The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-01-19
From Harper's Magazine for December.
OUR NEW MINISTER'S WIFE.

our congregation. The people, after ten
years trial of good old Mr.. Wharton, and
his amiable and compliant wife, came TO
the conclusion that different kind of a
preacher, with different kind of wife,
would vastly improve their spiritual con-
ditiun. There was lack of strength
about Mr.. Wharton $50 it was alleged,
and certain prominent ladies of the
church had wished (aloud) so otter that
Mrs. Wharton were less old-fashioned in
her ways, that change sooner or later,
had come to be settled thing in the
minds of majority. 1t was simply a
question of time; and time settled the
question. The change was made. Old
Mr.. Wharton and his wife retired, and
Rev. Mr.. Newton and his wife took their
places in the pastorate of the congrega-
tion-I say "Mr. Newton and his wife, y
for our people think, or used to think,
that when they hired minister" they
hired his wife also, and regarded her du-
ties among them in quite as high light
as they did the duties of her husband.
| happened TO be away from the vii
lage at the time this change was made,
aud did not return until after Mr.. New
ton and his wife had been doing duty for
something over three months.
"How do you like your new minister 2"
was among the first of inquiries.
"He's charming preacher" was the
reply l received on every hand. Yet l
saw, by the manner OF my friends, that
some drawback existed.
"How do you like his wifel"
All! the mystery was solved. Mr..
Newton was well enough. But his wife
"What kind of woman is she 2" /
asked.
"Don't know. Can't make her out,
was the vague answer | received.
ais she anything like Mrs. Wharton y
"Oh dear, no. | only wish she was.
Why she doesn't take q particle Of inter
est i'll the church. Hasn't been TO one
of the monthly concerts for prayer; nor
to the weekly sowing-circle; nor even to
the Sabbath school. We calculated en-
tirely on her taking the senior girls class,
which Mrs. Wharton taught for so many
years; and committee Of ladies waited
on her with an invitation to do so; but
she actually declined, saying that she had
neither taste nor aptitude for teaching =
Now, what do you think Of that for a
minister's wife! Did you ever hear the
beat of iti"
saw, at a glance, that there was
trouble ahead; for Miss Phoebe Lane, who
made me this communication, was an
active circulating medium" in the con-
gregation. She knew everybody's bu-
siness, talked to everybody and acted as
opinion-maker TO large majority Of la
dies who had too much to do in their own
families TO have time for independent
thinking in church matters.
must confess that l felt a sort of
liking for Mrs. Newton, on this represen-
tation of Miss Lane. Mrs. Wharton and
had been such a plant subject in the
hands of my spinster friend, and few
like her, that an involuntary respect was
created for minister's wife who, in COM
ing among us, could from the beginning
show that she had an individuality of her
own, and meant to hold on by it.
Two or three days intercourse with
the members of the congregation satisf-
ed me that Mrs. Newton would not do
for the church of st. Charity. When
and where that lady was cannonized |
have never learned. | have my suspi-
cions that Miss Phoebe Lane, who re-
christened the parish on the occasion Of
the building of our new church, was not
particularly well read in the saintish cal
ender. But let that pass. Ours was the
church Of st. Charity. Mr.. Newton was
such delightful man Such preacher
So active in all the interests of the soci
ETY. So pious! SO Undetermined =
But his WIFE No woman could be less
suited TO her condition. IL was even
doubted whether she was professor =
Phoebe Lane was positive about it; and
averred that she didn't believe there was
a spark Of piety in her soul. How man
like Mr.. Newton could ever have mated
himself with such a wife was regarded
by Miss Lane as one sf the inexphcable
mysteries. "A man like Mr.. Newton
who might have had his choice among
womenT
/ went 10 church with no ordinary feel-
ing Of interest on the Sabbath following
my return. Whether my leading impul-
SOS were of earth, earthly, or Of heaven
heavenly, / will not stop to question