Norwich bulletin., 1922-09-30

cakes for the supper which was usually an oyster supper. Someone had to go to the city for the oysters and for toys and ornaments for what Eas called the fam cy table which looked pretty but was finally given up before the festivals were because poor people in the country couldn't afford to buy many such things. to get the church ready. and later in the week to get 1t cleaned up and ready for Sunday Some churches were fortu- nate enough to have hall or building nearby that could be used which wasn't the case where I lived. But it was all very gay and festive when ready and l everybody seemed to enjoy it..
 Beside the fancy table the.s was one l for candy and another for ice cream. lemon and vanilla. the various aavcrs and combinations of that delightful food Ibeing unknown then. Also there was usually bedquilt or two put up and sold by lottery at ten cents ticket and 8 grabbaE where you paid ten cents, put l in your hand and took whatever you happened to get hold of. which. was a l source of much mirth among the young folks. Il
 Then came the supper which was g grand affair with oyster stew. coffee and 1 pies and cakes and all eorts of good things and there were some notable
 cooks then, too.
 In the last year or two of their eist- ence. there being some dramatic talent
 in the place. they added to the attrae- tions some plays which were really good and seemed as wonderful to us as some of the city theatres would.
 After the second night unless storm caused it's extension ito a third they sold l at auction what was left of the eata- bles, took down the booths. and stands, cleaned the church, reckcned up their accounts, drew a sigh of thankfulness if | the, result was satisfactory and of res l ignation if 1t wasn't, and rested from their 1abors till the next winter. Later
 on came changes and ministers who ob- jected to having money raised in that way and said 1t was a dissertation oi sacred places, etc. But I don't believe
 the recording angel put any very black marks against those good old souls who
 tried 50 hard to raise money. and did the best they knew.
 Of still earlier date was the donation party when the neighborhood gathered at the parsonage and brought gifts oi whatever they felt they could afford tc
 make up the deficit in the ministerS sal. ary. One of my earliest recollection. is of going to one with my mother. Ha. , anyone ever read Elder Lambs Dona, , tion Party. by Will Carleton, where 1 "all things unsppreciated found tha. night their true vocation?', In that ru scum of relics known as 'cElder Lamb. , donation" after 1t was over the elder . knelt "arnid decaying produce in the ,, ruins of his home" and prayed thus
 Take me to thyselfi in mercy, Lord, be
 fore my next donation"
 But it. wasn't always as bad as that . They carried; many good and usefu
 things which Helped the minister yer i, much no doubt, but still when one ha |. the money they can do what they pleas s with 1t and it IS more satisfactory al ' around.
 And now think have spent tim
 enough recalling past days or you vii all be tired of reading. It is said to D 2 a sure sign of growing old when we be 2 gin to look backward and the days tha ! are gone seem tinged with gold, al !. 1 though when we were passing throus . , them they may have seemed gray an U gloomy.
 :. LOLA.