Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-07-06
Mrs. Peck Easter.

1t was Easter in Mumpville. The
ladies of Calvary Church had decided
uponmore than ordinary decorations
andthe general oversight ofaffairswas
placed in the capable hands of Mrs
Elkanah Peck. That good lady SET
about her some what difficult task
with her accustomed alacrity. She
few about and set her house in
apple-pie order; then she oversaN
the cooking of immense quantities
of provisions, sufficient for the needs
of Mr. Elkanah and the children
during the ensuing week. Then she
made a requisition for a horse and
buggy in which she drove to the
church where she had agreed to
meet with her fellow-workers on the
scene of their labors. Eight ladies
had been appointed on thecommittee
but only two of them met Mrs.
EEanah Peck in Calvary churchthat
Monday afternoon. Mrs Lilly was
obliged to go outoftown. Mrs. Prout's
Johnny had just developed II case of
measles. Miss Perry had received
tidings OF thickness ola married sister
and had departed to the rescue.
Mrs. Grimm had bad neuralgia
headache. Mrs. Hardy had severe
cold. So that only the anxious
brow of Mrs. Simpson, and Amelia
Turner's irresolute smile met the eye
of the chairwoman on the decorating
committee.
Mrs. Simpson was toow wrapped up
in her own housewiiely cares to be
of much assistance in the matter on
hand, and Amelia Turner, after sug-
costing that if they had some ever
green's they might wreath the clock
and have festoons on the chandeliers,
lapsed into the silence of utter vacui-
ty. Then Mrs. Elkanah rose equal
to She emergency. She suggested
that the whole space between the
choir and the preachers desk should
be filed with the blooming plants.
Mumpville boasted nogreenhouses ex-
cept a few private ones Of small size,
but window-gardening was reduced
almost to q science. Care encountered
Mrs. Simpson and the incapable
Amelia at once agreed to let her fol-
! low out her idea and do all the work;
then, feeling that they had done a
cook thing, they separated to meet
again and arrange the floral display
on the next Saturday afternoon.
All that week Mrs. Elkanah Peck
was very busy Neither she nor the
red-ronn steed nor the SIDE
spring buggy obtained any rtst.
Back and forth she went from West
Mumpville to Timbuctoo, from South
Mnmpyille to Sharondale.
/! Easter was very early that year.
SO that Mother Nature lent no az!
to the decorating of Calvary church.
but the lively Mrs. Elkanah, all I'M
daunted by the forbidden aspect q
the frozen ground, went, blithely
skimming along, intent upon hel
errand.
All the ladies volunteered theil
finest geraniums, callas and fuchsias
Captain Prescott's daughters lent
their azaleas, magnificent in rose
cobr and white. Eccentric old
Bachelor Ben Higgins lent his tea
robes, six varieties, rich in foliage
W rich in perfume.
way out over the marshes in
buctoo lived Aunt Emily Vyane
tn Mrs. Elkanah solicited the loan
er oleanders she gazed at herpets
rsighed.. .".Yes, you may have
h, she said. II wouldn't have
thing happen to them for the
Id, but you will take good care
hem. Tom rooted 'em and got
well started before he went on his
voyage"
Dor Aunt Emily! Forgay, young
Dr Tom went down in a great
m off Hatteras, and would never
root oleanders and get 'en
started for the plain, little
sister, whose JOY and pride he
Mrs. Elkanah bore off in triumph
eat. splendid bushes fully -four
igh and covered with hundreds
grant pink blossoms. What q
round they made for the other
when Saturday came and the
ing committee assembled
1ays of tie week had beer
warm, veyy favorable fol
ntatiol ofMrs. Elkanah's
asst moment she
inspiration. |
laced among the
the effect woulc
the side-sprine
he road toware
he drew rein be
,st house in the
woman dressed
ring and usher
room where hel
ed high witt
visitors er
ice, then tool
e.and set it on