The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-20
g 6ooo STORY.
From Haper's Magazine for December.
TEEI WIFE
OH OUR NEW MINISTER.


TET WIFE
OH OUR NEW MINISTER.
There had been a pastoral change in
our congregation. The people, after a
ten years trial of good old Mr.. Whar-
ton, and his amiable, compliant wife,
came to the conclusion that a different
kind of preacher, with a different kind
Of wife, would greatly improve their
spiritual condition. There was q lack
of strength about Mr.. Wharton, $50 il
was alleged,) } and certain prominent la
dies of the church had wished (aloud)
so often that Mrs. Wharton were less
fashioned in her ways, that a change,
sooner or later, had come to be a set
tied thing in the mind of majority
1t was simply a question of time; and
time settled the question. The change
was made. Old Wharton and his wife
retired, aud Rev. Mr.. Newton and his
wife took their places in the pastorate
Of the congregation-I say "Mr. New.
ton and his wife, for our people think
or used to think, that when they "hired
a minister" they hired his wife also
and regarded her duties among them in
quite as high light as they did the du
ties of her husband.
happened to be away from the vii
lage at the time this change was made
and did not return till after Mr.. New
ton and his wife had been doing duty
for something over three months.
GLOW do you like the new minis
ter?" was among the first inquiries.
"He's a charming preacher" was the
reply received on every hand. Yet
saw, by the manner of my friends, that
some drawback existed.
GLOW do you like his wife?'
"Ah the little mystery was explained
Mr.. Newton was well enough, but his
wifel
"What kind of a woman is she?"
asked.
Don't know Can't make her out,
was the vague answer l received.
"Is she anything like Mrs Wharton?
ooh dear, mol only wish she was
Why she doesn't take a particle of in
terest in the church. Hasn't been t
one Of the monthly concerts for prayer
nor to the weekly sewing-circle; no
even to the Sabbath school. We calcu
lated entirely on her taking the senio
girls class, which Mrs Wharton taugh
for so many years; and a committee of
ladies waited on her with an invitation
to do so, but she actually declined, say
ing that she had neither taste nor dpG
tude for teachingl Now, what do you
think of that, for a minister's Wife2-
Did you ever hear the beat Of it?'
I saw at a glance that there was trou
bic ahead; for Miss Phebe Lane, VIII,
made me this communication, was al
active circulating medium" in thl
congregation She knew everybody
business, talked to everybody, and act
ed as opinion maker to large majorit,
of ladies who had too much to do il
their own families, to have time for in
dependent thinking in church matters
1 must confess that 1 felt a sort of lik
ing for Mrs. Newton, on this represen
tation of Miss Lane. Mrs, Wharton
had been such a plant subject in th0
hand Of my spinster friend, and fey
| like her, that an involuntary respec
was created for a minister's wife, who
in coming among us, could from the be
| ginning show that she had an individ
uality Of her own, and meant to holc
| by it.
Two or three days intercourse will
the members of the congregation salts
/ fed me that Mrs. Newton would not d.
for the Church of St. Charity WheI
and where this lady was sainted, / hav0
never learned. L have my suspicion
that Miss Phebe Lane, who reohristen
ed the parish on the occasion of building
our new church, was not particular,
well read IN the Saintish Calendar. Blu
let that pass. Ours was the Church Of
/ ST. Charity. Mr.. Newton was a delight
full mani Such a preacher So actiy
in all the interests Of the society," 81
pious So humble minded But hi
wifel No woman could be less suitet
to her condition. 1t was even doubted
whether she was a professorl Pheb
Lane was positive about it, and averret
that she didn't believe there was a sparl
Of piety in her soul How man lik
Mr. Newton could ever have mated him
self with such a wife, was regarded b.
Miss Lane as one of the most inexpli
cable mysteries. GA man like Mr. New
ton, who might have had his ohoio
among women"
! / went to church with no ordinar,
feeling Of interest on the Sabbath fol
lowing my return. Whether my lead
ing impulses were Of the earth, earthly
orlof heaven, heavenly, ] will not stop L
question. Five minutes before the tim
for service TO begin, a lady, just aboy
the medium height, beautifully formed
and with a step Of blonde
grace and dignity, passed along Oh