Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-05-20

the congregation
A committee Of ladios-Miss Lane at the
head of them, and voluntary spokesman-f-
nally undertook to set Mrs. Newton right in
regard to her duties in the parish Of st. Char
ity. and formally waited upon her for that
purpose. Curiosity prompted me to accept
an offered membership in that committee
Let me picture to you the interview with Mrs
Newton.
We found her sitting in her orderly-arran-
ged little parlor, her person as neat as every
thing around her and her three children as
sweet and pure as May blossoms. Two were
playing on the floor, and the babe slept in the
cradle. that was drawn so close to the moth
er that she could touch the rocker with her
foot. She was sewing on shirt for her hus-
band -Four ladies made up the committee
a formidable number Mr. Newton was away,
attending the funeral Of poor laborer's child
so the coast was clear, and the culprit in
our power.
With an easy grace the minister's wife re-
ceivod us. and after we were all seated she
stepped TO the door and spoke to her girl,
who was in the kitchen. A smart, tidy-look
ing domestic came forward, and Mrs. Newton
said to her, with a kindness of manner that
could not help noticing.
Take Aggy and George into the garden,
Jane and keep them till call you
"Yes, ma am" The girl spoke very cheer
fully. The two children sprang up instant
ly from the floor, and bounding from the
room, left us alone with Mrs. Newton and
her sleeping baby.
A grave silence followed. The committee
were embarrassed, but the ministers wife was
entirely at her case.
1--WE have come" said Miss Lane, after
sundry preliminary throat-clearings and brid-
ling motions Of the head peculiar to herself,
"to have a little conversation with you about
our church matters
Hadn't you better talk on that subject
with my husband y was answered, with the
utmost scf-composure. at is his particular
province
"No, ma am, said Miss Lane her voice
gaining emphasis; 1--WE have no fault to find
with Mr.. Newton. He does his part entirely
to our satisfaction"
"Oh understand" Mrs. Newton spoks
as if light were breaking into her mind.
"Yes a'am,' Miss Lane went on, sit is
your duty in the church that we have come to
talk about not your husbands and hope
you will not take it i'll of us if we speak out
plainly"
mot by any means" replied Mrs. New
ton. noticed slight quivcr in her voice,
slight flushing of her cheeks, and bright
enng of her soft hazel eyes. But it was
way intimidated by this unexpected citation
to answer for delinquencies.
Not by any means. she repeated. "Speak
out plainly, and if in anything have been
derelict, will confess my fault, and do all |
can to lead better life
"Plain speaking is always best" said our
MOUTH piece. oracularly. $50 we will speak
plainly. The fact is, Mrs. Newton, you have
failed almost entirely 70 meet the expectations
of our people"
"Indeed | am grieved to learn this.
Mrs. Newton spoke seriously, but with no
sign of disturbance. 81 was not before aware
that the people had any special claims upon
me-"
''No special claims upon you ~ Miss Lane
uttered the words in undisguised astonish-
ment "No special claims !" she repeated,
"and you the wife of our minister -
"What do you expect of me; - calmly in
quired Mrs. Newton.
1--WE have already intimated our expecta-
tions in various ways There is the girls
senior class in Sunday school that, Of course,
we expected you to take. And you are want
ed on the Visiting Committee and our Mis-
sionary Society. Unless our minister's wife
takes the lead in the temporalities of the
Church, nothing will prosper
"Then, said Mrs. Newton, "it is under
stood that while my husbands duties relate
mainly to the spiritualities Of the Church,
mine have special regard to its temporalties;" :"
Certainly. ma am You have expressed
the differences of relation exactly" replied
Miss Lane, led on by the peculiar way in
which Mrs. Newtod put the question to admit
the existence of very wide range of duties
as required of that lady by the congregation
of st. Charity.
'This is all new to me-" said the minis
ters wife. 81 was not aware before that any
one in the congregation regarded me as hav-
ing failed in duty
Every one so regards you" Our spokes-
woman was parsonage of great planness Of
speech.
This should have been stated in the be-
ginning" said Mrs. Newton. "How was to
know your views in the matter: | saw all
Of my husbands correspondence, but not a
word was said about his wife, or the parish
requirements in her case Now it appears
that her range of duties is almost as wide as
his. l ought to have known this before |
came here, ladies'; and | really think the
complaint of failure of duty is against you
instead of me. Let me ask, so as to reach a
clear understanding in this matter, what salary
you pay your minister's wifes"
"Salary" gasped Miss Lane, her under
aw falling, and her eyes projecting at least
quarter of an inch beyond their ordinary po-
'ition. SALARY she repeated, in bewil-
iering, half-confounded way,
"Yos," quietly remarked Mrs. Newton,
'the salary. You do not, of course, require
the services of your minister's wife, in the
way you propose, without compensation.
"Preposterous - Miss Lane had recovered
herself, and gained little blind indignation
with her partial self-possession "Did any
one ever hear of a thing absurd In hir-
ing your husband for our minister"
"You did not hire me - interrupted Mrs.
Newton, with calm dignity. "Bear that in
mind, if you please"
"Thank you for the remark, Mrs. Newton"
said |, coming almost involuntarily to her
aid. at throws a food of light upon the
whole subject. True as gospel. We did no,
hire you, and have no claim upon single
hour of your time. All that the Church Of
o. Dhoritv has a ri1ht IN aak Of Won IL th.t