The Wife Of Our New Minister

There had been a pastoral change in congregation. The people, after a ten-years' trial of good Mr. Wharton and his amiable, eompllant wlfe, carne to the conclusión that a different kind of preacher, with a different kind of wife, would vastly iinprove their spiiitual condition. There was a lack of Btrength about Mr. Wharton - so it was alleged- and certatn prominent ladlea In the chnrch had wishod - aloud - 80 oftx-n that Mrs. Wharton were less old-fashioned In her ivnys, that a change sooner or later had come to be a settled thing in the miuds of a majority. It was simply a question of time; and time settled the question. The cha uur was made. Old Mr. Wharton and his wife retired, and Eev. Mr. Newton and his wife took their places in the pastorate of the congregation. I happened to be away at the time this change was made, and did not return until after Mr. Newton and his wife had been doing something over three months. "How do yon like the new minister ?" --is among the fh-st of my inquiries. "He's a cbarming preacher," was the reply I reo ei veil on every hand. Yet I saw, by the manner of my friends, that some drawback existed. "How do you like his wife ?" Ah! the little mystery was explained. Mr. Newton was well enough. But his wife! "Don't know. Can't make lier out," wils the vague answer reoeived. "Is she anytliing like Mrs. ton V" "Oh, dear, no! I ouly wish she was. Why she doesn't take a particle of interest in the church. Hasn't been to one of the monthly concerts, nor to the weekly sewing circle, nor even to the Sunday-school. We caleulated entirely on her taking the senior girls' class which Mrs. 'Wharton taught for so many years; a committee of ladies waited on her "ith an invitation to do so, but she actually declined, saying that she had neither taste nor aptitude ior teaching! Now, what do you tliink of that íor a minister's wife! Did you ever hear the better of it ?" I saw at a glance that there was trouble ahead, for Miss Phoebe Jane, who made this communication, was an active, "eirculating medium" in the congregation. She knew ererybody's biisiness, t.ilked to everybody, and actetl as opinion-makor to a large majority of ladies who had too much to do in thi'ir families to liare time for independent thinking in churcli mattere. I went to ehurch wlth no ordinary feeling of interest on the Simday following my return. Five minutes liefore the time for service to begin, a lady, just above the medium hight, beautifully formod. and wlth a step of blended graee and dignity, passed along the aisle leading a child by the hand, and took her eeat in the minister's pew. Though not in any sense gaüy dressed, thoro was a Btjle and air about her that by no means indicated a pious disregard of world]y things. Taste had evldently preeided at her toilet. I noticed a sliht flinter run through the congrega tion. and the turning of many heads toward the ministor's pow, which occupied tho most prominent place in the rimrch. The lady lid rot look a round her, nor show the slightest sign of interest in the people. How different, in all things, was her aDoearance and bearlnu froin that of gooil, kind, plain Mrs. Wharton, wbO86 pleasant, almost smilins; face I had seen for many years in tliat pew - a face turning as if by instinct, its mild BUnlight ever and anon upon the congregation, while her lmsband broke for them the Bread of Life. The contrast was hardly agreeable. T was particularly pleased Avitli Ir. Newton. Ilis sormon in contrast with the usual discourses I had listened to from the lips of Mr. Wharton, was a masterpioce of eloquence. No one seemed to listen to him with more wrapt attpntion than Mrs. Newton. At last the service closed. The minister's wife turned her face to the congregation. It was a face, once geen, to be remembered. Classic almost to severity in its outlinc, the full lips and soft hazel eyes gave to it a gentle expression. You saw at a glance that she was a woman of thought as wdi as feellng. A few ladies gathered around her as she stepped from the pen', and I noticed that her countcuance lit up pleasantly as she spoke to them. But there was 110 nndne familiarity, dr wordy affability. A certa in air of dlgnity and self-respect marked every attitude of her person and every expression of hor conntenance. All vulgar familiarity toward her was mt of the queation - I saw that at a alance. ttut only a fi'w ladiee ín the congreiintion ventured to approach hor. In the eyes of many Bhe was proud, and they were not "going to forcc thomeelves apon her notice." Of the few who diii notice her, Bome were attracted by afñnlty and Bome by deslre to galn a little reflectad importa m-". Otlicrs thcraght it lmt hoepltable to show hor attentions, as a Btranger amonp: them, and acted aecordlngly, though the forro work was apparent. Desirins to moot hor and mako her acquaintance, I aeked to be introduced, and was presented by a friend. I thought lior reception rather cool, and. after passing a formal word or two, moved past hor to speak to au old acquaintance whom I had not met ior sorac limo. "How do you like your new minister's wiie ?" '.vas almost the first question. "Can't say. Must know something about her first." 