The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-12-30

her to speak to an old acquaintance
whom l had not met for some time.
How do you like our new minis
ter's wife % was almost the first ques-
ton.
Can't say. Must know something
about her first" l answered.
"She'll not do for us 70 said my
friend, warmly. "She's not the woman
for St. Charity!'' @
"What's the defect?" 1 inquired.
"It's all defect!' was the sweeping
reply. "Just look at her! A pretty
thing for a minister's wife, indeed (!
Why, she carries herself with the. air
of a queenr'
"Mr. Newton" said 1, is charming
speaker. i hever heard more beau
tiful sermon" -,
"Oh, Mr.. Newton is splendidr' re-
piled my acquaintance, warmly. But
his wife! Oh, dear! its dreadful !!
What could have possessed him to
marry such woman! She'll never
suit us in the world-never. never !
Why, don't believe she's even a pro-
fessor. She didn't stay to the commu-
Mon on last Sunday! Just think of
that-and she the minister's wife It's
been the talk of the congregation ever
sincel We fully expected her to take
class in the Sunday school-but no !
We invited her to be present at our
sewingcircle : but no; she couldn't
leave her children. A mere excuse, of
course. Then we elected her President
of our Indian Missionary Society; but
she declined the honor, saying that she
had neither time nor taste for such
public duties; that with her, charity,
for the present, must begin at home
Now, isn't that christians spirit for
you! Our minister's wife to talk of
charity beginning at home. Why,
she's a heather 20
My ychurch acquaintance waxed warm
"Some of our people were eager
enough to get rid of dear, good Mrs
Wharton" she added. ssShe wasn't
bright and fashionable enough for them;
but l rather think they've got their dose
now."
met, here and there, a lady of our
church, who belonged to the home
duty mind dyour-own-business class who
did not join in this hue and cry against
Mrs. Newton; who thought that, if she
had neither taste nor inclination for
Sabbath-school teaching, g,sewing-circles,
or missionary societies, the congrega-
ton should not interfere with these pc
culiarities. She had three little chill
dren, to whom she gave all mothers
care; and as the slender income which
her husband derived from the parish of
St. Charity -four hundred a year and
the parsonage) would warrant her to
keep only single domestic, a large
part of her time had, necessarily, to be
given to household duties. "Nobody
can say," remarked one of these ladies,
in my hearing, "that she neglects her
children, or wastes her husbands in
come. The little parsonage has never
looked so attractive inside or out as
now. Mrs. Wharton was not tidy, as
we all know, and things around her
were generally at skies and sevens.
And as for her children, they were
always neglected. Many times have l
seen them playing in the dirt while
their mother was at the sewing-circle,
or somewhere else that she had no bust
ness to be.
But the ladies who talked in this
way belonged to the "queer" ones of
the congregation. They were not of
the pious kind. So all they said went
for nothing with the many.
Without variableness or shadow of
turning" as St. Paul says, did Mrs. New
ton keep on her way. Home was her
parish, and she was content to do her
duty there. Occasionally she accepted
an invitation to take tea and spend an
evening abroad; but in most cases
declined these pleasant entertainments,
and though over three months had
passed there had yet been no tea-drink-
ing at the parsonage. Mr.. Newton, on
the other hand, mingled very freely
with his congregation-sat with them at
their tables, and joined them in their
social gatherings. Of course the
absence of Mrs. Newton on these occa-
sions always formed subject of re-
mark; and it was generally voted that
her failure to accompany her husband
seriously marred the pleasures of the
evening. 3s .
ts All, if his wife were only like him. u
This was invariably the signing ejac-
ulation of Miss Phoebe Lane, or some
one of her party.
At last the matter assumed so serious a
shape in the minds of certain leading la.
dies in the parish that it was determined
to wait upon Mrs. Newton and remon-
strate with her on tlR course of con,
duct she was pursuing" a course ot
conduct" urged Miss Lane, " that is
working untold injury in our church
Ever since she came here change fol
the worse has been going on in the
congregation. Members are growing
cold or Indifferent. Our sewing-circles
are losing their interest, the MONTH,
concerts of prayer are badly attended
and the Sabbath-school is dwindline
4 away. The social sphere, always Sc
warm and attractive nnder the genia
influence of good Mrs. Wharton, i.
fast losing its power-and all from thi
strange coDtlnct on the part of ou
minister's wife. She must be talked
to on the subject! If she dosen't know
; her duty. she must be taught If. I