The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1850-01-23
)ODSFIELD OHIO. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY %, 1850 !
times ludicrous in themsely.e. are ipainfal


congregation. NY husband had been a
protegee and pupil of the good man, who,
onehis death-bed bequeathsd his people to
| the Charge Of this son Of his adoption, and
him, withiequal tenderness and solemnity,
to the care Of his venerable sister. She
became fixture n'1he parsonage, and to
Smc a perpetual and Increasing torment.
The first month of our marriage, she was
absent. visiting SOME other seventh cousins
in neighboring town. | do not wish to
exculpate myself from blame; but, if ever
1 thereswas a thorn in human flesh, be-
lieve 4. had found it in this inquisitive,
gratuitpusly advising woman. l,who had
I always lived among roses, without think
I ing Of fbriars, was doomed to feel this thorn,
daily, hourly, goading me; and was con-
strained to conceal as much as possible
| the irritation she caused, because my hus-
7 band treated her with as much respect as
Fif she were an empress. | thought Mr..
L. was wrong in this. Owing to the
deep placidity Of his own disposition, he
could hot realize what trial such a
companion was to mercurial, INDUCED,
self-willed being as myself. Nature has
gifted me with a most exquisite ear for
music, and discord always ''wakes the
nerve where agony is born.' Poor aunt
Debby had perfect mania for singing,
and she would sit and sing for hours to-
gether. old-fashioned ballads and hymns
Of surprising length, scarcely pausing to
take breath. | have heard aged people
sing the songs of Zion, when there was
most touching melody in their tones; and
some of the warmest feelings Of devotion |
ever experienced, were awakened by these
solemn, trembling notes. But aunt Deb
by's voice was full of indescribable ramif-
cations, each separate discord-a sharp,
sour voice, indicative of the natural tenn
per of the owner.
| One Sunday morning, after she had
been screeching one of DR.. Watts hymns
of about hundred verses, she left me to
prepare for church. When we met after
finishing our separate toilettes, she began
her animadversions on my dress as being
too gay for minister's wife, denied
the charge, for though made in the redun-
dance of fashion, it was of an unadorned
white. "But what" said she, disfguring
the muslin folds with her awkward fingers,
"what is the use of these fandangles oil
lace? They are nothing but Satan's de-
vices to lead estray silly women, whose
minds are running after fnery." All this
might have bore with silent contempt
for it came from aunt Debby; but when
she brought the authority Of a Mrs. Deacon
and Mrs. Doelan ofthe parish to prove
that she was not the only one who found
fault with the fashion Of my attire, the in
dignant spirit broke its bounds; Difference
for age was forgotten in the excitement OF
the moment, and the concentrated irrita.
ton of weeks burst forth. called her an
impertinent, morose old maid, and declar-
ed that one or the other of us should leave
the parsonage. In the midst of my par
oxysms, my husband entered-the calm
Of heaven on his brow. He had just left
his closet, where he had been to seek the
divine mama for the pilgrims it was his
task to guide through the wilderness of
life. He looked from one to the other in
grief and amazement. Aunt Debby had
seated herself on his entrance, and began
to rock herself backward and forward. and
to sigh and moan-saying it was hard
thing to be called such hard names at her
time oflife, &c. | stood. my cheeks glow
ing with anger, and my heart violently
palpitating with the sudden effort of self
control. He approached me, took my
hand and said, "My dear Mary!' There
was affection in his tone. but there was
upbraiding also; and drawing away my
hand, / wept in bitterness of spirit. AS
soon as could summon sufficient steadi-
ness of voice, told him the cause of my
resentment, and declared would never
again enter place where was exposed
to ridicule and censure, and from those,
loo, so immeasurably my interiors in birth
and education. f.Dear.Maryr" exclaimed
he, turning pale from agitation, .'you can
not mean what you say. Let not such
trifes as these mar the peace OF this holy
day. grieve that your feelings should
have been wounded; but what matters it
what the world says Of our outward ap-
parel, if our souls are clothed with those
robes ofholiness which makes us lovely in
our Makers eye? Let us go to the tenn
pie of Him, whose last legacy to man was
peace Though the bell was ringing its
last notes, and though | saw him so pain
fully disturbed, | still resisted the appeal,
and repeated my rash asseyeration. The
bell had pealed its last summons. and was
no longer heard. "Mary, must go a.
lone?" His hand was on the latch--there
was a burning flush on his cheek, such as
! had never seen before My pride would
have yielded--my conscience convicted
me Of wrong--I would have acknowledged
my rashness, had not aunt Debby, whom
! thought born to be my evil spirit, risen
with long drawn sigh, and taken his arm,
to accompany him. s.No,' \
said /, "you will not be alone You need
not wait for me. In aunt Debby's COM
pany you cannot regret Inine.r fa
a SiIrelv NV haarf r,nI1st have hoan pf<,oloSI