The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-03-11

now that he is going to marry Margaret Vain
wright @+L
How absurd you are, Tom! As if I ever
cared a straw for Mr.. Marsh, or for Margaret
Wainwright either, for that matter! ! used to
think he was good preacher --...
But you do not think so now?'
4 do not .''
Unfortunate admission! -. v- -.
SO he is really going to marry Margaret
Wainwright? added Mrs Wise, as much to pre-
vent Tom from vexing his sister, as to vent a
little private feeling Of her own.
Yes, be is; the major told me himself that
they were to be married next Thursday
1t will be strange match She is wild,
crazy girl .. .-..-
"A perfect hoyden, MOTHER remarked So
pha, meekly.
No more fit to be minister's wife than the
major himself would be- added Mrs. Wise
Now, | always thought she was very good
girl said Tom.
There is no more dignity about her than
there is about kitten month old
1 am sure she is not fit for minister's wife, ,
added Sophia, who, as the reader suspects, was
one of the iorty-three aspirants for Mr. Marsh's
bed and board -.....
Do you think you would make good min
ister's wife?'
BE still, Tom. Inever had the least idea of
Mr.. Marsh. wouldn't accept him if he was
to go down on his knees this moment
Perhaps Tom doubted it.
Il don't know what we are coming to?' sigh
ed Mrs. Wise. 'The minister's wife is rather
an important person in Freelawn, and we are
to have a wild, crazy hoyden. | hope Mr.
Marsh will cake her out Of the place, vacate his
pulpit and --'
Make way for young, unmarried man, so
that Sophy can have another chance added
Iom, wickedy. 1t is too bad that she has
joined the church, and put on that long face all
for nothing'
Get out, Tom. If you say another word
about it, [ will leave the room, pouted Sophia,
vexed and annoyed beyond control.
Tom did not say another word about it, for
Tom was really good and loving brother. He
did not like to see his sister and his mother
plotting to entrap the minister. He had no
doubt but that Mr.. Marsh had seen through all
these schemes, and been disguised with them
In his estimation, the minister was sensible
fellow. X
The reverend Mr.. Marsh was married to Mar
garet Wainwright. The major, in the process
of the courtship, had been brought into intim-
acy with the clergyman, had talked, laughed,
crac! !ked jokes with him-for, as we have be-
fore limited, Mr. Marsh's theology had not eat
en- out his manhood. They had even been
troung togather, and seated on a rock by the
brook, they had discussed theology together;
and the ma or found out that, according to Mr.
Marsh's theory, theology was not religion it.
self, any more than geology was the earth it.
self, but only the science. Of religion-that it
bore the same relation to religion which hygiene
and medicine do to health.
The major was not q little astonished when
he arrived at this fact He was still more as
tonished when he found that the church was
not religion any more than the school was edu-
cation. 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
heathen, and when he found out what the
church was for, he went to it, and was much
edited thereby.
This is a depression, yet not digression.-
But we will not argue 1.-THE minister married
the majors daughter, much to the scandal of
his own good name. The people of Freelawn
were indignant; and especially indignant were
the mothers Of the forty-three aspirants for the
vacant place in the parsonage.
Freelawn was scandalIsed by having such
minister wife. Shewas not fit for such a place;
and there was serious discussion in the town,
as to whether it would not be best to question
the orthodoxy of Mr.. Marsh, and thus induce
him to ask a dismission, rather than have his
hoydenlsh wife among them.
Margaret all unconscious of the storm that
was brewing, still laughed on as though the
satisfied. His wife, he had found out, if no
one else had, possessed a loving heart, a reli
gous sentiment, and veneration largely dcve
oped, and a treasure of intellect worthy doc
tor of divinity.
They had been married but few months be-
fore the small pox appeared in Freelawn. crea-
ing tremendous sensation 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 daughter
iept house for him; but as soon as she dlscov-
ered the character of his illness, she fled il un
natural terror from his roof, and the poor suf-
erer was left alone to die.
The village doctor was as much frightened
Is his patients, and refused to visit the infected
pot again. Nh Marsh was Mortified at the cold
neglect of the people, and without a fear of per-
'onal consequences placed himself by the bed
If the sick man.
The unnatural daughter was next taken down
with the disease, aud people fed from her as
;he had fled from her father; but there was an
nigel in Freelawn. Margaret, initiating the
Example of her husband, placed herself in the
oostien from which others fed. Day and night
he watched over the sick girl till she died.
Others had taken the disease, and not only
Margaret and her husband were required to
end the sick, but half dozen more. Major |
that cold heathen,'' proved him
elf a kind and competent nurse. 1t was with
great difficulty that attendants enough could
oe found for the sick.
For several weeks Margaret slept not more
han an hour at time She labored earnestly
md patiently in her Samaritan office, and none
uttered for attention. At the couch of the
lch and poor she was alike an angel Of mercy.
She did not laugh then-the sun was yelled in
LIQUIDS. ...
At last the distemper had done its work.
Houses and garments were smoked, apd one