Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-12-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
From the KnckcrbocSer for November.
OUR MINISTER AND OUR MINIS TER'S
WIVES,
A NEW ENGLAND TALE.

OUR MINISTER ANU OUK MINIS IEh'S
WIVES.
NEW ENGLAND TALE.
In olden time the clergy were the great men of
New England. All TEMPORAL matters, as well as
spiritual, were subject to their supervision, and the
minister possessed almost unboundcd influence
over his people, who regarded him with venera-
ton which in our days, would be called supersti
tous Though the spirit of the age has greatly
broken this feeling Of reverence, some relics OF 1t
yet remain in the small country towns, where the
minister is still person OF high consideration and
Importance. 1t must not be inferred from the title
of this sketch that our minister entertained any
Turkish notions on the subject of matrmony. His
conduct is perfectly correct in this, as IN all other
affairs, though the good Vicar of Wakefield would
ii0tagree with me in the opinion, for after waiting
asdecorous time from the death of his first wife, he
followed the example of many of his brethren and
took to himself another. He is man of grave
and respectable manners and appearance, a good
sernonizer, and unites TO the sound biblical knowl
edpe and GOOD sense that distinguish the clergy of
New England, kindness of heart and simplicity
of character peculiarly his own perhaps the most
striking but the far more rare attainment, described
bv st. Paul, that thlnketh no evil that suifercth
long and is kind Though an orthodox believer
in total depravity in general, there never was any
particular sinner so abandoned that he could not
trace some sign of good in him or endeavor to
find an excuse for his misdolngs.
His deacons sometimes accuse him of stretching
this virtue rather farther than is eXpedIent; say
that he is wanting in neediul severity and decision;
and that person as old as he ought to know bet
ter than to credit every thing man says of him
self; but fear years will not bring him worldly
wisdom, or teach him not to Judge all men as guile
less in tneir motives and as honest in their purpo
ses as he is. He will never perform great actions
or go in advance in preparing the way of the Lord,
HI" h,. I.," md q'e,I,' )e"ds others along
with him in tho right way. lie has the confidence
and affection of all his people, and they come 10
him, secure, 6f sHfnpathy and assistance, in every
trouble and 'dil16dsfy from the child who has lost
his toy or quarrele1 with his playmate, to the man
weared and pefplexed with trials and dsappoint-
ments, OF burdened with the sins of years. Though
he knows little of the ieversh delights and exciting
strife and tunult of the world his kind heartteach
es him how to sympathize in joys, sorrows, and
conflicts which he cannot understand, and to pity
those who fall before the strength of temptations
unknown to his calm temperament and unambitious
mind,
1t is now twenty nine years since he came u
monp us. His predecessor in the ministry was
known the country round assQd Parson Evans
He is among the earliest recoliectons of my child
hood and can see him now. standing in the high
pulpit under the old sounding board, with his .rev
erend locks Of snow falling over his shoulders his
clear light blue eye smooth shining forehead, ant
trelnulous cracked voices32e was 80 when he died
and was gathered to PRS like shock of corr
fully ripe. For two 8. years after his death
we had no settled nil stated preaching
Disputes arose in tA sn and the Baptists tax
ing advantage Of VI 4lDns in the camp, estab
llshed meeting lid Upper part of the town, an(
drew away many|{<1 congregation. Alarmed
n. this movement, ~ Isacons and members of tit
c,lurch Iielt that mnlsterMust he obtained forth
with, and accordingly sent For the Rev. David Fen
ton, then just graduated from College to preach a
a Candidate. He came and was very generally Ii
s ked, though some of the old folks thought that be
FL Use his Coat not cut after the pattern of oil
Pdrsdn Evans, that he rather too much of
beau and feared he might not be sound in doctrine
as he quoted poetry III one sermon that certainl
was not out of Watts Psalms and Hymns
However, after due deliberations he received n
unanimous call from the church and congregato
to become their PASTOR accepted it, and was 500
ordained. Ourcongregaton now tiourlshed agaii
Some IF the recreant members returned, the youn
people came more regua y to meeting, partcula
" the young ladies' that good Deacon B -
asked his brother deacon 8 if he did not think the
was great attention to religion; he had not seen
many Young women out to Tuesday evening col
ference for years, and he hoped they were going
have a revival His wiser brother advised him n
to build too much on that; he was glad to see Il
young people out to meeting, and hoped they won
get good by it, but he'd like to see if it. would la
after the new minister had got a wie--which
thought it his duty to do immediately Mr.. Fe
ton thought So to, but where should he find suit
BILE person to fill 80 responsible situation?-f
the minister's wife is second only in importance
the mlniste. himself Her incomings and outg
ings are all noticed, her personal plety, the numb
of her dresses, the management of her family, al
the trimmings of her bonnet, are alike matters
debate and criticism in the parish and woe to h
if she does not meet with approving judgment;
many poor minister has been dismissed becau
his wife wore gold watch or sported too fashion
BILE bonnet. She is expected to take the lead
all the udies's meetings and societies, visit all [
sick and destitute well all the rich a
healthy, and to manage her household and bring
her children properly. Poor womanl no wonC
that some of these manifold duties are neglecte
and that the bad behaviour Of minister's chlldr
has become proverb.
Mr.. Fentou had been shut up for the last sew
or eight yearsiu colleges and theological SEMI
RES and came out, as most ministers do, with
head full OF book learning and precious little kno'
edge of mankind, certanly none OF womnnkind
Feeling his incapacty TO act for himself in the
fair, he determined in his dilemma to take the
vice of neighborng minister, of age and ex
rience, This friend introduced him to mem
of his church, whose character he could recc
mend highly as possessing the qualifications TO
minister's wife. Mr.. Fenton saw nothing obi,
ny