Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1842-02-24

Indeed IL cao'. be possible, GER
iainly. 2"
"Yrs, bu, il is. For l sat just behind
her all the time She seemed very un-
easy, and 1 ,hous ht troubled. She hard
ly looked up during the sermon, and
hurried away, without speaking TO any
one, as soon as the congregation was dis.
missed. What Gun be the matter ?'
"lt is strange, indeed !" responded
Mrs. Green, who came up while Mrs
Peabody was speaking. 81 took notice
myself that she did not 60 up"
Il wonder il she has done any thing
wrong ?" asked listener.
"Aunt Mary do anything wrong p
Why how you talk :" Mrs. Peabody
said. "l'd ms soon suspect The Minister
vi doing anything wrong"
"Then what can be The matter ~
"l would give anything 10 know"
"Something is wrong, That Is certain, -
remarked one of the lltlle crowd, for the
group of two or three, had sweiled TO as
many dozens.
Many and strange were the sugges'
tons made in reference TO Aunt Mary s
conduct and before Sabbath evening,
there was not one OF the members that
did not know and wonder at her strange
omission.
After Aunt Mary returned from church
she felt even worse than before. A sa-
cred privilege and duty bad been delib-
erately omiiied, and all because she had
suffered unkmdness to spring up between
herself and neighbor.
"And yet how could | help il 2" she
argued with herself 81 was tried out
at all patience. And then only sent
for my own, and because did SD, Mrs
Tomkins became offended. l am sure
was not TO blame"
"But them said another voice within
her, "you could have gone over on Sat-
urday, and made up the matter with her,
and then there would have been nothing
in the way. One duty neglected, only
opened the way for another"
There was something in this that could
not be gainsayed, aud poor Aunt Mary
felt as deeply troubled as ever. She did
not, as usual, goto the afternoon meeting,
for she had 40 heart to do so. Ard then,
as the shades OF evening fell dimly
around, she reproached herself for this
omission. Poor soul J how sadly DID
she vex her spirit by seh-condemnalion.
That evening, several OF the society
called in at the minister's house, and soon
Aunt Mary's sing conduct became
the subject of conversation.
"Ain't it strange :" said one. "Such
thing has not occurred for these ten
years, to my certain knowledge"
"No, nor for twenty either" remark
ed the minister.
"She seemed very uneasy during the
Sermon" said another.
81 thought she did not appear well,
as my eve fell upon her occasionally"
the minister added. "l,ut she is one Of
the best women, and ] suppose she is
undergoing some sore temptation, out OF
which she will come as gold tried IN the
Gre"
81 don't know" broke in Mrs. Tom
kins, who was among the visiters, "that
she Is so much better than other people.
Fos ny pad, can't say that ever
found her to be nny thing extra"
"You do not Judge ol her kindly, Mrs
Tomkins," said tho minister gravely.-
IL only wish that all in my parish were
as yond as she IS /; 1 should IeeI, IN that
case, am sure, far less concern for
souls than do"
Thus rebuked, Mrs Tomkins con,en-
ted herself by saying, in an under tone,
to one who sat near her
"They may say what they please, but
] know enough Of her Ia know that she
is no better than other people"
Thus the conversation and conf ectures
went round while the sub ject Of them
sat in solitude and sadness in her own
chamber. Finally, the minister SAID
that he would call in and have some con-
yersation with her on the next day, as he
had no doubt that there was some trouble
on her mind, and it might be in his power
10 relieve II.
Monday morning came at last, and
Aunt Mary proceeded, though with but
little interest in her occupation, to "do
over" the preserves. She found them
in a state that gave her little hope of be-
ing able 10 restore them TO any thing like
their original flavor But the trial must
be made, and so she filled her kettle as
full as requisite Of a particular kind, and
hung II over slow fire. This had bard
ly been done, when Hannah came IN
and said
"As live, Mrs. Pierce, there is the
minister coming up the walk ~
And sure enough, on glancing out, she
snw the minister almost at the door step.
"Blcss me :" she exclaimed, and then
hurried into her little parlor TO await the
knock Of her unexpected visiter. AT al
most any other time, visit from the MIN
lister would have been delightful. But
now, poor Aunt May felt as il she would
as soon have seen any one else.
The knock came in moment, and
after pause the door was opened.
elbow do you do, Aunt Mary am
very glad to see YOU" the minister said,
extending his hand.
Aunt Mary looked troubled and con-
fused but she received him in the best
way she could. Sill her manner en-
barrassed them both After few lead
ing observations, the minister at length