1 answered. "She'U not do tor us!" said niy trlend, warmly. "She'a not the woman for St. Charity." , "Mr. Newton," said I, "is a charmiiiK speaker. 1 never beard a more beautiful sorraon." "Oh, Mr. Newton is splendld!" replied my acqnaintance, warmly. "But his wlfe! Oh, dear! it'B dreadful! What coultl have posseessed him to marry such a woman! Why, I don't believe she's even a professor. She didn't etay at the comiminioii on last Sunday! Just think of that- and she the minister's wlfe] It's been the talk of the congrega tion ever since! AVe fully exiected her to take a class in the Sunday-school- but no! We inviteil her to be present at the sewinc circle- but no; she couldn't leave her ehildren! A mere excuse, of course! Then we elected her president of our missionary society: but she declined the honor, saying that she had neither time nor taste for such public (lutirs; that, wlth her, charity for the present must begin at home. Xow, isn't that a Christian spirit for you? Our minister's wife talk of charity bestinnins at home! Why, she's a heathen!" I met, here and there, a lady of our churcli wlio bèlónged to the hömeduty, mind your-own-btisiness clnss, who did not join in this hue :uicl cry against Mrs. Newton, who thonght that, if 8lu had neither taste nor incllnatioa for Sunday-school teaching, sewiag circle or missionat-y socletles, the congregation should not Interfere withi these peculiai-itics. Bhe had three little to whom she gave all a mother's care; and as the slender ineome which her husbaiul derived from the church of St. Charity ($400 a year and parsonagi') would warrant her to keep only a single domestic, a large part of her time had, nocessarily, to be given to houschold duties. '"Nobody can say," reniarkod one of these ladies in niy ing, "that she neglects her children, or wastea her husband's income. The little parsonage never looked so attractive inside or out as now. Mrs. Wharton was not tidy, as we all know, and things around her were generally at sixes and sevens. And as for her children, they were always neglected. Many times have I seen them playtng in the dirt, while their mother was at the sewing oircle, or somewhere else that she had no business to be." But the ladies who talked in this way belonged to the "queer" ones of the congregation. They were not of the pious kind. So all they said went for ñotbing wlth the manj'. At last matters assumed so serious a shape in the minds of certatn leading ladies in the church that it was determined to wait upon Mrs. Newton and remonstrate witU her on the course of conduct she was pursning - "a course of conduct," urged lliss Lane, "that is workinji untold injury in our church. Ever since she carne here a cliange for the worse has been going on in the congregation. Mcmbers are grovrlng eold and indifferent. Our sewing circles air losing their interest, the monthly concerts of prayer are badly attended, and the Sundny-school is dwindling away. The social sphere, always so warm and attractive under the K1'"ial influence of good Mrs. Wharto-n. is fnst losing its power- and all from this strange coiwluet on the part of our minister'a wlie. Shc must bc talked to on this subject. If she doesn't know her duty she must be taught it. If she won't hear her lmsband. she must hear the congregation." A committee of ladics - Jliss I.nnc at the hoad of them. and voluntar? spokcswoman - finally undcrtook to 6et Mrs. Newton rlght in regard to her dutios to the church of St. Charity. and formerly waited spon her for that purpo.se. Curiosity prompted me to accept an offered membership In that committee. Let me picture the interview witb Mis. Newton. We found her sitting in her ordirly arranged little parlor, her person as neat as everything around her, and her three children as sweet and pure as May blossoms. Two were playing on the floor, and the babe slept in the eradle that was drawn so close to the mother that she could touch the rocker if needed with her foot. Four ladies made up the committee - a íormidable number. Mr. Newton was away, attending the funeral of a poor laborer's child; so the coast was elëar and the culprit in our power. WIth a 11 easy grace the minister's wifo rccfivcd us. and alter we were all seated she stepped to the door and spobe to her girl, who was in the kitchen. A smart, tidy-looking domestic carne lorward, and Mi-s. Newton said to her, with i kindncss of manner which I could not help noticin;, "Take Aggy and George intj the garden, Jane, and keep them until I cali yon." "Yes, ina'ain." The girl spoke very cheerfully. The two children sprang up Instantly from the fiool-, and boanding trom the room, lcft us alone with Mrs. Newton and her sleeplne baby. A grave Bllencí followed. Tae committet' was embarrasaed, lut the minist'T's wiiv w;is cntircly at her ease. "We hayo coiné," saiil Miss I.ano. after prellminary throal clearlags and bridling motions of the head