The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19
VOL. X.
For the National Era.
THE WIFE FOR A MINISTER.
BY MARY IRVING.

graph of Sunny Side" and slowly closed the
small volume. avery fine, but -
"But what, my dear critic?" inquired q
matronly looking little lady, whose sewing-work
lay costly scattered about the sofa on which
the young gentleman was lounging. "Have
you any fault to find with that book?"
at would dissrm any Pathfinder, coz, with
its simplicity and pathos. am only quarrel
ling with it because it has not told me more"
"Of what l gave it to you, hoping that
you would be greatly benefited by it," said the
lady, with an arch smile.
"Yes, it teaches me more than one lesson.
But it has not solved the great problem of my
life"
I "And that Isl
"What is the wife for q minister" said the
gentleman, interrupting her, with a meaning
smile. at shows us an unexceptionable min
ister's spouse, to be sure. But how to discover
such an one2 What tokens in young lady's
contour, manner, and dress, mark out an in
cipient Mrs. Edwards p"
The lady poised her thimble houghtfully
upon her needle, for an instant, before she re-
piled, shaking her head roguishly-
Instinct, cousin George Instinct is the
only key to a woman's heart. If you cannot
unlock its treasures by that, no rules nor illus
tratons can help you"
at is hard fitting key" said he, laughing.
"Have you ever tried it?" she asked, in the
same tone. Then, suddenly growing serious,
she added, "Are you really determined to 60
West without help-meet?"
"Not at all, cousin on the contrary, am
determined to find one whenever can, be that
sooner or later in my history. l fully sub
scribe to the excellence of Paul's list of requi-
sites for a bishop But, dear cousin, cler-
gyman's wife is rara acis, that must be
sought for with special care. and discovered by
special tokens. Think of the responsibilities
that are thrown upon her shoulders Not only
must she be all things to all men, and to all
,oomen, too-which implies great deal more
but she must also be everything to her husband.
A pattern for the parish may be a very poor
wife for the heart and hearth. Who can com.
bine the two-elegance and economy, graceful.
ness and goodness, cheerfulness and consist
ency, sympathy and equanimity, decision and
docility-a heart with head, and hand for
every light or heavy duty?"
"Ouite enough for q list of qualifications I"
exclaimed the lady. any dear George, you
must not be too fastidious. Women are not
cut out to order You must take one as you
find her. and mould her to her circumstances,
or to your fancy. Seriously, now, l am going
through the list of your young lady acquaint-
ances, and you shall hear me. There is Lila
Tracy"-
a pleasant parlor doll, or partner in pic.
mic ~ broke in George. But as for my dusty,
rough track in life, her little feet would tire of
the first stage!"
"If you want energy, look at Susan Stilman,
so active and intelligent"
" She would give ministers study no quiet,
and his parish no peace. If / married such q
machine for perpetual motion, should expect
to live as the Methodist fraternity do on a
Circuit with mo abiding city"
"Rather severe, young mani Olivia Grey?"
"No; the mldew of coquetry will blight her
home happiness. None but fresh heart for
mel"
Martha Lacy, them" she said, mischievous-
ly. "She is certainly flower that has 'bushed
unseen by admiring eyes,"
"And viii continue to do 80, as far as the
admiration of my eyes are concerned. | find
no fault with Natures handiwork, but cannot
change my taste for the graceful and beautiful,
into even liberation of their opposites."
"Jane Washington
"a pretty Amazon" he exclaimed, turning
his head "When have made up my mind
to be 'your ladyship's obedient, humble SER
want and want a wife to write my sermons, not
black eyes Of Miss Washington"
| HYou canpot Law that charoo parfainlv
against Lucy Higgins for she is as modest as
she is gifted jewel worth any mans heart"
"a Jewel that deserves a more costly casing
than parsonage walls can afford, cousin. Fan
cy Miss Lucy laying aside Thucydides to make
a basin of corn Cruel, or leaving her piano to
listen to the music of half dozen screaming
babies, whose mothers have seen fit to honor
her with an afternoons visit No, no, cousin /!
Better trust my instinct, as you say, to pro-
vide for itself"
"You are incorrigibe !" returned the lady,
=" and will either dwindle into confirmed old
bachelor, or fall victim to some sudden stroke
of blue eye, and take virago or a nonentity
of some kind to your parsonage. Now, mind
my prediction-'T Those who walk through the
wood, take up with a crooked stick you
know the proverb."
"At least, leave me the pleasure of choosing
my own crutch, or of hobbling through life
without it We have triAed long enough in
this idle discussion and l beg pardon, men,
tally, of the excellent young ladies in the case,
for having subjected them to such indignities
But it is of no use cousin. You know / was
always wilfnl boy, and all your kind match
making maneuvres can make nothing of me-"
This was taken as mirthfully as it was said |;
for George Oakley and his fsvorite cousin had
been sharers of each others thoughts from
| childhood And though aimee her MARRIAGE
she had Withdrawn unconsciously into differ.
ent sphere, she was still privileged to say to him
what none other dared. She had set her heart
on seeing him married before his establishment
in the West" to which indefinite country he
was looking forward. She had introduced him
to every young lady within the circle Of her &C.
quaintance, and exhausted her stock of hints
and her fund of eloquence, many a time, to no
purpose. But few weeks remained to her
now and for that reason she had put forth
the effort recorded above.
"What study for a physiognomstI unused
George Oakley, about SIX weeks after this con.
versation, as, rolling his travelling cloak more
closely about him, he comfortably disposed
himself upon the crimson cushions of a rail.
road car, whose swift wheels were rushing west
ward. He had hidden the world he had known
and loved, good bye; and his pulse beat quick
and strong, as thoughts of that newer world to-
ward which he was hurrying arose upon his
fancy.
He watched the nondescript men who lay
strewed about the seats of the car, or sat prop
ped against its sides, with secret wonder,
whether the weight of destiny pressed upon
every one of their hearts as forcibly as upon
his own at the moment. There were women,
too, and children-there always are in a rail.
road car and Oakley studied the countenance