And again to the parlor he did them invite, 
And all seemed to think this a wonderful sight. 
Then a shy, little maiden with drooping blue eyes, 
And on her pale cheek a soft flush of surprise, 
Was gently and tenderly held by the hand, 
(And all of the guests were invited to stand,) 
While the parson, intones low and solemn, made one 
Sweet little Ruth Miller and bachelor John. 
Then surely the people were dumb founded all, 
It took them some moments their wits to recall, 
But at length they began their good wishes to say 
In quite a regular orthodox way. 
And then one and all repeated good night, 
And were sent to their homes, in the frosty moon¬ 
light; 
And in the bright morning,. the Christmas sun 
shone 
On no happier mortal than benedict John. 
THE DONATION PARTY. 
BY LUCY DEWEY CLAY. 
Chapter I. 
As the Rev. George Smith, pastor of a 
flourishing church in the little town of 
N . was quietly seated in his study, the 
door was opened by his pleasant-faced 
wife, and the two worthy deacons of the 
church entered, and after being seated 
and the usual friendly salutations had 
passed, Deacon Jones remarked: 
“Well, brother Smith, we have called to 
inform you that the church have been talk¬ 
ing of a visit for you, to show you the good 
feeling existing among them toward you; 
in short, we are going to make you a dona¬ 
tion.” 
“Ah, really, brother Jones,” said the 
minister, “you quite surprise me. I am 
much pleased, of course, but our rooms are 
so small, I fear if there should be much of 
a gathering it would be rather crowded 
and uucomfortable.” 
“Oh, we had thought of that; it was a 
wrong arrangement, having our new par 
sonage so small, so we have concluded to 
hold it at the hotel.” 
“At the hotel, Deacon Jones !” said the 
worthy Reverend in surprise, “I hardly 
consider that a proper juace.” 
“Oh, we have talked that matter all over 
It will be all right; but of course we wished 
to consult with you a little.” 
The minister looked quite thoughtful for 
a few moments, and finally concluding 
that he had no particular objections, the 
deacons bidding him good morning, took 
their departure. 
Proceeding at once to the hotel, they 
made the necessary arrangements with the 
bland landlord, offering him good re¬ 
muneration for the use of his handsome 
establishment, and exacting from him a 
promise that the bar should be kept closed 
on the evening in question. 
Among the members of Mr. Smith’s 
church, was a very estimable widow by 
the name of Grey. She was not strong, 
being a victim of that slow, insidious de¬ 
stroyer, consumption, and her chief solace 
and joy seemed to be her only child, a 
lovely young girl of nineteen, who for a 
short time past had been the very devoted 
attention of Fred Smith, the promising son 
of the minister. Annie’s mother had noted 
their mutual attachment with pleasure, 
for she considered the young man, in every 
respect, worthy the love of her precious 
daughter. On the evening following the 
events above, Mrs. Grey and her daughter 
were sitting in their pleasant home, when 
the door was opened very hurriedly, and 
a neighbor entered. Now this same Aunt 
Eunice, as she was familiarly called by 
every one, was one of your active, enter¬ 
prising, strong-minded women—every town 
has one of them, or ought to have at least— 
withal an excellent hearted, benevolent 
woman full of good deeds. She was rather 
eccentric in her manner and appearance 
and now seemed unusually excited even 
for her. Without waiting for preliminary 
remarks, she seated herself, quickly snatch¬ 
ed off her hood, and burst out with, “I 
want to know if ye’ve heard the news.” 
“What news?” inquired the ladies, look¬ 
ing almost startled. 
“Why, they’re goin’ to liev the donation 
down to Miller’s. Tf it aint perfectly orful.” 
“Why? Aunt Eunice,” inquired Mrs. 
Grey. 
“Wy,” said the old lady, “who ever 
heerd of havin’ a minister’s donation to a 
tarvern ? If that aint a countenancin’ the 
evil critter, I’d like to know what is.” 
“Now, my dear Aunt Eunice,” gently 
said Mrs. Grey; “you are too much excited. 
I can see no harm in it at all. It seems to 
me to be a very good place, the rooms are 