peculiar to liersolf, "to have a little conversation wlth yon about our church mattere." "Hadn't yon better talk on that subject with my huaband ?" was tlie answer. witll the utmost sclf-composure. "It is his provinco." "No, ma'am," aaid Miss Lane, her voice gaining emphasla; "wc have no fault to l'ind wltn Mr. Xcwton. lic does his part entirely to our satlslaction." "Oh! I understand," Mis. Newton epoke as if light were breaMng into her niiml. ■Vcs. ma'am," Miss Lane went on, 'it is yonr duty in the church that we have pome to talk about, not ymir liusliainl's; and 1 hope you will not take it ill of us if we epeak out plain"Not by any means," replied Mis. Newton. I noticed a sliiíht qulver in her voice, a slight flUBhlng of her cliccks and a brightenlng of her soft hasel eyes. "Not liy any means," she repeated. "Speak out plainly, and if in anythlng I liave heen dereliet, I will confesa my fault and do all I can to lead a better life." "Plniii speaklng is niways the best.' saúl our mouth piece oracularly. "St we wUl Bpeak plalnly. The tact is, tira. Newton, you have failed almost entlrely to meet tlu1 expectatlona ol our people." "Indeed! I ara grleved to learn tliis." Mrs. Newton spoke seriously, but With O Bign Of disturba nee. "I was not before a ware that the people had any special c-laims upon me." "EfO special claims upon you!" Miss Lane uttered the words In undisguiBed astonisliraent. "No special claims!' she repeated; "and you the wlfe of our minister!" "What do you expect of me ?" calmly iiKiuired Mrs. Newton. "We have already intimated our expectatlona in various ways. There is the girls' senior class in Sundayschool; that of course, we expected you to take. ' And you are wantcd on the visitlng commlttee and In our missionary society. Unless our minister't- wife takfs Uie lead in the temporalities of the olmrch nothing -vill prosper." "Then," snid Mrs. Newton, "it is understood that white my hnsband's dütlës relate inainly to the spiritualitics of the church, mine have special regard to lts temporalitles '?" "Certainly, ma'am! You have expreseed the difference of relation actly," replied Mise Lañe, led on by the peculiar way in "Whlch Mrs. Newton put the question to admit the existence of a very wide range of duties as required of that lady by the congregation of St. Charity. "Thi.s is all new to me, ladies," said the minister's wife. "I was not aware before tliat any one in the congregation regarded me as haring failed in duty." "Every one so regards you." Our spokes-woïnan was a person who used great pluinness of speech. "This ehould have been stated in the beginning," said Mrs. Newton. "How was I to know your views in the matter ? I saw all of my ïiusb.incl's correspondence, but not a word was said about his wife or the church requlremente in her case Xow it appears that her raage of (Unies are almost as wide as his. 1 ouglit to have known this before 1 came here, ladies; aijd I really thlnk that the complaint of failure in duty is against you instead of me. Ix't me ask, so as to reach i elear underBtandlng of this matter, what salary do you pay your minister's ■wife!" ''Salhry!" gasped Miss Lane, Jut onder jaw falling, and lier eyes projecting at least a quarter of au inch beyond their ordin.ary position. "Salary V" she repeated in a bewlldered, hali-confounded way. "Yes," qutetly replied Mrs. Newton. "Tlie ealary. You do not, of course, requlre the services of your iniuister's wife in the wny yon propose without compensatlon." '"Preposterous!" Miss Lañe recovereil her.self, and gained a little blind Indignation with her partlal selí-possc.-.-ion. "Did any one ever hear ot' a thing so absurd! In hiring you husband for our minister-" "You did not hire me!" lnterrupted Mrs. Newton, with calm dignity "Bear that Ín mlnd if you please." "Thank you for the remarle, Mis. Newton," said I, coming almost in volunturily to her aid. "It throws a flood of light upon the whole sub ject. True as gospel! We did not hire yon, and have no claim upon a single hour of your time. All th church of St. Charity has a right to aak of you is that you do your dutj as a wiie and mother." Mrs. Newton turned to me wlth tl grateful look, and, grasping my hand said, '"ïliank you." A little while sh pansed; but no one epoke in the deep silence. I think BOine wholesome convictions oí tiuth were findinp; thelr u-ay even into the mind of Miss Lane, who, somehow, remlnded me ol ;i wilted leaf, or a piece of Bttfly starched musliii ïuddenly drenched witli water. "My uusband's dutiea are clear," cvcniy epoke M8. Newton - very kindly, yet very firinly and lucidly. "He has come to you as a spiritual gulde íind Instructor. Hls office is to point fco heaven and lead the way. It is a liiuli and lioly office, I honor him in it, and sustain Him to the best of my ability. My duties are aleo clear. I am siniply a wtfe and mothcr; and, God belng my helper, I will falthi'nliy discharge a wiíc and inother's gacred ObUgatlons. At present these diiiies take ii]) all my time; and consclence ili nol permlt me to neglect ie.il dut