The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1857-01-22
CHAPTER IL. J

CHAPTER II.
The Rev. Mr.. Marsh wag married tc
Margaret Wainwright. 1.-The Major, in
the process of the coJrtship, had been
brought into intimacy with the clergy.
man, had talked, laughed, cracked jokes
with him-for, as we have before hinted,
Mr.. Marsh's theology had not eaten cut
his manhood. They had even been trout,
ing together, and seated on rock by the
brook, they had discussed theology to.
gether; and the Major found out that, ac-
cording to Mr.. Marsh's theory, theology
was not religion itself, any more than ge-
ology was the earth itself, but only the
science of religion-that it bore the same
relation to religion which hygiene and
medicine do 10 health.
The Major was not little astonished
when he arrived at this fact. He was
still more astonished when he found tha!
the church was not religion, any more
than the school was education. The
church was an institution to teach people
to be religious.
The Major wanted TO be religious,
though the people would have it that he
was an old heather, and when he found
out what the church was for, he went to
it, and was much edited thereby.
This is depression, yet not a digress-
ion, But we will not aruue 1.-THE min
lister married the Majors daughter, much
to the scandal of his own good name
The people of Freelawn were indignant; /;
and especially indignant were the moth
ers of the forty.three aspirants for the va.
cant place in the parsonage.
Freelawn was scandalized by having
such a minister's wife. She was not fit
for such place; and there was serious
discussion in the town, as to whether it
would not be best to question the ortho-
doxy of Mr.. Marsh, and thus induce him
to ask disnission, rather than have his
hoydenish wife among them.
Margaret, all unconscious Of the storm
that was brewing, still laughed on as
though the skies were bright and clear
Mr.. Marsh was satisfied. His wife, be ilad
found out, if no one else had, possessed
loving heart, religious sentiment, and
veneratiop largely developed, and treas
ure of intellect worthy a doctor of diyin-
Iity.
They had been married but a few
months before the small -pox appeared in
Freelawn, creating tremendous sensa-
ton among the people. A poor man, who
had been at work in the city, had brought
the terrible disease into the place. He
was widoWer, and his youngest daugh-
tes kept house for him; but as soon as she
discovered the character of his illness, she
fled in unnatural terror from his roof, and
the poor sufferer was left alone to die.
The village doctor was as much frigh-
tened as his patience, and refused to visit
the infected spot again. Mr.. Marsh was
Mortified at the cold neglect of the people,
and without fear of personal consequence
es, placed himself by the bed of the sick
man.
The unnatural daughter was next taken
down with the disease, and people fled
from her as she had fled from her father;
but there was an angel in Freelawn.-I
Margaret, initiating the example of her
husband, placed herself in the position
from which others fled. Day and night
she watched over thesick girl ill she died
Others had taken the disease, and not
only Margaret and her husband were re.
quired to tend the sick, but half dozen
mor1. Major Wainwright, that old hea-
then,' proved himself > kind and -compe.
tent nurse. 1t was with great difficulty
that attendants enough could be found for
the sick.
For several weeks Margaret slept not
more than an hour at a time. She labor
ed earnestly and patiently in her Samari- |,
tan office, and none suffered for attention
At the couch of the rich and poor she
was alike an angel of mercy. She did not
laugh then-the sun was yelled in clouds
At last the distemper had doneits work
Houses and garments were smoked, and
one by one the timid inhabitants came
back TO their homes, and in few months
Freelawn was as though no distemper had
been there. People smiled again, and
Margaret laughed again. .
No one yentured to question the minis
ter's orthodoxy; no one ventured 10 ques-
ton Margiret's fitness for the place in
which Providence had placed her.
What dosyou think of the minister's
wife now? asked Tom, one day.
'She has apoble heart, if she is hoy
den, replied Mrs, Wise.
4 am willipg TO give her-all the credit
she. deserves, added Sophia.
al fled like a flock Of fright
}, She stood by her post; and If
N for minister's wife, no one ,
ed Tom, emphatically. She
Ereelawn, without anIex- Z
FEARS afteE whe9, ~. /
cal' frot Oily, it (
"A " useful aI Il ! !