The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1859-01-27
3 Gooo storp.
From Harper's Magazine for December.
FuEEII WIFE
OBJ OUR NEW MINISTER.

seated, she stepped TO the uOOr, ana
spoke to the girl, who was in the kitch-
en- a smart, tidy-looking domestic
came forward, and Mrs Newton said to
her, with a kindness Of manner that ]
I could not help noticing,
"Take Aggy and George into the gar
den, Jane, and keep them till L call
you"
eyes ma'am. The girl spoke very
choerfully The two children sprang
up instantly from the floor, and bound
ing from the room, left us alone with
Mrs. Newton and her sleeping baby.
A grave silence followed The COM
mittee was embarrassed, but the minis
ters wife was entirely at her case.
owe have come, ," said Mrs Lane, af
ter sundry throat-clearings and bridIing
motions Of her head "to have q little
conversation with you about our church
matters
"Hadn't you better talk on that sub
iect with my husbaudg was answered
with the utmost composure. "ltis his
particular province"
"No ma am, said Miss Lane, her
voice gaining emphasis, "wo have no
fault to find with Mr.. Newton. He
does his part entirely to our satisfac-
ton"
"Ohl I understand" Mrs. Newton
spoke as if light were breaking into
her mind
eyes ma'am," Miss Lane went on, "it
is your duty in the church that we
have come to talk about, not your hus-
bands; and hope you will not take il
i'll Of us if we speak out plainly
"NOt by any means replied Mrs
Newton. 1 noticed a slight quiver in
her voice, slight flushing of her checks
and a Frightening of her soft hazel eyes
But it was plain that she was fully self
possessed aud in no way intimidatod by
this unexpected citation to answer fOl
dolinquoncies.
"Not by any means she repeated
"Speak out plainly, and if in anything
[ have been derclict. 1 will confess ny
fault, and do all 1 can to lead a bette
life"
"Plain speaking is always best" sail
our mouth piece, oracularly, 80 WI
will sneak plainIv. The fact is. Mrs
Newton Won have GiIed almost entirel,
to meet the expectations Of our people.
Indeed! 1 am grioyed to learn this.
! Mrs. Newton spoke seriously, but will
no SIGN of disturbance. Il was no
before aware that the people had an,
special claims on me. What do YOU ex
pect of mc?" calmly inquired Mrs
| Newton.
owe haveaIreadv intimated our expoc
| tations in variouss ways There is th
Girls senior class in Sunday school; that
of course.we expected YOU TO take. An,
YOU are wanted on the Visiting Com
mittee, and in our Missionary Society
Unless our minister's wife takes the lea,
in the temporalities of the church. moth
| inc will prosper"
"Then," said Mrs. Newton, "it is un
derstood that while nv husbands du
/ ties relate mainly to the spiritualities OF
the church, mine have special regard T.
its temporalities?"
"CertainIy. ma'am! You have ex
pressed the difference of relation ex
actly," replied Miss Lane, led on by tn
peculiar way in which Mrs. Newton pu
The question to admit the existence of
verv wide range of duties as require
of that lady by the congregation Of ST
Charity.
"This is all new to me. ladies'" sal
I tho n,inister's wife ,yas'not aware he
fore that anv one in the congregation
repardod me as having failed in duty.
9Eyorv one SO regards YOU" On
spokesw0mau was a personage who use
great plainness of speech.
DTbis sbouId have been stated in tb
BEGINNING" said Mrs. Newton "Ho,
was TO know vour views in the matter
\ T saw all of NV husbands correspop
dence but not a word was said abou
his wife or the parish requirements /
her case. Now it appears that her rang
of duties is almost as wide as his.
ought to have known this before L cam
here, ladies'; and I really think the com
plant Of failure of duty is against you
instead Of me. Let me ask, so as t
reach fair understanding Of this mai
tor, what salary you pay your minis
tor's wife?'
Salary gasped Miss Lane, her uu
der jaw falling, and her eyes project
ing at least a quarter OF an inch be
yond their ordinary position "Sal'