Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-02-20

the major tSund out that, according to
Mr.. Marsh IS theory. theology was notre-
i hgion. itself. any more than geology was
the earth itself. but only the science of
religion-that it bore the same relation
which hygiene and medicine do to health.
The Major was notfa little astonished
when he arrived at this fact He was
stillsmores astonisheds when he found out
that the church was not religion, any
more than the school was edacation.--
The church was an institution to teach
people to be religious. .Hss
The Major wanted to be religious. tho
the people would have il 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. g '4ea
This is a depression. yet not digres-
sion. But we will not argue. .it--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 forth-three aspirants for the va
cant place in the parsonage. f8
Freslawn was scandalized by having
such minister's wife. She was not fit
for such place; and there was a seri.
Gus discussion in the town, as to whether
it would not be best to question the or
thodoxy of the minister and thus induce
him to ask dismission, 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
The minister was satisfied. His wife. he
had found out, if no one else had, possess
ed loving heart. religious sentiment.
and veneration largely developed. and a
treasure of intellect worthy OF a doctor Of
divinity.
They had been married but few
months before the smallpox appeared in
Freelawn, creating q tremendous sensa>
tion among the people. A poor man,
who had been at work in the city, had
brought the terrible disease into the place.
He was a widower, and his youngest
daughter kept house for him but as
soon as she discovered the character Of
his illness, she fed in unnatural terror
from his roof. and the poor sufferer was
left alone to die.
The village doctor was as much frighten-
ed as his patients. and refused to visit the
infected spot again. Mr.. Marsh was hor-
riGed at the cold neglect of the people.
and without fear of personal conse.
quences placed himself By the bed of the
sick man.
The unnatural daughter was next ta-
pie fed from her as she fed from her
father but there was an angel in Free
lawn. Margaret, initiating the example
of her husband. placed herself in the
position from which others fed Day aud
night she watched.
Others had taken the disease, and not
only Margaret and her husband were re-.
quired to tend the sick, but half dozen
more. Major Wainwright, that old
heathen," proved himself kind aud
competent nurse. 1t was with great diff
6culty that attendants enough could be
found for the sick
For several weeks Margaret slept not
more than an hour at time. She labor.
ed earnestly and patiently in her Samari.
tan Office. and none suffered for attention.
AT the couch of the rich and the poor she
was alike an angel of Mercy. She did
not laugh then-the sun was veiled in
clouds.
Ab IhSb LiC uISISupCI uhu uOuS us
work Houses and garments were smo-
ked, one by ono the timid inhabitsnts
came back to their homes. and in few
months Freelawn was as though no dis>
temper had been there. People smiled
again. and Margaret laughed again.
No one ventured 10 question the minis
ter's orthodoxy: no one ventured to
question Margaret's fitness for ;he place
in which Providence had placed her.
What do you think Of the minister's
wife now ?" asked Tom, one day.
"She has noble heart, if she is hoy.
den." replied Mrs. Wise.
F." am willing to give her all the cred
it she deserves" added Sophia.
When we all fed like doek Of
frightened sheep, she stood by her post /;
and il she is not fit for a minister's wife.
no one is y continued Tom, emphatically.
She is an angelo"
So thought Freelawn. without excep.
ton. and two years after. when Mr..
Marsh chad louder call" from the city
it was as hard to part with Margaret
as it was to part with the eloquent and
useful husband.
Margaret is model minister's wife
Her religion is a constant smile. She
ditfuses cheerfulness and warmth where.
ever she goes. She honOrs her profess
sion by her cheerful. serere and beautiful
life. ts
Major Wainwright goes to church all
day every Sunday, and believes that the
church is very beneicent institution
Contrary to Toms anticipation. Sophia
did not q. blackslide," /" and few years sf-
ter. was married 70 gentleman from the
city who was spending the summer al
Freela wn. @ -