Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-06-21
distinguished public benefactors Professor Morse,
the inventor Of it, will be ranked hereafter.
A sKETCu OF WESTERN MISSION
AIRY LIFE.


"Mother's SICK and I'm keeping house ~ said
little faxcn-headed girl, in all the Importance of
seven years, as her father entered the dwelling.
"Your mother sick what's the matter ?" nquir-
ed Mr. Stanton.
"She caught cold washing yesterday, while you
were gone y and when the minister stood by the
bedside of his sick wife, saw her flushed face, and
felt her feverish pulse he felt seriously alarmed
She had scarcely recovered from a dangerous fever
when he left home, and with reason he dreaded
relapse.
any dear, why have you done so 2" was the
FIRST expostulation "why did you not send for old
Agnes to do your washing, as [ told YOU"
g. felt so well, thought was quite able" was
the reply, "and you know it will take all the mon
ey we have now in hand to get the childrens shoes
before cold weather comes, and nobody knows when
we shall have any more"
"Well, Mary, comfort your heart as to that I
have had present to-day of twenty dollars that
will last us some time. Godalways provides when
need is greatest and SO, after administering lit
tie to the comfort Of his wife, the minister address
sed himself to the business of cooking something
for dinner for himself and his little hungry flock
"1here is no bread in the house" he exclaimed
after survey of the ways and means at his dlspo-
sal.
81 must try to sit up long enough to make some, ;
said his wife family.
"You must try TO be quiet" replied the husband
!
he added, 81 think if bring the things to your
bedside and you show me how to mix them, could
make some bread"
a burst Of laughter from the young fry chorus
sed his proposal nevertheless as Mr.. Stanton was
man Of decided genius, by help of much show
| ing, and Of strong arms, and good will, the feat
was at length accomplished in no unworkmanlike
manner; and while the bread was put down to the
fire to RISE and the potatoes were baking in the
oven, Mr.. Stanton having enloned silence on his
noisy troop, sat down pencil in hand by his witeS
bed TO prepare a sermon
We would that those ministers who feel that they
| cannot compose without study, and that the alr
| est and pleasantest room in the house, where the
floor is guarded by the thick carpet, the light
| fully relieved by curtains where papers are flee
and arranged neatly in convenience purposely ad
! justed with books of reference standing inviting
| y around, could once figure to themselves the pro
cess of composing sermon in circumstances sucl
as Just painted. MIR. Stanton had written his text
and jotted upon something Of an introduction whei
a circumstance occurred which is almost inevitable
in situations where person has any thing else t
attend the baby ,coke. The little interloper wa
to be tied into the chair, while the flaXen-heade
young housckeeper was now installed into the of
flee of waiter in ordinary to her majesty, and b.
shaking newspaper before her face, plying a rat
tie, other arts only known to the initiate to pre-
vent her from INDUCING in any unpleasant demon
STATIONS, while MIR Stanton proceeded with hi
train of thought.
Papa, papa the kettle only look! !" erie
| all the younger ones, just as he was again begin
! ming TO abstract his mind.
Mr.. Stanton rose, and adapting part of his serm
on paper to the handle of the teakette, poured tn
| boiling water some herb-drink for his wife, an
/ then recommended
IL shant have much of sermon !" he soliloqui
zed as his youngest but one, with the ingenuity c
common children of her standing, had contrved t
tip herself in the chair and cut her under lii
which for the time being, threw the whole settle
ment into conmotlon, and this conviction wa
strengthened by finding that it was now time t
give the children their dinner
" | fear Mrs. Stanton is impatient in exertin
herself" said the medical man to the husband a
he examined her symptoms.
:" know she is" replied the husband, but can
not keep her from it."
1T is absolutely indispensable that she Shout
rest and keep her mind easy" said the doctor
| Rest and keep easy "-how easily tn
words are said, yet how they fall on the ear of
mother, who knows that her whole flock have nc
yet garment prepared for winter, that hiring as
slstance is out Of the question, and that the wor
must all be done by herself-who sees that Will
she is sick her husband is perplexed, and kept froI
his appropriate duties, and her children despite hi
well-ment efforts, suffering for the want of tIos
attentions that only mother can give; will not all
mother, so tired, rise from her sick bed before sf
feels able, to be again Frustrated by over exertio
until the vigor of the constitution year by year dt
clines, and she sinks into early greve Yet tn
is the true history OF wife and mother, who,
conserving to share the privations of Wester
minister, has as truly sacrificed her life, d
t martyr on heather shores. The graves of Harr
} ct Newell and Mrs. Judson are hallowed as ii
shrines olsants, and their memory made as a wacl
, word among Christians; yet the Western Valley
full of green and nameess graves, where patier
long-endurng wives and mothers have laid dow
/ worn out by the prvations Of as severe mission
= ry field, and no man knoweth the place of the
4 sepulchre."