i's for the performance ol Imaginary ones. in dolng eucb duties I l:e-t serve t ,e ehurch. This is jn. religión, and f have learneil it from the Blble." She paused a few moments. No one replylng to lier remarks, Bhe went on: "It lias been alleged that I ani not pious enougli for the people here. Perhaps not. But ol one thing you may all be certain; I am no hypo rile. I shall liever put on a pions sxterior to hlde the want of charlty m my heart. As I am won wlll always sec me." Mrs Newton paused agaln; bul as none of her visltors ahowed any Inclllation to speak, Bhe continued, "My religión is eomcwliat peculiar, I lii'vr. l do nnt keep il as a Sunday snit, but wear ü ovrry da.v. M. eS sciitial worship COnÉists Ín ;i dail.v discharge of iny dmv as a wlfe and motlii'r; my (orinal worslii]), in the pions prpstration of liody and spirit belore my Heavenly Pather ai set times, elther in my closet pr in the public aasembly. Sunday to mr is the ftoldi'n c-lasp that blnda together the i-ircle of wèefcly dutiës. li is a bleesing and eonsólation, jtist in the degree that the WO k!ií[) oí my six days hns been essentla] wovsiiip." "And are wc to exped Qbthlng o; our ministcrV vi e '.' ' said Miss Laue, In i very subdued voloê. Bhe was rvidrniiy conöclouH oí tiavlng made a greal mlstakc in hr eatlmute oi Mrs. Newton's ohnracter; "Notlllug more ihnn lier tluly as a woman. Ií she has qnaliües vluit will glve her leadlng sojlal Lutlueuce, anl lias tme to spare 'rom her Upine dmies- which are always tlrst- ahe oimht id let these qualities become active tor good. Bul uu more eau, itli justk-i', Ue reqalred of lier than froiu miy othfr xvoiuan in the congregation. Your contract for service is vrlth her husband afad not wlth hei-: and yon have no mote just claim upon her Time, nor rlght to control lier Freedóm, than you have over the wife of your lawyer, (Jóctor, or BChdolmaster. It is lilis mistaken idea of the pi'oplc in regard to ministers' wivcs that is producing so much trouble in Boclétiès, and maklng wretehd the Uves of huridreds ol poor women, who hardly daro sa'y that tlicir souls are their own. It is not enough that the minister1 wtfe is expected to keep hor house and èlothe her children upon the lotvest range of incomo, that will not allow her competent help, bnt shc nnisl, spcnd half her time in gÖBsijfing among the ïdle or well-to-do ladics oi hfe óOHgrfr gation- tH ko part in their sewiiiju; ircles, and attend all their various meetings for good or doubtful pnrposes. Xow all this is wrong; and f you are not sattófted with my husband, becanse I will not imitate so bad an exáihple, you must give him notice aeeordingly; or, if you tliink my services absolutely essential to he prosperity of the church, just tate the amount of salary you eau ifford to give, and ir", for the sum, I an procure a persou in every way as competent to assume the charge f my childrcn 'and household, I wil] ake into srrious i-onsiderntion your roposition. Beyond this, ladles, I an promise nothing." "Thnnk you agaln, iny dear madm," gaid I, witli a warmth tliat rxressed my feelings, "ior giviug this latter its right solution! You have poken out like a true and indepenent womaii as you are, and I will ■e that your aícws are correctly reorted. Consider me as your friend." She turned upon me a grateful look, nd as she did so, I could see that iy earnest words had brought a Immlng moisture to her eyes. "1 cnuld -n-ish," she answered, in i lowcr voiee, "to number you all my frtends. l have come among you as a stranger, aéeklng no pre-eminence, but onlv desixing to do my duty as a woman. siilc by side vrith other womcn. Th f. ut that my husband is your minister, ivcs me of right no positlon among you, and gives you no riglit to (Iemand of me any public service. If my husband fuils to do his duty, adnionish liiin; but, in the ïiaini' o!' justice and humanity, do nat establisu any supervisión over me. Let my private lite be as sacred from any Intrusión as that of any other woman. This I have a ríght to demand, .nul I win be satisfied wlth nothing lcss." Silenced, if not convinced, was Miss Phoebe Lane, and she retirad in dufi time with her committee of remonstranee and accusatton, thelr colors tralling upon the ground. I lost no time In glving my history of the interview repeatlng aliuost word for word in tlie clear, strong language of Mrs. Newton that she might have the benefit of her own statement of tlie case, And I am happy to say that there was eommon sense eiiough and right feeling enough in tlie church of St. Charity to do her ampie juetice. Tier huHband is still our minister, active, uscful and beloved; but no alary has yet been set apart for his wife, and she has not assumed any Uuties in the congregación, and from Iiirscnt appearance, I think, has no intention of doing so. But as a wife and mother lier life is beautiful, and lier example of far more benefit to the people ondee aer lmsband's care than all her more public acts could bc, had she entered upon every duty that was so generously assigned her.- Sprinjifield Bepubllcan.