Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-10-24

genter and more Chrst-likc qualities of the soul
were not called OUT but yet the work to be done
"a rough, pioneer work as 1t was-was not the
sort of job for sentimentaisis to take in hat ii,
nor for liIy-white rhapsodists, with smoothly
roned bands under their chlns TO descant upon
the dulcct tones by which sinners aie lulled to
sleep once week on church cushions of violet
velvet. These old ccrgymcn had rough work
to do; and they did it thoroughly and well
But this race passed away with the period
for which ii was demanded. a new race lrod
in their footsteps, inlerlling all of their sturdy,
vigorous, and independent qualities of character
fully as dogmaiic in their opinions and as deep
ly rooted in their prejudiceS, and yet certain
degree yielding to the chan. ing temper and Gus
toms of the times, though insisting on just the
same veneration from their entire parish, and
the same servlle fear from all the little boys and
girls that came in their way.
And still another and another class have fol.
lowed them; in some respects mrliowing and
sonenng with each advance, Out in the main
qualities cf their character copyin. with a spirit
of vencratlon the very traiis, manners, and
speech OF those ancient men whose names are
engraven in brass.
The mo lern country minister is hardly the
minister OF the OLD school. While he lacks the
vigor Of the former, and Is wanting in that fear
less independence which never qualed in any
surroundings or any emergency, he nevertheless
seeks TO compensate for the loss by conforming
to certain antiquarian customs anl manners, such
pertain 10 the cut of his hair, the tie and hue
OF his cravai, the shape Of his boots or the style
Of his family living. There is such thing as
keeping up the form, when the meaning of ii has
become historical, or lost altogether
Country ministers nowadays are not 10 be
taken exactly as standing on the same footing in
these matters. There is a difference. according
TO loc 'tion. At the West, customs Of course 90
for Just nothing; but in New England and the
States at the East they are TO be studied in con-
necion with the people and prosperity around
them There are "Sunnysdcs' and "Shady-
sides" everywhere among the valley of New
England and within the walls of country par
sonages-whcrc indeed they have any at all
there aic stores TO be written, tragedies some
OF them, that would arrest the attention of the
most rapid and thougntless skater over the sur
face Of print.
Now they 90 to their parish Young. as soon
as they obtain their licenses at the schools, or
whenever they have taken blooming and bless
ing wives TO themselves as companions on their
journey. They preach few times in place
are liked perhaps, receive call, are told what
was pail the "'ast minister they had there, and
close the bargain. From that day themselves
and their wives are public property their feel
ines are a highway for coarse tongues to talk
and wag over. They uok at the quarters pro-
vidcd for theni--get acquainted with the dea-
cons-go about as fast as they can in the extend
ed parlsh-hurry tog ther their articles of house
keeping economy the best way they are able
and finally feel as it they had "settled down"
How lonesome they feel for a time Ii only
father and mother could drop in and take an
early tea with them, how much more cheerful
the strange rooms would appear, All faces are
new to them. They do not know vet who hap
pen in through iriendness alone. nor who Just
t. see their new things" and Low they are
going 10 get on. Their hearts are divided be-
tween sadness and Joy and light and shadow for
long time alternate across their path.
Every country minister has his own exper-
fences and trials. They are very different in
different localities. and yet they are essentially
alike. The deacons in one town are very dis
linct individuals from the deacors in another
town. The social temper here is not the same
thing at all with the social temper there. In
one place they are given to gayciy perhaps. or
what would be thought such outside OF their own
special limits; ; while in the very next one to it,
the public face may be drawn down to a onpi-
Jude that none hut ski iful old nayigalors could
hope TO take the measure Of
Generally the clergyman keeps horse some
times a COW, and always a batch of hens He
and his wife take deal Of delight over the poul-
try, and so do the children, especially about the
time for Matching the chickens. The cow is a
blessed creature for the little folks, and in fact
halt keeps the family AMI more too And they
are all SO fond of the patient "mooley, too and
love 10 see the white streams of milk cLurned
into the foamlng pail, and stand and pat their
hands upon her sides as she chows her cud and
contcmplates the advantages of being the minis
ter'S COW
a horse is not such common piece of prop
eriy, however, although we SAID a little way
back that the country minister generally owned
one. lie costs more money than COW and
unless some man of means is kind enough or the
minister has married well enough. or possibly
laid away enough, after teaching schoo, and buy
ing his library, To invest in such an animal, his
stall in The barn is filled up with corn-sialks in
winter and an old wheebarrow and a rusty
stove or two in summer
Some palshcs--we could put our finger on
one to-day-had rather their minister did not
own horse 1t gives him too much indepen.
de zee. lie can get to the cars with too liule
| trouble for the envous ones to be altogether
satisfied with such an arrangement His wife
can get out too easily and take ncediul airing.
lie wIll spend too much of his time on the road,
at the haTness-ma Sers, in the blacksmith's shop
or visiting his brother ministers in neighbnrinI ,
| parishes and to whom does his time belong,
pray if not to his own people? Have they not,
each and every one of them, an interest as abb
ding in his days and hours as they have in the
ownership of the meeIing-house itself, and tn,
school house at the fork of those lonely roads {?
To be sure they have. and, IN their honest est
mate, he is as amenable tn them for the way he
spends il, as they are in other quarters for the
way they spend theirs.
To write his two sermons week is quite
enough for him to do Lectures he appoints
sometimes, and he is always expected to bestow
his attendance on all the bees, social circles, and
society meetings that, during the winter at least,
divide the week into two memorable halves If
every family in the parish, far ana near, is neg
lecied in the matter of the regular visit from the
minister, he is apt To find ont all about it, They
are not so delicate in their sensblies as TO keep
any thing back from him. If he errs, they let
him know III he need not think, however, that
he was called there to point out to them their
errors. That is the other side of the question,
and he is moi allowed 10 discuss it.
Little time enough therefore, all things con-
sidered, do country ministers have 10 which to
cultivate their taste for books and general liteIa-
ture. Indeed, that is tabooed subject in rural
parishes. To cultivate his taste for letters is to
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