be we'll stocked up to begin with"
asked the minister, turning over old
jackets and aprons, and other articles of
clothing with a comical look of dismay
on his face at the formidable collection.
II think I shall make about 100 yards
of rag carpet" answered Mrs. Spooner.
''That's about all a good deal Of it is tit
for"
One afternoon in the following week
the minister sat down to prepare SER
mon for the coming Sabbath. AS was
often the case, he talked it over with
his wife. When he named the chapter
he proposed to read at the opening of
the service, sudden CLEAN of mischief
came into Mrs. SpOoner's face. But she
said nothing.
During the week Mr.. Spooner wrote
to friend in the city, asking him if
there was any sale for beans there. He
had twenty-five bushels to dispose of,
at low price, he wrote, adding that it
had been "a great year for beans in
Scragsby Corners
When Sunday morning came Mrs.
Spooner sent her husband on to church
ahead of her, under the plea that she
had not got the children quite ready.
Don't wait for me, Henry" she said,
cor you may be late. Wen get there
in time for the sermon"
He was reading a chapter from the
Psalms when his family arrived He
had reached the verse in which the lily
of the valley is spoken of, and these
words rolled off generously from his
tongue just as the door opened and
Mrs. Spooner, followed by her chill
dren, filed slowly and impressively in
Verify, | say unto you, even Solo
mon in all his glory was not arrayed
like one of these"
AS he finished the verse he looked
up at the advancing arrivals, and the
spectacle that met his eyes tested his
power of self control more than any
thing else he had ever experienced, he
afterwards told his wife His mouth
twltched, and a smile fiickered about
his eyes, but he managed to keep back
the grin that would have appeared at
the faintest encouragement.
Such a sight The eldest girl was ar
rayed in Almiry's cast off dress, of navy
blue, with some other girls polonaise
of red. Her sister was resplendent in
dress of Scotch plaid pattern of most
gorgeous colors, originally, but now
somewhat subdued by time and wear,
still very vivid, and over it she wore a
acket about three sizes too small for
her, the picturesque costume being
topped of by a hat trimmed with old
ribbon freshly dyed very bright ma
genta color The oldest boy had pair
of trousers which fairly dragged at the
heels, and a jacket that was long enough
for an oyercoat, while the other boy
wore trousers so short that they failed
to meet the top of pair of bright blue
STOCKINGS while his iacket rnfnsad To