The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-12-18
THE DONATION PARTY,

very satisfactory" said the minister. 81
would prefer having a stated salary, and
having it paid in cash. ii
"Wall, yes, s'pose We would, said
the deacon. "That's what all the minis
tiers say. But, we see, 'twont hardly do,
here in Scragsby Corners"
''Why not?n asked the minister.
30, they've got in the habit of havin'
and they expect 'em, We see,
replied the deacon, IAN they'd feel sort
er 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 nothin' in cash, an we're
bound to git out o. the Community that
we can, We see."
''My experience has been that great
deal of what people bring to a donation
party is worthless or useless" said the
minister.
"Wall, yes, l 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"
'tWell, them" said the poor minister
with sigh of resignation to the inevita-
BILE, II 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 unsuitable, and which they
would never have thought of using at
home. More than once his wife's tenn
per had been sorely tried with the miser-
able stuff, and she had threatened max
ing a bonfire of the whole lot, and prob
ably would have carried 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, 81 did hope we might escape the
infliction when we came here. don
think l was ever more more vexed than
was the morning after the last one.
There wasn't a room in the house fit to
use until it had been cleaned. There
was half a chocolate cake between the
pillows on the parlor bed; pie in the
bureau, and some one had emptled a
plate of baked baked beans behind the
sofa. 1t took me all of two weeks to get
Strengthened around. And now that we
have Just got settled, there's to be anoth'
er. It's too bad, but don't know that
we can help ourselves, since a minister
and his family are considered objects OF
charity, and, therefore, obliged to take
up with whatever the people see fit to
give them, without the chance to say q
word for themselves"
"a donation party will be held at Elder
Spooner's next Thursday evening, the
Lord willin' and it is hoped ev'ry body'l
turn out, an bring suthin' for the sport
of the gospil," Deacon Spears announced
one Sabbath morning after service. 1.-The
Lord loves cheerful giver, he added, in
a sort of postscript, after which he blew
his nose vigorously on great red and
white bandanna, in manner that sug'
gested applause over the neat way in
which the announcement had been made,
and then sat down. Immediately there
was a buzz among the female portion of
the congregation, and little groups OF
women put their heads together and be-
gan discussing what to carry in the shape
of eatables; while the men got together
in the vestibule of the church and con.
suited with each other what they were to
"donate."
81 reckon I'll take beans this year."
said Mr.. Wade. cts been. great year
for beans. | hain't raised so big crop
emmy year since '65, s can recollect
can give 'em beans 'thout feelin' il
much"
80 can l." said Mr.. Pettigrew. 81
got iofired big crop off'n the side-hill
lot. guess I'll take beans, too. l can
spare 'em better'n enything else, an they
amt a-goin' to sell fer much this year,
cause they're so plenty"
1--WE a good notion to take some O. my
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, should jedge, an
they're most as good as new, some on
'em. You don't spose Mis- Spooner'd
feel put out about it, do you now, Mis-
Pettigrew?"
81 can't see why she should, respond
ed Mrs. Pettigrew. "Clo'es is clo'es an
minister's folks hadn't ought to git mad
at what's give 'em as long as they hev to
depend on us for Twin. Tain't as il
they could afford to be Independent, y
know. s'pose l might take some jack
cts and trowsis that air gettin' putty
snug for the boys. Iwillif you conclude
to take some O. Almiry's dresses, Mis-
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 to answer his
knock, with two-bushel bag full of
something on his shoulder.
How'd do, elder Beautiful night fer
the donation, amt it?" was his greeting
as he shook hands with the minister.
"Tve brought some beans fer ye. Fust-
rate beans, too, yen find. Beans is
healthy Twin elder. 1 was raised on
'em. Nothin better for GOWN child
rem"
"You can put them in the woodshed."
said Mr.. Spooner Just then Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettigrew drove up.
'Hello, elder, good evenin'," called
out Mr.. Pettigrew. give got some beans
here for ye. Wher'll We hev 'em putt"
'In the woodshed," said the minister,
with smile at his wife. cts going to
be beans, this year, my dear" in whis-
per. Then other arrivals followed in
rapid succession, and at least three out
of every four brought beans.
'rve counted fourteen bushels al
ready" whispered the minister to his
wife, about eight O'Clock, land still
there's more to follow"
''It's 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 grown up, il they'd fit till
that time. | can imagine the appearance
they'd make in them. No two alike, and
probably not one that would fit one
of the children. It's too provoking for
anything. If it wasn't for making the
people mad I'd sell the whole lot for rags
TO the first rag peddler that comes
along"
"Brothers m sisters m frien's N
neighbors," announced Dea. Spears, af-
ter supper, when the party was about
ready to break up, "the proceeds of this
ERE donation amounts to twenty-seven
bushels % beans, three turkeys, a pig, two
bushels o. potatoes an large amount o.
clothing an some other things. In
b'half O. the elder an his folks, thank
We fer y'r lib'rarty. Y'r kindness is ap.
preciated by him N his'n, feel sartin,
an I'm sure his hearth hans i,
strengthened by this evidence o. fellow
ship on your part. Truly, as the Psalmist
says, 1T is more blessed to give than Ia
receive >"
~ cordially endorse the sentiment from
the receivers standpoint" said Mrs
Spooner, as they looked over the ''pro
ceeds" Of the donation party when they
were alone. "Just look at the collection
of old clothes. suggest that you give
up preaching and move to the city, ant
start in business as bean broker, and
I'll run an old clothes store. We'd b.
well stocked up to begin with"
"What will you do with the stuff?'
asked the minister, turning over ole
jackets and aprons, and other articles Of
clothing with comical look of dismay
on his face at the formidable collection
81 think shall make about hundred
yards of rag carpet" answered Mrs
Spooner. That's about all good dea
OF it is fit for"
One afternoon in the following week