Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-15
EVENING STAR.
THE NEW MINISTER AND THE OLD
PARISH

/
| PARISH
The subject Of sending our new minister
abroad, was first agtated in the ladies sewipl
circle Mrs Broadway and Mrs Cleaves hsC
observed for some time past that bronchia
tendency was about developing itself; al
though the reverend gentleman himself insist
cd it was no more than heavy cold Bu
several prominent leaders in the parish fell
that 1t was not only fashionable move
ment," the sending their clergyman abroad
but that 1t evinced a generous, self-sacrihcne
spirit, which would lay the foundation for Q
| permanent debt Of gratitude towards those
who fist advocated the measure. Besides
they were a wealthy parish, and nobody need
| feel the contribution which would be thus be
| slowed.
Unfortunately, however, the Rev Mr. Spicer
| had married a lady of his own parish, who
was not the most popular young woman among
| them. Again and again, had it often been
/: the wonder of many how the man came 70
mako 90 unsuitable a choice for her great
unftness for the new labor lay in the fact
that she was poor. Now, the aristocratic la
dies felt that it was rather demeanng cir
cumstance that they had hsggled with their
minister's wife in former days about the
| abatement of their children's tuition and sun.
dry other little acts, by which their own char
acters must have been fairly laid open to the
discerning eyes Of her whom they all acknow-
lodged as discriminating and intelligent. Still,
they were saved from doing many gracious
! shings at the marriage Of their pastor, as be
declidea renting house, preferIing to board
with his wife mother, and thus by making
one small family, that rnothc. would not u
bereaved Of her only child; besides c great
saving would be made, by being spared the
outlay for fashionable furniture. Tae plainly
we'll arranged parlor of the widow Clisby,
better suited the worthy divine, than the
shovy exterior which many Of his Pensioners
exhibited in splendidly furnished drawing
rooms; for he felt It Tas in better keeping
with his circumstances, and tnt,l be had paid
for his education, he thought he had nc right
to live other than in a frugal manner. Still,
it was not just what many Of the Pensioners
desired. They felt they had man Of un
common talents, who could not be captivated
by externals, and yet they could not reconcile
it, how one of such acknowledged gifts and
graces, should be so Indifferent q erery thing
but the most scrupulous neatness. He always
received the most af1uent with perfect dis
regard TO their wealth, ard his little plain
study, consisting Of desk Of his own work
manehip, cO7.red with faded baize, and a
library so happily chcsen, that the standard
works gave a completeness to the smallness eff
the numbers, with one or two old fashioned
chairs, which had been re juvenated, Mr. Spi-
Ger felt that be was a man whose business was
to set bounds to worldliness, and by perfect
example, show to many more excellent way
And from this small enclosure, such weighty
and all-inspiring thoughts had been sent forth
man, in one word Of whom the parish 1srs
getting decidedly proud.
Now this was Just what suited the purse
proud members of this ancient parish. They
wanted a minister who could fiji tto pews-
they had long sought person who would bs
"popular" and yet 10 most of them it was au
unexplained wonder how ono SO meek and
modest, yet so apparently regardless Of fear or
favor, could make such a decided impression
Every Sabbath the church was thronged with
attentive worshippers there seemed pecu
liar charm in the silvery tones Of the young
mans 7oice, sort of magic spell in bis style,
which won universal admiration. Yet IL was
very evident he was not understood, for after
q most serious discussion upon the folly of
those people who placed their ettention upon
The artificial and snowy exterior, followed by
rather a severe censure upon the decoration
of the person, Mrs Hautt upon coming out of
the church, was heard to propose tha. sub
scription paper should be circulated, to pro-
cure the pastor gown-'for" said she, " he
would look like an angel, could We but give
him some stLken Utngs
The present was however negatived by the
reverend gentleman, as were most costly out
lays in the very beginning, lest his example
should not be consistent.
On the whole, it was strange parish, every
member was fully satisfied with their choice
every month seemed to procure for their pas
tor additional fame, he was so eloquent, so
learned, so practical, SO genial, and in fne
altogether model man and minister He had
now Iabored with them for more than year,
and the people began TO feel it was proper
they should make some signal appropriation
as an attestation OF their appreciation of his
valuable services. At the sowing circle where
We have introduced some Of the most promi-
nent members, it was therefore proposed he
should be sent abroad. Let us hear something
of the Introduction of the subject.
The president of the society remarked to her
sister a directress, that she had long been
waiting for a favorable opportunity TO mako
the above proposition, and now taking advan-
tage Of a pre- supposed case of illness, We must
Insist upon our brothers. acceptance.
"La,h replied Mrs. Boothby, she will be
glad enough to go-yOu needn't feel you We
got to waste many arguments about it Only
furnish the means, and anybody will travel,
the best on 'em."
"And confess to any sickness you have a
mind to name," replied the satirical Miss
Blair
"If we had been little more cOnsiderate
in the case of our former good minister. /
think his life might have been prolonged,
remarked Sally Stickney, an old personal
friend IF DR.. Fisk
"Well, well, his death was cur gain,"
quoth Mrs Gray" you see DR. Fiskought TO
have taken himself off our hands years ago
He stood in the wsy Of our progress, and an
old man ought to know better than to preach
in these days-nobody cares for their prating;
what if he did bsptise all our children and
gather in a full church guess L could tell
somo things about some Of the members. But
I won't, would you Dolly Ann"'
Truth is stranger than felton," quoted
Miss Dolly Ann, powerfully stranger said
she puckered her little mouth close together
Mrs. Bellows here observed, off were to
tell all know, 1 suspect some of our circle in
this room would sing small; but remember
and not quote my whisper, Mrs. Broadway"
"And I haze heard that our good Mr.: Spi-
Ger is not quite so perfect as Aunt Anna thinks
him." 9uOth Mrs. Jones.
SHOW don't did Mr. Bentley tell you
anything
"No, never heard him say word against
the man"
Nor Daacon Harley either1'