The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-01-20
The Ministers Wife.

trial OF good old Mr.. wharton, and his ami
able, compliant wife, came TO the conclusiou
that different Kind Of preacher, with adill
ferent kind Of VIE, would vastly improve
heir spiritual condition. There was a lack
OF strength about Mr.. Wharton lso it was
alleged, and certain pronin ent ladies cfsthe
church had wished taloud) SO often that Mrs |
Wharton were less old ldshionsd IN her
fways, that change sooner or later, had come
to. be a s,ltlsd thing in the minds Of q major
lily. Il was simply'a question ol time and
tine settled the question. The change was
I made. Old Wharton and his vile retired,
and Rev. Mr. Newton and his wife took their
/ places in the pastorute Of the congregation.
-Issy NM. Newton and his wife," for our
people think or used to think, that, when
they SHRED q minister" they hired his wife
also, and regarded ber les among them in
quite as high light as sthey did the duties Of
her husband.
Happened to be away from the village at
the time this change was made. and did not
return until after Mr.. Newton aud his wife
! had been doing dutyfct something over three
months. gsE
~"How do you like the new minister !" was
among the first of inquiries.
"He's charming pieacher," was the re.
plyl received on every hand. Yet Isaw by
the manner of my friends, that some draw
back existed. '' '
"How do yon like his wi!e!" p,
All! the little mystery was explained
Mr.. Newton was we'll enough. But bis
wife --
"Whst kind OF woman is she - ask
: ed. n
.Don't know. Can't make her out" was
the sagde utiswer received.
as she anything like Mrs. Wharton ~.
= "Oh, dear no! only wish she wac. WHY
she doesn't take particle OF interest in the
church, Hash't Seen to one of the MONTH,
concerts OF prayer; nor to the weekly sew
hg.circe, nor even to the Sobbath school
We calculated entirely on Her taking lii
girls senior class which Mrs. Wharton hat
" taugh, for 80 many yeurs; and committe'
" of ladies' waited OH Her with an invitation t.
- do so; but she actually declined, saying tia
: she had neither tasle or aptitude Tor teaching
Now what do you think OF that, for Uni is
:, ter's wife! Did you ever~hear the her. of III
| saw dt u glance, that there was troubl
ahead; for Miss PhGbe Lane, who mad IN
this communication; was an active "cirCu
la,ng medium" in the congrega' ion, Sh
= knew every body'S business, talked to ever
o' body, and acted as opinion maker to II iqrg
majority OF iudes who had too much to d
:" in their families To have time for indePent
IT, en-, thinking in church matters.
IL must confess that !elt a-sort Of likin
"' for Mrs. Newton, On this repre- 9
Is Miss Lane. Mrs. Wharton had been such
" plant subject in the hnnds OF my spins',
o. friend, and few like her, that an involuu
o. lury respect was created for a minister
.h' wi'c, who, in coming among us, could fro
M the Beginning show that SHE had IN ihditi
nd uality OF her own, and meant to hold OIL
"a it. ...-. ..-
ro' Two or three days intercourse with Il
''y members of the cofskegntion satisfied n
us' that Mrs. Newton ;9Sdd not do for Il
IN Church OF St. Charity. When and whe
IRE this lady was saintedI have never leurne
'ch | have my suspicion that Miss Phoebe Ian
nm who re. christenet the parish on the occasi
as Of building our new church, was not partic
art larIy we'll reod in the Saintish Calendar.
Vn; But let that pass. Ours was the Church
st. Charity. MIR. Newton wss a delight
lun man Such preacher So active in
the the interests Of the society! So pious!
ck' humble. minded But his wife, No WON
ara could be less suited to her condition. ItN
even DOUBTED whether she was a profess
ody Phoebe Lane was positive about it; and av
'ct- red that she didn't believe there was sp'
cen Of piety in her soul. How nran like
sar' Newton could ever have mated himself W
n such wife, was regarded by Miss Lane
que one Of the inexpttcu6le mysteries. "a n
as like Mr.. Newton, who might Rave hud
is choice among women !" .,...... ,
nlm Invent to church with no ordinary feel
ne Of interest On the Sabbath following my
lais turn. Whether my leading impulses "
na' Of the earth, earthly, or of heaven, HEAVIER
sid | will not stop to question. Five MINI
way before the time for service to begin, ia
fur just above the medium height, beautift
at formed, and with a step Of blended grace
eads dignity, passed along the aisle leading
hese child oy the hand, and took her seat in
hole minister's pew. Phough not in any Sc
cape gaily dressed, there was style and air at
e. her that by no means indicated pious
rec, regard of worldly things. Taste bad evd
ing; ly presided at her toilet. ] noticed ass
m OF Auttering running through the congregat
AMI and the turning Of many heads toassd
n in minister's pew, which occupied thesa
scru- prominent place. ths church. Vhe
ance did not look around hefI nor show the eli
re- est sign Of interest in the people. How
runk ferent in all things was her appearance
t the bearing from that good, Bind, compliant
e the Wharton, whose pleasant, almost smi
! and face had seen for 90 manV years in