The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-20


Sabbath school teaching, sewing. circles,
or missionary societies, the congregation
should not interfere with these peculiar
tiles. She had three little children to
whom she gave all a mothers care; and
as the slender income which her hus-
band derived from the parish of St. Char
ity -four hundred a year and the par
sonage) would not warrant her TO keep
only a single domestic, a large part Of
hor time had, necessarily, to be given to
her household duties. "Nobody can
say" remarked one of these ladies in
my hearing, "that she neglects her chill
dren, or wastes her husbands income.
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 we're gen
orally at skies or seyeus, and as for her
children, they we're always neglected.
Many times have 1 seen them playing
in the dirt, while their mother was at
the sewing circle, or orsomewhere else that
she had no business to be-"
But the ladies that 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
Newton keep on her way. Home was
her parish, and she was content to do
her duty there. Occasionally she ac-
cepted an invitation to take tea and
spend an evening abroad, but in most
cases declined these pleasant entertain.
ments, and though over three months
had passed. there had yet been no tea.
drinking at the parsonage Mr. New
ton, on the other hand, mingled very
freely with the CONGREGATIONAL with
them at their tables, and Joined them In
their social gatherings. OF course, tho
absence of Mrs Newton on these occa
sions always formed a subject of re-
mark, and it was generally voted tha
her failure to accompany her husband
seriously marred the pleasures of tn,
evening.
"Ah! if his wife was only like himr
This was invariably the sighing ejac
ulation of Miss Phebe Lane, or some
one Of her party.
At last the matter assumed so seriou.
shape in the minds Of certain leading
ladies in the parish that it was deter
mined to wait upon Mrs. Newton anC
demonstrate with her on the course OF
conduct she was pursuing-"a courst
of conduct, urged Miss Lane, chat il
working untold injury to our church,
Ever since she came here, a change fo
the worse has been going on in the con
Igregation. Members are growing cOfC
or Indifferent. Our sewing circles arr
losing their interest, the monthly con
certs of prayer are badly attended, anC
the Sabbath school is dwindling away
The social sphere. always so warm anC
attractive under the genial influence OF
good Mrs. Wharton, is fast losing it
power-and all from this strange con
duct of our ministers wife. She mus
be talked to ON the subject. If sh,
doesn't know her duty she must b.
taught it, If she won't hear her hus
band, she must hear the congregation.
A committee of ladies-Miss Lane a
the head of them, and voluntary spokes
man-fnally undertook to set Mrs
Newton right in regard to her dutie
to the parish of St. Charity, and formal
Ily waited Upon her for the purpose
Curiosity prompted me to accept an of
fered membership in that committee
Let me picture the interview with Mrs
Newton.
We found her sitting in her orderl,
arranged little parlor, her person a
neat as everything around her, and he
three children as sweet aud pure as Ma,
blossoms. Two were playing on tn
floor, and the babe slept in the cradle
that was drawn so close to the mother
that she could touch the rocker, if need
ed, with her foot. She was sewing OF
a shirt for her husband. -Four ladie
made up the committee formidable
number. Mr. Newton was away, at
tending the funeral of a poor laborer'
child-so the coast was clear, and tn
culprit in our power.
Concluded uert 10eeE.)