ladies’ depahjmemt. 
377 
Cadies’ ^Department. 
RURAL PASTIMES BY SOCIAL LABOR—No. 3. 
In connexion with the “ Working-Bee” at the 
minister’s house, which, as a custom, is somewhat 
circumscribed in its limits, being confined almost 
exclusively to certain rural districts in our Eastern 
States, I shall attempt to describe another of similar 
object, called a “ Donation Party,” but differing 
slightly in its details, and being less local in its 
character. Although much more in fashion north 
of “ Mason and Dixon’s line,” it is not unknown 
among our more Southern and Western neighbors, 
having been carried with the rapid tide of emigra¬ 
tion from its source in the land of steady habits. 
One difference between the two is striking; for 
while the “ Bee” is rarely known except in the 
country, the Donation Party is quite as frequent 
in the towns. In fact, these parties are known 
wherever the congregation is not rich enough to 
give their minister a regular salary sufficient to 
supply him and his family with the comforts of 
life. There is one feature common to both of these 
extremely interesting meetings, that is delightful to 
contemplate, and this is the liberal spirit spread 
abroad, which does not confine its influence to the 
members of the church whose minister is to be 
rovided for, but in numerous instances warms the 
earts of friends and neighbors of different religious 
creeds, who gladly join the charitable throng, and 
acknowledge it a privilege to be allowed to lend 
their aid in a good cause. 
In preparing for these parties, there is generally 
a good deal of quiet consultation among the influ¬ 
ential members, to prevent too much of one thing of 
a kind, and too little of another, from being provid¬ 
ed, although there is always a clear understanding 
between the donors and the receiver, that what is 
superabundant may, without offence, be exchanged 
at “ the store” for articles more necessary. At 
these preliminary councils it is agreed that one or 
more shall wait upon the minister to ask when he 
and his wife will be ready to receive them, and to 
fix the afternoon of that day for the party. I have 
never but once been present at these “ love feasts,” 
as they might well be called, but from that one I 
carried with me a heart full of agreeable reflections, 
and the wish that at my pleasant home such things 
were done. 
Early on a bright afternoon in October, the lane 
leading to the minister’s house was crowded with 
pedestrians, and vehicles of many forms and names. 
The good man, with the grateful feelings of his 
heart beaming in his face, stood at the door to as¬ 
sist the ladies to alight, and to receive his beloved 
guests, and those free-will offerings that were too 
large, or unfit to be carried into the house. He had 
been settled among them only a few months, but the 
bonds of Christian love are soon drawn closely be¬ 
tween a faithful pastor and his flock ; and they had 
well employed the time in spying out the wants of 
the household. None came empty-handed, and it 
was curious and amusing to see the almost endless 
variety of articles spread about the door, and around 
the wife, who, with her children, remained in the 
neat little sitting-room, and welcomed with smiles 
and tears of gratitude, the guests and their offer¬ 
ings, which were deposited upon every unoccupied 
spot, until the room looked like a storehouse. 
Hitherto, Mr.-had walked his rounds of paro¬ 
chial visits, or had been indebted to some kind 
neighbor for the loan of a horse, or a drive in a 
wagon. It was therefore with peculiar pleasure 
that he received a stout nag, from two rich sisters, 
while a third who was prevented from attending in 
person, sent the kind message, that “ she expected 
the horse to graze in her lot, as he had always 
done !” 
Among other acceptable presents, I noticed a fine 
fresh cow “ given, because the children must have 
milk a sheep, a hog, a barrel of flour, and a 
warm camlet cloak, to the latter of which the village 
tailor had contributed his mite by making. There 
were knitted woollen stockings of all sizes for the 
children; a neat wicker cradle for the baby; the 
winter’s stock of wood; comforts for a sick room; 
and several books, valuable for their contents, and 
enhanced by good type and paper. Everything 
seemed to have been thought of; nothing omitted 
that would add to the comfort of these humble ser¬ 
vants of their Heavenly Father. One thoughtful 
matron brought a pretty, though not costly lard- 
lamp ; for she had seen the minister’s wife, a few 
nights before, happy even amid poverty and dis¬ 
comfort, singing at her work, while she was mending 
her husband’s black coat by the dim light of a tal¬ 
low* candle. 
The young and the gay also brought their gifts, 
adding many pretty, useful articles of their own 
manufacture to the more solid contributions of their 
parents. While his face was bright with the grate¬ 
ful feelings naturally excited by receiving so many 
substantial proofs of the affectionate regard of his 
people to their pastor, I could not but observe a 
quiet, peculiar smile play for a moment about his 
mouth ; as he noticed one article, so inappropriate 
for the humble room it was intended to adorn, and 
so frail in its texture, that all seemed to wonder 
how it could have been thought of at such a time. 
This v T as a beautiful, elaborately ornamented vase 
filled with v r ax flowers wonderfully true to nature, 
and tastefully arranged too, presented with a true 
boarding-school grace, by a pretty delicate girl, who 
had been brought up, I dare not say educated, in a 
“ fashionable seminary for young ladies.” These 
flowers were graciously received, and justly admired, 
but in that small room, crowded with children, 
where everything was in daily use, where could 
they be placed in safety ? No marble table covered 
with elegant trifles w T as there; nor any space on the 
already well filled mantel. If she had not looked 
so self-satisfied, I could have pitied the pretty donor 
when the vase was deposited “ just for the present” 
upon the coarse cloth that covered the tea-table. A 
few thoughts as to the fitness of things would soon 
have set her right, had she taken the trouble to 
think. The same time and money would have made 
half a dozen nice shirts, or if fancy work were pre¬ 
ferred, and in this “ work-a-day world” I love 
fancy work too well to proscribe it—she might by 
uniting the beautiful with the useful, have made a 
pair of embroidered slippers, or a cushion for the 
study chair. 
No, I would not proscribe the ornamental under 
the most humble roof; but would rather strew 
