Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-14
THE DONATION PARTY.
BY EBEN E. REXFoRD

Were great on donations, Elder; WE
jist go in heavy ON them things Deacon
Spears made the announcement to the
new minister with an air of stating the
possession of a great moral virtue peculiar
to the people of Scragsby Corners.
Il have never found donation parties
very satisfactory said the minister, 81
would greatly prefer having stated sal
airy, and having it paid in CASH
"Wall, yes, | s'pose you would, said
the deacon. That's what all the minis
tiers say. But, you see, it won't do here in
Scragsby Corners"
why not?' said the minister. 80,
they We got in the habit of havin' dona-
lions, an they'd feel sorter offended if a
preacher set his foot down and said he
wouldn't have them. Some folks give
suthin' in that way that wouldn't give
nothin' in cash. and we're bound to get
| all out of the immunity that we can, you
see"
MY experience has been that a great
deal of what people bring to a donation
party is worthless or useless said the
minister.
"Wall, yes, | s'pose 50, assented the
deacon. But 'twouldn't do to kick ag In
donations on that account here. You d
| have the folks down on you.
"Well, then" said the minister, with a
sigh of resignation to the inevitable, Il
suppose it will have to be-" He thought
! of his last donation party, with his half
dozen loads of haif-rotten stove wood,
which was worthless to the donors, be-
cause it had been cut so long that it was
unsaleable, and which they would never
have thought of using at home. More
than once his wife's temper had been sore
ly tried with the miserable stuff, and she
had threatened making bonfire Of the
whole lot, and probably would have car
RED the threat into execution if she had
not feared that it could have been coaxed
to burn itself up
Dear met" exclaimed Mrs. Spooner in
dismay, when her husband told her that a
donation party was being talked up. |
did hope we might escape the inhiction
when we came here | don't think | was
ever more vexed than | was the morning
after the last one. There wasn't a room
in the house lit to use until 1t had been
cleaned. There was half a chocolate cake
| between the pillows on the parlor bed,
and some one had emptied plate of baked
beans behind the sofa. 1t took me all of
! two weeks to get Strengthened around.
to be another. It's too just too bad, but
don't know that we can help ourselves.
since d minister and his wife are consid-
cred objects of charity, and, therefore,
obliged to take up with whatever the peo-
pie see fit to give them, without the chance
to say a word for themselves"
"a donation party will be held at Elder
Spooner's next Thursday evening, the
Lord willin', and it's hoped everybody
will turn out, and bring suthin' for the
support of the gospel" Deacon Spears an
nounced one sabbath after service. The
| Lord loves cheerful giver, he added in
| a sort of postscript.
Immediately there was buzz among
the female portion of the congregation,
and little groups of women put their heads
| together and began discussing what to
carry In the shape of eatabies; while the
men got together in the vestibule, and
consulted with each other on what they
were to donate Il reckon Ill take
beans this year." said Mr.. Wade at
been great year for beans. hahn t
raised so big a crop any year since % as
| can recollect. | can give beans without
feein' it much
80 can l." said Mr.. Pettigrew. 81
raised big crop Off of the side-hill lot. |
guess I'll take beans too. can spare
EN- better than anything else, and they
amt going to sell for much this year?'
Several others who listened to their con-
versation concluded to take beans also, for
it had 'been great year for beans" in
Scragsby Corners.
I've good notion to take some O. my
Almiry's clothes, said Mrs. Deacon Spears
to Mrs. Pettigrew. 'She's outgrow' d
them, but they'd Just about fit the Elder S
oldest girl, should judge, and they re
most as good as new, some of EN-. You
don't suppose Mrs Spooner would feel
put out about it. do you, Mrs. Petit
grew?
Il can't see why she should, 'Taint as
| if ministers could afford to be independ-
ent, you know. | s'pose | might take
some Jackets and trousers that are gettln
pretty snug for the boys. will if you
conclude to take some O. Almiry's dresses,
Mrs. Spear said Mrs Pettigrew.
well, then, suppose we do, responded
Mrs. Spears.
The evening of the donation party came.
Wade. He met the minister who came to
the door in answer to his knock, with "a
bushel bag full of something on his
shoulder.
How'd do, Elder. Beautiful night for
the donation, ain it?" was his greeting,
as he shook hands With the minister
I've brought some beans for We. Fust
rate beans, too, you'll find: Beans is
healthy Twin, Elder was raised on chem
Nothin' better for CROWN children.
You can put them in the wood shed,
d Mr.. Spooner.
Just then Mr.. and Mrs. Pettigrew drove
up. Hello, Elder, good evening, called
out Mr. Pettigrew. I've got some beans
here for ye. Where'll ye have EN- put?
IN the wood-shed," said the minister
with a smile at his wife. ITS going tc
be beans this year. my dear III whis
per- Then other arrivals followed in rapid
succession, and at least three out of every
foIr brought beans. 1--we counted four
teen bushels, already" whispered the min
lister to his wife about eight clock, ''anC
still there's more to follow
Its old clothes in my part of the house,
said Mrs. Spooner. Il do believe there.
enough to last the children till they are al
grown UP, if they d fit till that time. | Cal
imagine the appearance they d MAKE Ii
them. No two alike, and probably no