Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1862-11-06
THE MINIsTERs WIFE.
t-FIhsT-PERsoN--spEAE1 ,.

to be! Such a thing never entered into
my calculations. And so our parish
cannot charge me with "malice afore-
Thought" And | do honestly suppose
that if Hugh had carried Sarah Barrett's
books to and from school instead Of
mine-if he had twined forest leaves
around her hat in simmer, and placed
4 his sled at her disposal in the winter, our
people would be much better satisfied
with Mrs. Hugh Smith, than they are at
pesent and should be-not quite so
happy. But as the Paddy said, short
of it is,' people are very Perverse about
this matter Of matrimcny, and match
making don't so as the world wills. So
it happened that was courted from the
first day my braid was tied with blue
ribbons, II have them yet-those rib
bons, for | avn sure they did the busi-
ness for me!) until the morning when l
knelt in white at the foot Of the church
altar and the people whispered "she is
indeed to young too marry yet"
Hugh hadn't always meant to be a
minister; though old ladies always told
him that he YVES of 'thoughtful turn Of
mind" 1t was during his Hast year in
college that he decided to study theolo-
Icy. We we're engaged then, and he
wrote me about it; long, earnest letter,
very like that Of Paul to Timothy, when
he says "Even SO must their wives be
grave-not slanderous, sober, faithful in
all things" Just like man, thought
l, arranging all my duties in "apple pie
order, and then calling me like span
iel, to come aud pick up, first this and
then that, as ! was bidden. However !
was not vexed. though | had not been
consulted. My faith was strong in
4 Hugh, and would not be the one to say
to him nay, while hewas promising our
master to folGll his blessed commands,
"Go We into.all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature" although |
had no idea it involved so much travel
as have since found ont to be the case,
II did not fear for Hugh, but exalted
him at once in semi-celestial sphere,
= midway between earth and Heayenf--
But poor mel How was ever to climb
, up there? Such remarks as people
would make when they heard of i'll My
y friends often called me "crazy Kate, "
when I was very gay, and it would be in
eHerybody's mopth--"what thing for a
minister's wife' But then they didn' t
know what solemn, earnest thoughts l
had sometimes, nor how Hugh's letter
had stirred within me the desire "to go
bound in the spirit to Jerusalem. " not
knowing the things perhaps which might
befall me there. But l need not tell
Ihow | answered that letter, and blotted
the paper all over with tears, nor how
Hugh handled my poor little doves of
excuses--nor how hard | tried to be very
good, and very sober, all these three
years he was reading Genesis in Hebrew
and Johnin the origional Greek; nor
how we settled over church in the
country, leading me thither to be his
hep-mate in the work of winning souls,
and wondering why the parish didn't
pay--in wich last, lthink may mod
esty say he has ever found me faithful
co-laborer, D,ofs
But there are some other things do
wish to tell, even at the risk of being te-
dious. think no one ever entered up
on a field Of labor with clearer view Of
the premises than myself. The only
welding gifts | had, of any account
we're counsels, and these were showered
upon me in such profusion that | very
soon became aware that | was regarded
, in my own town, as "chit OF thing,
worth nothing atal. Hugh trusted me
--he only--I need not say that when it
was all over, and lrode into W |
was about the size Of church mouse in
nv own estimation, | only felt sure OF
one thing, and that was my wardrobe
was confident that my garments were
sufficiently sombre, was guiltessi Of
bright colors. Drab predominatsdl and
q If the object to be studded was, as ] bad
been taught to believe, to make myself
look as ugly as possible, tnlnk the ul-
timatum must have been reached, when
}. went to church the first Sunday in that
gray bonnet, with the pale green face
trimmings. 10 this day it is standing
consolation that, whatever else may be
said of me, l have never been accused Of
r that most benions sin in a minister's
wite--dressing becoming. l think my
instructions before | left home had been
so explicit, that was partially prepared
for thenumerous honors that awaited III
at the commencement Of our new life
Hugh was immediately put upon To
) School Committee, elected President q
: the Young Mems Christian Association
= invited to the superintendency of Ii
II Sabbath Scool. and duly established as