OLD HOMESTEAD 



over by the beneficiary. Doctrines and lines of religious de- 

 markation which were sharp enough to divide Christians at the 

 communion table disappeared when it came to the donation, and 

 all met there in a spirit of fraternity and brotherly love. 



They all brought their little contributions for the benefit of 

 the minister and his family, and they were much more likely to 

 be in some article of household supplies or wearing apparel than 

 in money; but, whatever the gift, it was that of a ''cheerful 

 giver," and they were not criticised on account of its character 

 or value. 



The donation was a principal item in the yearly support of 

 the minister and his family. In the early days the ministers or 

 clergymen who presided over country churches calculated to and 

 did partially support themselves by some useful profession or 

 labor. Elder Walker was a surveyor and conveyancer of great 

 skill, and his services in that line brought him a considerable 

 portion of his income. Rev. Enos Bliss and Rev. John Bishop 

 were farmers. They labored in their own vineyards for daily 

 bread and in the vineyard of the Lord for the love of His cause. 



The donation to the young people meant still more than to 

 their parents. It gave them the opportunity of the whole winter 

 to meet and frolic and play among themselves in a semi-pious but 

 most enjoyable manner, without being criticised for the same — 

 because it was, you know, at the donation party. Their most 

 lively frolics generally came after the older people had gone 

 home — in fact, the older people commonly attended in the after- 

 noon and the young ones in the evening. 



To show how the annual donation was understood and ap- 

 preciated by the young people, I must relate a little episode that 

 occurred in the family of my brother-in-law, Mr. Doane. They 

 were all getting ready to attend Elder Salmon's donation, but for 



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