The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1847-09-24
miscellaneous
a Chrislinn Wonlnn.

A worldly man was with his friends in
coffee house, wine had iniamed the heads
and loosened the tongues of the guests.
Each sketched the character of his wife,
and enumerated her defects as well az
her good qualities. "As to mine," said
our wording, "all that ! could say in
her praise would fall far below the truth
My wife unites all the virtues, all the ami
able qualities which l can desire. She
woOld be perfect if she were not a Meth
odist. But her piety gives her no ill.hu-
NOR, nothing disturbes her equanimity;
nothing i%rritates her nor renders her i'm
patient. might, go with you, getlemen
at midnight and ask her to serve us with
supper. and she would moi show the least
discomfort. She would do the honors Of
the table with as much assiduity as if
brought loved and long expected guests
"Well. then! let US put your wife to
the proof" said some of the company.
A considerable bet was made. The
husband agreed to the proposal, and our
wine drinkers, forgetting all propriety,
went in the middle Of the night, to in
wade, with their noisy mirth, the peace
full dwelling Of the humble Christian.
Where is my wife?" asked the mas.
ter of the house of the servant who open.
ed the door.
-"Sir, she is asleep, long ago"
go, wake her, and tell her to pre-,
pare supperfo o me and my friends"
The wife, obedient to the will of he.
husband, quickly made her toilet, mel
the strangers and received them in the
most gracious manner. fortunately
said she, 81 have some provisions in my
house, and in a few minutes supper will
be ready"
The table was spread, and the repasl
served. The pious lady did the honors
of the table with perfect good will. and
constantly bestowed upon her guests the
most polite attentions.
This was too much for our drinkers
They could not help admiring such ex
t%raordinary equanimity. One of them
(the soberest of the company spoke
when the dessert was brought in, ant
said: MADAM, your politeness amaze'
us. Our sudden appearance at you
house at so unreasonable an hour, is ow
ing to a wager. We have lost it, and W,
do not complain. But tell us how it i,
possible that you, a pious person, SHOULD
treat with so much kindness person
whose conduct you cannot approve
"Gentlemen." she replied, "when W,
were married. my husband and myself
we both lived in dissipation. Since tina
time it has pleased the Lord to CONVEX
me to himself. My husband. on the con
trary, continues to go on in ways of world
illness. tremble for his future state.-
/. If he should die now he would be to b
pitied. As it is impossible for me t
save him from the punishment which a
waits him in the world to come. if he i
not converted, | must apply myself {
{. least to render his present life as agreet
BILE as possible"
These words affected strongly tn
whole company, and made a deep in
e preston on the husband. "Dear wife,
d said he. you are then anxious about tn
fate that awaits me in eternity. Thank.
a thousand thanks for the warning whic
you give me. By the grace of God
will try to change my conduct"
He was true to his promise. He opel
" ed his heart to the gospel, and becam
from that day another MANA SINGER
christian and the best of husbands.
"Christian wives who have the mi
e fortune to be united to in6del husbands
adds the narrator, Tread and read aga.
this a~necdote. See how minds are gal
ed to the gospel. Complaints and r
~proaches, however we'll founded, do n
restore peace to the household; often Il
contrary, they ~irritate aud increase Il
d evil. Be then full of meekness, patien,
charity, and the Lord will bless your {
forts"