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

congregation. She knew every body's
business, talked to every body, and
acted as opinion-maker to large ma
jority of ladies who had too much to
do in their families to have time for
Independent thinking i'll church mat
ters. f91a.
must confess that I felt sort of
liking for Mrs. Newton on this repre-
sentation of Miss Lane. Mrs. Whar-
ton had been such a plant subject in
the hands of my spinster friend, and a
few like her, that an involuntary respect
was created for minister's wife, who,
in coming among us, could from the
beginning show that she had an indi-
Iyiduality of her own, and meant to
hold on by it.
Two or three days intercourse with
the members of the congregation sat-
isfied me that Mrs. Newton would not
do for the Church of ST. Charity.
When and where this lady was sainted
l have never learned. / have my sus-
picion that Miss Phoebe Lane, who
rechristened the parish on the occasion
VI OuIuiuS Jul HCW CuuiCii, was uOt
particularly well read in the Saintish
Calendar. But let that pass. Ours
was the Church of ST. Charity. Mr..
Newton was delightful man! Such
preacher! So active in all the in
terests of the society," So pious! So
humble-minded! But his wife! No
woman could be less suited to her con-
dition. 1t was even doubted whether
she was a professor Phoebe Lane
was positive about it; and averred that
she didn't believe there was spark of
piety in her SOUL How a man like
Mr.. Newton could ever have mated
himself with such a wife was regarded
by Miss Lane as one of the inexplica-
bic mysteries. GA man like MIR. New
ton, who might have had his choice
among women!
/ went to church with no ordinary
feeling of interest on the Sabbath fol-
lowing my return. Whether my lead
ing impulses were of the earth, earthly,
or of heaven, heavenly, l will not stop
to question. Five minutes before the
time for service to begin lady, Just
above the medium height, beautifully
formed, and with a step of blended
grace and dignity, passed along the
aisle leading child by the hand, and
took her seat in the minister's pew
Though not in any sense gayly dressed,
there was a style and air about her
that by no means indicated a pious dis
regard of worldly things. Taste had
evidently presided at her toilet.
noticed slight flutter running through
the congregation, and the turning of
many heads towards the minister's pew,
which occupied the most prominent
place in the church. The lady did not
look around her, nor show the slightest
sign of interest in the people. How
different, in all things, was her appear
ance and bearing from that of good,
kind compliant Mrs. Wharton, whose
pleasant, almost smiling face had seen
for so many years in that pew-a face
turning, as by instinct, its mild sunlight
ever and anon upon the congregation,
while her husband broke for them the
Bread of Life
The contrast was hardly agreeable.
"She'll never do!'' whispered lady
shadow of Miss Lanes, bending to my
ear from the pew just behind the one /
occupied. "Proud as Lucifer, any one
can see! Such airs won't do for st.
Charity"
l made no reply. Though annoyed,
l was yet sensibly influenced by the
remark.
Very still, almost like a statue, sat
Mrs. Newton, the minister's wife, and ]
could see that the child, little girl six
or seven years old, leaned very close
to her. How l wished that she would
turn toward the congregation! How ]
longed to see her face! But / was not
granted this desire until after the morn.
ing's services were closed.
was particularly pleased with Mr.
Newton. His sermon, in contrast with
the useal discourse / had listened to
from the lips of Mr.. Wharton, was a
master piece of eloquence. No one
seemed to listen to him with more rap1
attention than Mrs. Newton.
| AG lttSt tuc otItlCcS ClOSeU, anu IUt
time came when my restless curiosity
was to be satisfied. The ministers
wife turned her face to the congrega
ton, and l had view of every feature
1t was face, once seen, to be remem
bered. Classic almost to severity in
its outline, the full lips and soft haze
eyes gave to it a gentle expression
You saw at glance that she was {
woman of thought as well as feeling.
| A few ladies gathered around her a.
she stepped from the pew, and | no
ticed that her countenance lit up very
pleasantly as she spoke to them. Blu
there was nothing obsequious; NJ
undue familiarity, no worldly affability
A certain airof dignity and relf-respec
marked every attitude of her persor
and every expression of her counte
nance. All vulgar familiarity TOWARD
her was out of the question = saw
that at a glance. sa ci
}, But only few ladies in the congre
!, gation ventured to approach her. Ii
the eyes of many she was proud, ant
: they were not going to force them
: selves upon her notice." The preju
dice admitted into their minds by other
, made them shun rather than conrt he
. acquaintance. Of the few who di,
/. notice her some were attracted h