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

Newton. the minister's wife, and ! could see
that the child little girl six or seven years
old leaned very close to her. How ! wished
that she would turn toward the congregation
How | longed to see her face But | was
not granted this desire until after the morn
ing's services were closed.
| was particularly pleased with Mr.. New
ton His sermon, in contrast with the usual
discourses | had listed to from the lips Of
Mr.. Wharton, was a masterpiece ofeloquence.
No one seemed to listen to him with more
rapt attention than Mrs. Newton.
At last the services closed, and the time
came when my restless curiosity was to be
satisfied The minister's wife turned her
face to the congregation, and | had a view Of
every feature. It was face, once seen, to be
remembered Classic almost to severity in
its outline, the full lips and soft hazel eyes
gave to it gentle expression. You saw at
glance that she was a woman Of thought as
well as feeling
A few ladies gathered around her as she
stepped from the pew, and | noticed that her
countenance liz up very pleasantly as she
spoke TO them. But there was nothing obse-
quious no undue familiarity, no worldly af-
fability. A certain air of dignity and self
respect marked every attitude Of her person
and every expression of her countenance.-
All vulgar familiarity toward her was out Of
the question: saw at glance
But only few ladies in the congregation
ventured to approach her. In the eyes of
many she was proud, and they were not "go-
ing to force themselves upon her notice. -
The prejudice admitted into their minds by
others. made them shun rather than court her
acquaintance OF the few who did notice her
some we're attracted by affinity, and some by
a desire to gain little reflected importance.
Others thought it but hospitable to show her
attentions, as stranger among them, and act
ed accordingly though the forcework was
apparent Desiring to meet her and make
her acquaintance, | asked to be introduced,
and was presented by friend ! thought
her reception rather cold and after passing
a formal word or two, moved past her to
speak to an old acquaintance whom had not
met for some time.
GLOW do you like our new minister S
wife z" was almost the first question
Cant say Must know something about
her first answered.
"She'll not do for us p said my friend,
warmly "She's not the woman for st. Char
ity
What's the defect;" inquired.
'lts all defect - was the sweeping reply.
Just look at her A pretty thing for a min
isters wife, indeed Why, she carries her
self with the air of queen !'
"Mr Newton" said /, SIS charming
speaker. never heard more beautiful SER
mon
"Oh, Mr.. Newton is splendid ~ replied
my ,torv,,lv tsnut he ,trffn ~
Oh, dear it's dreadful What could have
possessed him to marry such woman =
She'll never suit us in the world--never, new
er Why, don't belve she's even profess
sor. She didn't stay to the communion on
last Sunday just think of that-and she
the minister's wife It's been the talk of the
congregation ever since We fully expected
her to take a class in the Sunday-school-b
mo- We invited her to be present at our
sewing -crcle - but no she couldn't leave
her children A mere excuse, of course =
Then we elected her President of our Indian
Missionary Society; but she declined the hon
or, saying that she had neither time nor taste
for such public duties that with her, char
ity, for the present, must begin at home
Now, isn't that christian spirit for you -
Our ministers wife to talk of charity begin
ming at home Why, she's a heather -
Ny church acquaintance waxed warm.
"Some of our people were eager enough to
get rid of dear, good Mrs Wharton" she
added. "She wasn't bright and fashionable
enough for them but | rather think they've
got their dose now -
met, here and there, lady of our church,
who belonged to the home-duty mind-your-
own-business class, who did not Join in this
hue and cry against Mrs. Newton; who
thought that, if she had neither taste nor in
clinaton for Sabbath-school teaching, sewing
circles or missionary societies, the congrega-
ton should not interfere with these peculiari
ties. She had three little children, to whom
she gave all a mothers care and as the sen-
der income which her husband derived from
the parish Of St Charity four hundred year
and the parsonage) would warrant her to keep
only a single domestic, large part of her
time had, necessarily, to be given to house
hold duties Nobody can say" remarked
one of these ladies', in my hearing, that she
neglects her children. or wastes her husbands
income. The little parsonage has never look
ed so attractive inside or out as now. Mrs.
Wharton was not tidy, as we all know, and
things around her were generally at skies and
stNtuss anu US lOF neF CnluIcu Nuel were
always neglected. Many times have seen
them playing in the dirt while their mother
was at the sewing-circle, or somewhere else
that she had no business TO be-"
But the ladies who talked in this way be-
longed to the "queer" ones of the congrega-
ton They were not of the pious kind. So
all they said went for nothing with the many.
Without "variableness or shadow Of turn
ing" as st. Paul says, did Mrs. Newton keep
on her way. Home was her parish, and she
was content to do her duty there. Occasion
ally she accepted an invitation to take tea and
spend the evening abroad but in most cases
declined these pleasant entertainments, and
though over three months had passed there
had yet been no tea-drinking at the parson-
age. Mr.. Newton, on the other hand ming
led very freely with his congregaton--sat
with them at their tables, and joined them in
their social gatherings. OF course the alb
sence of Mrs. Newton on these occasions al
ways formed subject of remark and it was
generally voted that her failure to accompany
her husband seriously marred the pleasure of
the evening
"Ah, if his wife were only like him."
This was invariably the signing ejaculation
of Miss Phebe Lane, or some one of her par
ty.
At last the matter assumed so serious a
,Lo,o l., tho ,,;uds of cartain leading ladiea in