The record-union., 1891-08-08
THE DONATION PARTY.

"We're great on donations, elder. We
go in heavy onstheln things"
Deacon Spears made the announcement
to the new minister with the air of stating
the possession Of a great moral virtue pc
culiar to the people of Scragsby Corners.
II never found donation parties very
satisfactory" said the minister. 81
would greatly prefer having stated sal
ary, and having it paid in cash."
WAL, yes, I s'pose ye WOULD" said
the deacon. THAT'S what all the minis
ters say. But We see t'won't hardly do,
here in Scragsby Corners"
''Why not?n asked the minister.
80, they've got in a habit o. havin' do
nations, an they expect 'em, We see." re-
piled the deacon, sam they'd feel sorter
offended ef 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, and we're
bound to git all out o. the community
that we can, We see."
My experience has been that a great
deal OF what people bring to Il donation
party is worthless or useless said the
minister.
wall, yes. s'pose so, assented the
deacon. But t'wouldn't do to kick ag'in
donations on that account here. Ye'd
have the folks down on We in no time"
We'll, them" said the poor minister,
with sigh Of resignation to the inevita-
bic, i suppose it viii have To be-" He
thought Of his last donation party with
It's dozen loads Cf ooZy, half-rotten stove
wood; wood which was worthless to the
donors because ii had been cut so long
tlHf unSu19iola aylH NphfnE,
would never 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 g bonfire
of the whole lot, and probably would
have attempted carrying the threat into
execution II she had any idea that it could
have been coaXed to burn itself up.
Dear metz exclaimed Mrs. Spooner,
III diSmay, when her husband told her
that q donation party was being talked
up. II did hope we might escape the in
Fiction when we came here. | don't
think was ever more VeXed than / was
the morning after the last one. There
wasn't q room in the house 1T to use un-
| til it had been cleaned. There was half a
chocolate cake between The pillows on
the paTior bed; pie III the bureau, and
some one had emptied q plate of baked
beans behind the sofa. 1t took me all Of
| two weeks 10 get Strengthened 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 con
sidered objects of charity, and, therefore,
obliged to take up whatever the people
see lit to give them, without the chance
TO say word for thenselyes.''
"a donation party will be held at Elder
Spo0ner's next Thursday evening, the
Lord wiiliH', and it's TO be hoped ev'ry-
body'll turn out, and bring suthin' for the
S sport Of the gospil.' Deacon Spears an
nounced, one Sabbath, after service.
The Lord loves q cheerful giver," he
added, III sort Of proscript, after which
he blew his nose vigorously on great
red-and-white baRdana, in a manner chat
suggested applause over the neat way in
which the announcement had been made,
and then sal down.
Immediately there was q buzz among
the female portion of the congregation,
and little groups OF women put their
heads together and began to discuss what
to carry in the shape OF eataDles; while
the men got together in the vestibule of
the church and consulted with each other
on what they were TO donate.
II reckon III take beans this year"
said Mr.. Wade. Its been great year
for beans. ! hain't raised so big crop
emmy year since '65, IS l can recollect. /
can give beans 'thOut feeling il much"
$50 can ], ~ said Mr.. Pettigrew / got
jofired big lot otfm the side hill lot.
guess I'll take beans, too. I can spare
'em better n anything else, and they
| cause their SO pienty.''
Several others who listened to their
conversation concluded to take beans
also, for it had "been a great year for
beans" in Scragsby Corners, as Mr.. Wade
had said.
"rye a good notion to take some o. my
Almiry's clo'es," !" said Mrs. Deacon Spears
to Mrs. Pettigrew. "She's out-growed
| 'em, but they'd jest fit the elders oldest
girl, l sh'd jedge, an they're most as
good as new, some on 'em. You don't
s'pose Mis- Spooner ID feel put out about
it, do you now, Mrs. Pettigrew?"
Il can't see why she should" re-
sponded Mrs. Pettigrew. "Clo'es is
| clo'es, an minister's folks hadn't ought
| to get mad at what's give 'em as long as
| they hev to depend on us for a liyin'.
Tain't as if they could afford to be inde-
pendent, ye know, 1 s'pose l might
take some trows's that are gettin' putty
| sung for the boys. l will, if you con-
clude to take some of Almiry's dresses,
| Mis- Spears"
We'll, then, s'pose we do" responded
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 a two-bushel bag full of something
on his shoulder.
How'd do, elder. Beautiful night for
| the donation, amt it?'' was his greeting
as he shook hands with the minister.
| "I'ye brought some beans for ye Fust-
rate beans too, yell find. Beans is
healthy livin', elder. l was raised on
'em. Nothin' better for groin children. !"
You can put them in the wood-shed," !"
| said Mr.. Spooner. Just then Mr.. and
Mrs. Pettigrew drove up.
Hello, elder, good evenin'," called ont
| Mr.. Pettigrew. I've got some beans
here for ye. Wher'll ye Rev 'em putt"
''In the woodshed." said the minister,
with a smile at his wife. tits going to
! be beans this year, my DEAR" in o
| whisper.
Then other arrivals followed in rapid
| succession, and at least three out of every
four brought beans.
''I'ye counted fourteen bushels al
| ready" whispered the minister to his
! wife about 8 O'Clock, "and still there is
more to follow"
Its old clothes in my part of the
house." said Mrs. Spooner. ~ do be-
| lieve there's enough to last the children
| till they are all grown up, if they'd fit till
| that time. l 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 any
thing. If it wasn't for making the peo-
pie mad, I'd sell the whole lot of rags tc
the first peddler that comes along"
Brothers m sisters m friends IN
neighbors," announced Deacon Spears
after supper, when the party was about
ready to break up, ''the proceeds of this
| 'ere donation amounts to twenty-seveu
| hll hals 20 haans tllran t11rl- n,rc ,airr