The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-27

spoke Tn the deep silence, ] thiuk /
some wholesome convictions Of truth .
we're finding their way even into the
mind Of Miss Lane. who, somehow, re-
minded me Of a wilted leaf or a piece
Of stifiiy starched muslin suddenly (
drenchod with water. II
"My husband duties arc very clear
very evenly spoke Mrs NeWt0n--very |
kindly, yet very firmly and very lvcid
ly. Only husbands duties are clear |
He comes to you as a spiritual guide |
and instructor His Office is to point to |
Heaven, and lead the way It is a high |
and holy Office ] honor him in it, |
and sustain him to tbe best of my abil- |
itv. Ny duties are also clear I am
simply a wife and mother; and, God
being my helper I will faithfully dis
charge a wife and mothers solemn OBJ |
legations Atprosent these duties take
up all my time; and conscience will not
permit me to neglect real duties for the
performance Of imaginary ones. In do
ing such duties, [ best serve the
Church This is my religion, and l
learned it from the Bible"
She paused for few moments. No
one replying to her remarks, she went
on:
ut has been alleged that am not pi-
GUS enough for the people here. Per
haps not. But Of one thing you may
rest assured-I am no bypOcrte. /
shall never put on a piOus exterior to
hide the want Of charity in my heart
As 1 am, you will alwys asee me-
Mrs. Newton paused again; but as no
ono Of her visitors showed any inclina-
ton to speak. she continued:
Only religion is somewhat peculiar,
I believe. do not keep it as SNOWY
Sunday but wear it every day. My
essential worship consists in daily dis
charge of my duty as a wife and moth
er; my formal worship, in the pious
prostration of my body before my heav-
enly Father, at set times, either in my
closet or in the public assembly. The
Sabbath, to me, is the golden clasp that
binds together the circle of weekly du-
ties It's a blessing and consolation
Just in the degree that the worship Of
my six days has been essential wor-
ship"
And are we to expect nothing from
our minister's wife?' said Miss Lane,
in a very subdued voice. She was evil
IDENTIFY conscious of having made a great
mistake in her estimate Of Mrs. Newton's
character.
Nothing more than her duties as a
woman. If she have qualities that will
give her a leading social influence,
and have time to spare from her home
duties, which are always irst-she
ought to let these qualities become ac-
tive for good. But no more can, with
Justice, be required Of her than from
any other woman in the congregation.
/ Your contract for service is with her
/ husband, and not with her; and you
have no more just claim upon her time,
nor right to control her freedom, than
you have over the wife Of your lawyer,
doctor or schoolmaster. 1t is this mis-
taken idea Of people in regard to their
ministers wives that is producing so
much trouble in societies; and making
wretched the lives Of hundreds Of poor
women, who hardly dare say that their
souls are their own. Ii is not enough
that the ministers wife is expected to
keep her house and clothe her children
upon the lowest range Of income, that
will not allow her competent help, but
she must spend half Of her time in
gossiping around among the idle OF
well-to-dO ladies Of the congregation
take part in their sewing circles, and at.
tend all their various meetings for good
or doubtful purposes Now all this is
wrong; and if you are not satisfied
with my husband, because l will moi
initiate SO bad an example, you mus
give him notice accordingly or if you
think my services absolutely essential
to the prosperity Of the church, Just
state the amount Of salary you can af
ford to give, and if, for the sum, 1 can
procure a person in every way as com
petent as myself to assume the cbarg,
Of my children and household. | will
take into serious consideration youl
proposition. Beyond this, ladies, l can
promise nothing"
"Thank you again, my dear madam,
said /, with a warmth that expressed
my real feelings, "for giving this mat
ter its right solution! You have spoker
out like a true independent woman, al
you are, and L will see that your view,
are correctly reported. Consider me az
your friend"
She turned upon me grateful look
and, as she did so, I could see tha
my earnest words had brought a din
moisture to her eyes.
"I would wish, she answered in
lower voice, "to number you all as m,
friends. have come among YOU as
stranger, seeking no pre-eminenoe, bu
only desiring to do my duty as wo
man, side by side with other women
The fact that my husband is your minis
ter gives me Of right no position anon,
you, and gives you no right to deman,
Of me any public service. If my hus
band fails in his duty admonis6 him
but, in the name Of justice and human
ity do not establish any supervision
over me. Let my private life be as sa
cred from intrusion as that Of any 9th
or woman. This 1 have a right to de
mand, and i will be satisfied with moth
ing less9
4 Silenced, if not convinced, was Mis-
Phebe Lane, aud She retired 10 due tim,
With her committee of remoustranco on,
accusation, their colors trailing upol