Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-12

with Mr.. Newton. He does his part entirely
to our satisfaction. ." =" ''.'-- - W. - =
ooh, l understand Mrs. Newton spoke
as if light were breaking into her mind.
Yes, ma'am," Miss Lane went on, &" it is
your duty in the church, that we have come
to talk about, not your husbands; and l
hope you will not take it i'll of us if we speak
out plainly" .-....,,,r, 80. ...r l..
/ o." Not by any MEANS y replied Mrs. Newton.
noticed a slight quiyer in her voice, slight
| flushing in her cheeks, and a, Frightening of
her soft hazel eyes. But it was plain that
she was fully selfpossessed, and in no way
intimidated by this unexpected citation to an
swer for delinquencies. 1gi q Z La III 4
Mot by any MEANS" she repeated
'sSpeak out plainly, and if in anything T.
have been direlect,l will confess my fault,
and do alli can to lead better lifs.,l Ho d
I "Plain speaking is always best, said our
hoah-piece, oracularly. g So we will speak
plainly. The fact is, Mrs. Newton, you have
failed almost entirely to meet the expectations
of onr people'''5rdii noiJ-uhg., slt-,zisg''i u
Indeed am grieved to learn this.n Mrs.
Newton spoke seriously, but with ne sign of
disturbance II was not before aware that
your people had any special claims upon
me-" .-;:Iul5i Sir - ,.r.f.uE a..5 bEJI9rI .
"No special claims upon youp' Miss Lane
uttered those words in undisguised astonish-
ment. 4" No special claims p she repeated,
and you the wife of our minister. ~ =
e" What do you expect of me ?' calmly in
quired Mrs. Newton. :. ..e..s... .' I.@l' q
1--WE have already intimated our expecta-
/ tons in various ways. There is the girls Sc
nior class in Sunday School that, OF course,
we expected you to take. And you are
wanted ON the Visiting Committee and in our
Missionary Society. Unless our minister's
wife takes the lead in the temporalties of the
church, nothing will prosper."i = - D
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 temporalities
Certainly, maam You have expressed
| the difference of relation exactly" replied
Miss Lane, led on by the peculiar way in which
| Mrs. Newton put the question, to admit the
! existence of very wide range of duties as
required of that lady by the congregation of
st. Charity. Va =. ,.-.Fg..., - -
"This is all new to me, ladies'" said the
minister's wife. 81 was not aware before
that any one in the congregation regarded me
as having failed in duty" = -.. ~
Every one so regards you." Our spokes-
woman was parsonage who used great plain
ness of speech. a.. - i
"This should have been stated In the begin
ning,' said Mrs. Newton. How was to
know your views in the matter? | saw all
Of my, husbands correspondence, but not
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. | ought to have known this before
came here, ladies and really think the COM
plaint of failure in duty is against you instead
OF me. Let me ask, so as to reach clear
understanding of this matter, what salary do
you pay your minister's wife,"
Salary!' gasped Miss Lane, her under
jaw falling and her eyes projecting at least q
quarter of an inch beyond their ordinary DO
sltion, Salary" she repeated, in bewil-
dered, halfconfounded way. ..l...#
Yes," quietly replied Mrs. Newton. "Ihe
salary. You do not, of course, require the
services of your minister's wife in the way
you express without compensation.
"Preposterousv Miss Lane had recovered
herself, and gained a little blind indignation
with her partial selfpossession, "Did ever
anybody hear of anything SO absurd. In
hiring your husband for our minister
"You did not hire me" interrupted Mrs.
Newton, with calm dignity. Bear that in
mind, if you please" ee..s ..7r2
"Thank you for that remark, Mrs. New
tOn,' said |, coming almost invOluntarily to
her aid. 'It throws food of light upon
upon the whole subject. True as Gospel
We did not hire you, and have no claims
upon single hour of your time, All that
the Church of St. Charity has right to ask
of you is, that you do your duty as wife
and mother"
Mrs. Newton turned to me with grateful
look, and grasping my hand, said:
"Thank yOu!" in return. ~
A little while she paused; and no one spoke
in the deep silence think some wholesome
convictions of truth were finding their way
even into the mind of Miss Lane, who, some
how reminded me of wilted leaf or niece
of stifty starched muslin suddenly drenched
with water. Ri
"My husbands duties are clear" very
evenly spoke Mrs. Newton-verv kindly, yet
very firmly and very placidly. "My hus.
bands duties are clear. He has come to you
as spiritual guide and instructor. His office
is to point to Heaven and lead the way. 1t
is high and holy Office l honor him in it,
and sustain, him to the best Of my ability
My duties are also clear. l am simply wife
and mother; and God being my helper, will
faithfully discharge q mothers sacred obliga-
tions At present these duties take up all my
time; and conscience will not permit me to
neglect real duties for the purpose of imagin-
ary ones. In doing such duties best serve
the Church. This is my religion AID learnt
it from the Bible"
She paused for few moments. No one
replying to her remarks she went on:
at has been alleged that am not pious
enough for the people here. Perhaps not
~ of IL h< g. of 7
am no hypocrite, shall never put on a
pious exterior to hide the want Of charity in
my heart. AS l am you will always see
me-" -...-
Mrs. Newton paused again but as none
of her visitors showed any inclination to
speak, she continued:
"My religion is somewhat peculiar, / be.
lieve. l do not keep it as snowy, Sunday
suit, but wear it every day. My essential
worship consists in a daily discharge of my
duty as wife and mother; my formal wor-
ship, in the pious pr"stration of my body and
spirit before my Heavenly Father at set times,
either in my closet or in the public assembly.
together the circles of weekly duties. 1t is
gree that the worship of my six days has been
essential worship" /
"And are we to expect nothing from our
minister's wife 2" said Miss Lane, in very
subdued voice. She was evidently conscious
of having made great mistake in her esti-
mate of Mrs Newtons character. i
Nothing more than her duty as woman.
If she have qualities that will give her lead
ing social influence, and have time to spare
from home duties-which are always first
she ought to let these qualities become active
for good. But no more can, with justice, be
required of her than from any other woman
in the congregation. Your contract for ser
vice is with her husband, and not with her
and YOU have no more lust claim unon her