Year: 1875

IL
Walton" (as we called her, although she
did not stand in that relation to any of
us), custom which began when we
were wee bits of girls, and which the
good old lady insisted should be kept up,
although all of us had arrived at the
dignity of being wives and mothers. We
had done ample justice to the excellent
viands which Chloe, Aunt Walton's old
colored woman, set before us, and now
we gathered around the blazing fire on
the hearth to have good chat. After
passing from one topic of conversation
to another some one referred to the do
nation party to our pastor, which was to
| take place soon and which all of us ex-
pected to attend.


"Speaking of donation parties" said
Aunt Walton, "there is family in our
immediate neighborhood which think
need assistance very much"


"Who can it be?n we queried all to-
gether, for we live in a quiet country
place where none possess wealth and
none that we were aware of were very
poor.


"The family that moved into that old
house near the mill, recently" replied
Aunt Walton. 81 managed to hobble
across the fields as far as there the other
day, and, feeling much fatigued, l con-
cluded to 60 in and rest awhile and chat
with our new neighbor l was much
pleased with the manners of the lady,
for such she seemed to be, although her
surroundings were those of extreme pow
erty She told me her husband had died
some time ago, leaving her almost desti-
tutc, with two little ones. But she had
managed TO get along by doing any
thing she could find to do until her health
failed, and she had moved to this place
hoping the change of air might prove
beneficial. She did not complain and
was evidently trying to make the best OF
her unhappy circumstances; but | have
not seen anyone in long time whom l
pitied so sincerely. Our good doctor, who
called here this morning, and had just
been in to see her, said the illness
was more in consequence of overeX-
ertion and anxiety than of any deep
seated disease, and his opinion was
that little timely assistance toward
the support of the family would be
quite as much service as his medicines.
Now girls, you are farmers wives and
all have an abundance of just those
things in which this poor widow stands
in such pressing need. Now l propose
that some of you get horse and wagon
and call at the house of each one and
see what you can collect fol our unfOrtu-
nate neighbor."


Well, we all favored the idea, for it
seemed so dreadful to us, whose dwell
ings are filled with plenty, for anyone to
be so lonely and destitute.


So we soon decided that Mrs. Cary
(whose husband was storekeeper as well
as farmer) should be the one to provide
the conveyance for US, and, as Aunt
Walton had consented to go and intro
duce the party, we separated for our
respective homes to get our contribu-
tions ready. Mrs. Cary started from
home with sundry brOwn-paper parcels
(none of your small ones either), which
we found out afterward contained tea,
sugar. crackers and raisins.


Her first call was at my house. l had
succeeded in capturing, after good deal
of coaXing and shoo-shooing," two fine
turkeys, and at first thought was about to
have their heads taken off; but Mrs. Cary
suggested it would be better to carry
them alive and let the widow dispatch
them when she.chose. So we filled bag
of corn and another with -four, which,
with a pail of hominy, completed my
contribution.


Next we came to Mrs. Kent's. She
had tlled some sacks with potatoes and
when she saw us coming she ran into the
house after huge piece of beef and one
also of mutton, which we carefully
slowed away in a big basket. Mr.. Kent
has just had beet and some sheep
slaughtered, and was just in time to
run of with a piece" she said but
those potato sacks, how are we ever to
get them into the wagonT Which was
| just what we in the wagon were puzzling
about; for from the first we had de-
termined this should be feminine party,
without any interference or advice from
the gentlemen folks-iust for fun, you
know. Well, such time as we did have
with those potatoes But after a great
deal of pulling, jerking and showing they
were finally landed safely on board the
wagon.


Next to Mrs. Fenn's, who soon ap.
peared with pot of butter (such butterl
followed by the "help," bringing pal
of lard and large piece of cheese.


So we slowed the things and ourselves
to the best advantage, and soon reached
the next place Mrs. Somers', 81 won
der what she will carry" said some one
"Some canned fruit, hope" which was
echoed by all, for we yielded the palm
to her in that line. Sure enough the
trim little matron soon appeared with {
basket filled with glass cans, through
which the pale yellow of the peach, the
green of the gage, and the crimson of thu
strawberry were plainly visible, also
jar of ounce jelly and one of honey
which after depositing safely, she raj
away again, and soon came back with
nicely-smoked beef ham.


"Two more places to call and our com
pany will be complete" said Mrs, Cary
as we stopped at Mrs. Elton's neat littl
home.


She appeared with a basket of snow,
biscuits and puffy crullers and far dow
we caught sight of a frosted surface
which we knew covered one of her de
licious cakes.


81 expected to invite you all to tel
next week, and made some of this cak
for the occasion. But guess you ar,
as we'll off without it," she said, laugh
ingly.


Then we noticed she had pulled littll
cart after her which contained an enor
nous ham, which for second tim
called forth pretty strong efforts On ou
part To coax into the wagon. Then OF
we moved TO make our last call. Mrs
Reade was on hand, as she always wa
in every good work.


"Girls,n she says, 81 came home an,
found cellar and larder so empty that
can contribute nothing but these eggs,
holding uD a basketful fresh and whit